The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-12
TESTIMONY OF STRONG
gwEARs EXITS FROM THE
 IR0QU0Is WE'RE LOCKED.
Head Usher Dusenherry Says It Was the Custom to Keep Gates Fastened Until Alter
 Second Act.

Chicago, Jan. 1L-It was expected that the City Council tonight would definitely determine the exact nature of the altera- tions which will be demanded in all Chi cago playhouses before they are again allowed to open their doors to the public. The amended building ordinance cover ing playhouses recommended by the Coun- ell committee was so long and the pres sure of other business so great that it was decided to make the matter subject for a special meeting of the Council which vii be held next Thursday evening.
 Before the Coroner's Jury Today.
 James M. Strong, the first witness of the afternoon, testified that he, with his mother and wife, bought standing room tickets for the performance and were in the first balcony. When the fire started he left the balcony followed by his wife and mother and went to a door which proved to be an exit, but 1t was locked. He threw himself against the door, but could not be forced open. and then reach- ed up and broke the transom with his first. Being unable to open the door he pulled himself up and through the tram, som. dropping upon the outside of the door. where he found a man with a lot of tools, presumably a carpenter. The two men tried fin every way to break down the door from the outside, but could not.
 It Is upon Strong's evidence that the State Attorney will largely rely If an attempt is made to secure indictments in | connection with the fire. He said that not | only his own family, but hundreds of other people could have gotton through l this door and have been saved had it not been locked.
 George M. Dusenberry. the head usher was the next witness. He was down in the foyer when the panic started and inl- ! rnadiafalv hn Guid of | the front exits and then ran into the au- ditoroum to assist some women who had been knocked down. He did all he could to save people and was, according to his statement. the last person to leave the main floor of the theatre.
 When questioned as to the fire protec- tion in the house, MT. Dusenberry declar- ed that a number of the fire extinguishers
 were placed in different parts of the the atre and near the front door there was a hose apparently about 50 feet long. He
 had never received any instructions as to ] what should be done in case of fire and had never issued any to the ushers under him. He testified that there were thre"
 doors leading from the second balcony in- | to the lobby. and that one of these wae locked, he having fastened 1t himself with
 a key. It was not possible he said. for
 anybody to open that door without the l key. There were. he Salu, III the pdsSaSe-
 ways from the first and second balconies | folding gates, one in passage leading | to the first balcony and the other in passage leading to the second balcony. Both were locked with chain and pad lock. It was his duty to lock gates at the
 commencement of a performance and to unfasten them at the close of second | act.
 MT. Dusenebrry testified that all the
 exits except those on the north side of
 the house were unocked. but admitted that there were fully half a dozen at taches of the theatre who had keys to
 the doors. He was asked by Coroner | Treager if it was not possible for some
 other employe to lock the doors and then forget to unlock them. He refused an an | swer this question at first, but when
 pressed. admitted that that might be pos
 sible. but 1t was not at all probable. By mutual agreement. the cases In which Will J. Davis, Harry W. Powers
 and Building Commissioner Williams arc
 charged with manslaughter in connection
 with the Irouois Theatre fire will be
 continued tomorrow morning until Jan uaTy A~