Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-01-07
BELLS TOLL DIRGE.
All Chicago Mourns While Hundreds
of Dead Are Laid Away.
Last Rites Held from Early Morning Until
Night, with Three or Four Hearses
10 n Block-An Chicago The
aters Closed.

Chicago, Jan. 3.-Church bells toll
ing at noon, business activity checked,
many celebrations postponed and long
lines Of funerals making their way to
tho outlying districts where the GEM
eteries are situated-these clrcum-
stances evidenced Chicago's outward
grief Saturday for the victims Of the
Iroquois theater disaster. Priests and
ministers of the gospel went from
funeral to funeral, as they will Mon
day. The unidentified dead will be kept
as long as possible at the morgues.
If no one then comes to lay claim to
the bodies they will be buried at the
city's expense. BY common assent Of
the clergy Lead Kindly Light" the
hymn written by Cardinal Newman,
was sung at all the funerals.
The city hall, except absolutely nee
essary departments, was closed. The
board of trade closed an hour earlier
than usual and number of mercantile
and manufacturing establishments also
closed early.
From the large number of complaints
received Of the loss of personal effects
from the bodies of the fire victims,
coroner's Office clerks estimate that
100000 worth of diamonds, watches,
jewelry, furs and other personal prop
erty was lost in the fire. Many Of the
victims had money in their possession
which could not be found when the
bodies were examined at the morgues.
Much Of the property Of value was I'M
doubtedly lost, but large amount may
have been stolen by ghouls. Hundreds
of the bodies were carried away in
trucks and express wagons, and there
was no way OF preventing persons from
searching the victims and taking their
valuables.
A thorough analysis Of the compost
ton of the asbestos" curtain of the
Iroquois is being made by the city
chemist. The curtain was consumed
by the flames, although the ordinance
requires fire-proof curtain, such as
genuine asbestos material.
From the stage hands Coroner
Traeger has learned the cause of the
explosion which occurred
shortly after the fire was discovered.
1t was caused by the falling Of the big
fan scene which contained 80 incan-
descent electric lights. This scene was
not in use at the time of the fire, but
was set in the rear of the stage. The
opening Of the double doors in the
rear of the stage created draft
which caused the big fan scene to top
pie over and break the incandescent
bulbs. This produced a noise like an
explosion. The stage hands deny that
here was a calsium tank on the stage
at the time of the fire. Coroner Trae-
ger has learned that each of the $50
drop scenes in the theater was hung
On new. oily, Manila rope. 1t is esti-
mated that there were $50 lineal feet
Of this inflammable material used in
the drop scenes and that |
t added fuel to the flames in the rig |
sing loft.
Mayor Harrison has ordered the
losing of every theater in Chicago
without exception until it has been
definitely ascertained that they are not
any city ordinance. This is
to the mayors order of
asst night which closed II theaters,
bout half the total number of play
Houses in the city.