The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-01-15
PROBING THE
|ROQUO|S HORROR
Further Evidence Of Criminal Negli-
gence Brought Out al Inquest.
ANOTHER DEATHADDED TO LIST
james ". strong restines How Hi.
Mother and Wife Mere Caught
fn Death Trap aud Burncd 10
Death before His Eye-.

1l4iteor Jan. 4---bA me DEAN Nom
day afternoon OF Herman Bein. The
number OF dead in the lroQuois theater
Gre is brought W 10 81.
IL was expected that the city coun-
oil Monday night would definitely de-
terminc the exact nature of the altera-
tons which viii be demanded IN all
Chicago playhouses before they are al
lowed to open their doors TO the public.
The amended building ordinance
covering ~playhouses recommended by
The council was 50 Ion. and the press
IRE OF other business so great that ID
was decided To make the matter the
subject for a special meeting OF the
council. which VIII be held next Thurs
day evening.
vile and Mother burned.
James NJ. Strong the first witness Of
The afternoon. testified thar he. with
his mother and wife. bought standing
room tickets 70 the performance and
were in the first balcony When the
fire started he left the balcony. fol-
lowed by his wife and mother. and
went 20 a door which proved 20 be an
exit. but was locked. He threw himself
against the door. but could nor force
u open. and then reached up and broke
the transom with his 5rst. Being un-
able 20 open the door. nc pulled HIM
self up through the transom. dropping
upon The outside OF the door. where DE
found a man with a lOt Of tools. pre-
sumably "a carpenter The two men
tried 10 break down tho door from the
outside, but could not. and then Strong
pulled himself up into the ransom a
second time. intending. II possible. 20
pull his mother and wife out I'M The
same manner as he had escaped. While
he was half way through the transom
flames filed an that part ~ the the
ater. his mother and wife Were burned
in front Of his eyes ard he was %
badly scorched that for several DAYS
his life was ~despared Of.
Il IS upon Stroncs testimony that
that states attorney viii LARGELY rely
II an attempt IS made 20 secure indict-
Ia connection with The IRE He
said thar not only his own family. but
hundreds Of other people could have
got through this door and beer saved
had il hot been locked. When he
looked through the transom a second
time. he declared. the entire PASSAGE
was jammed with people.
Did All he Gould to- save People.
George VI. D~usenberry. head usher
Of the theater. was the next witness.
He testified that he made a round OF
theater just prior 10 the commence
OF the fire and found y people
a few more were standing
IN the a~isles. and these he requested
20 move back. as the aisles must be
Kept clear He was down in the foyer
Nhen the panic started. and immediate
y. he said. threw open two doors for
-hs front exits and then a into The
To assist some women who {
been knocked down. lie did all he
TO save people and was. accord !
ng TO his statement. the last person ,
leave the main floor Of the theater
with Chain mud Paddock. J
When questioned as 10 the fire pro !
in the house, Mr. Dusenherry G
that a number Of FIRE extin- {
were placed in different parts 5
4 the theater. and near the front door :
here was a hose. apparently about 80 :
eet long He had never received any I
As 10 what should be done 2
q case Of fire. and had never Issued
ny to the ushers under him. lie tes- '
that there We're three doors Lead :,
ng from the second balcony into the
)bby. and that one Of these was locked
e having fastened II with a key. IL
not possible. he said. for anybody
open that doc without the second =.
alconies folding metal gates. one in Z
passage leading 20 the second ball .
Both were locked with a chain j.
nd paddock. Il was hts duty 20 lock J,
gates al the commencement Il
performance and 20 uufasten them al
he close II the second act. -
All Exits Were locked. =
Mr.. Mr. Dusenberry testified that all :
exits except those on the north Il
de Of the house were unlocked. but
United that there were fully a half "A
attaches Of the theater who had
ays to the doors. He wa asked hy II
Traeger II Il was not possible
n some other employees 10 lock the
Dor and then forget 4 unlock them.
e refused TO answer ar first. but final
admitted that IL might be possible, "
II not al all probable. m
BY mutual agreement. the cases in iii
hich VIII J. Davis. Harry Powers and vi
iilding Commissioner Williams are 70
.arged with manslaughter in connec- m
IN with the Troquois theater fire. viii 70
continued this morning until jan Ia
ny q. o.