The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-01-20
THEATRE MANAGERS HELD
Davis and Powers Charged With
MansIaughter.
ALL CHICAGO THEATRES CLOSED
Safe-Funerais of tho Iroquois Fire
victims-Eusiness Generally Suspend
Hour-Theatrs Managers Held in
$4,000 Bail.

Chicago, III. - The first blow was
struck at the owners and managers Of
the ill-fated Iroquois Theatre, when
Will J. Davis and Harry J. Powers
were held in bonds of $4,000 each on
charge of manslaughter for the hola-
caust. George Williams, Building
Commissioner, of Chicago, was arrest
ed on the same charge and held in $10,-
900. The firm of Davis 6 Powers is
said to own about one-third of the the
atre. the other principal owners being
Nixon & Zimmerman. of Philadelphia,
and Klaw & Erlanger, Of New York.
Davis and Powers are the resident
managers. They are charged by Ar
thur E. Hull. whose wife and three
children perished in the fire, with the
responsibility for the Iroquois calam-
ity.
Nineteen theatres and museums were
closed, and the sweeping order Of the
Mayor shut the doors Of all the rest.
These last are the leading theatres in
the business section Of the city, and
are the Studebaker, Grand Opera
House, McVicar, LaSalle, Garrick, H.
linois and Powers. The last two are
owned and controlled by Powers &
Davis, the managers Of the ill-fated
IroquoiS.
The places of amusement were closed
for the one reason that they were not
provided with an asbestos curtain.
This action is taken in consequence OF
violations Of other sections of the Or
dinance regulating theatres.
Fire Inspector Monroe Fulkerson an
nounced that he had finally discovered
the secret of the fire. The asbestos
curtain upon which the safety of the
audience depended was, according to
Mr.. Fulkerson, blocked in its descent
by steel reflector, carelesSly left open
BY a stage hand. While one end OF
the curtain got within five feet of the
stage the other was suspended twenty
feet above it, and beneath it swept the
food of fame that carried death to so
many hundreds.
1t was announced that every theatre
in the city must hereafter comply with
the following provisions before they
will be allowed to open: Steel roll
curtains. wide exits, no combustibles of
any kind in the house furnishings. fire
proofed scenery, no calcium or spot"
lights to be used on the stage, sky
lights above the stage provided with
automatic lids to permit the egresS OF
smoke, fire and gas, separate stair
ways-each exit having its own stairs
leading to the street.
From the large number Of complaints
received of the loss Of personal effects
from the bodies of fire victims, Coro-
ner's Office clerks estimated that $780,
900 worth of diamonds, watches, jew
elry, furs and other personal property,
was lost in the fire. Many of the vic
TINS 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
undoubtedly lost, but large. amount
may have been stolen by ghouls. The
excitement which reigned at the scene
Of the fire made it impossible to sys-
tematically superintend the removal of
the bodies and 100 or more volunteers
assisted the police and firemen. Hun
dreds Of the bodies were carried away
In trucks or express wagons, and there
was no way of. preventing persons
from searching the victims and taking
their valuables.
Chicago's head was bowed in grief
on the day of the funeral Of the fire
victims of the fire catastrophe. Busi-
ness generally was suspended, the
banks being the only commercial CEN
tres which for obvious reasons could
not close their doors.
The large dry goods houses along
State street announced that they would
remain open during the earlier portion
Of the day in order to supply the de-
mand for mourning goods, which has
been unprecedented in the history of
the city. 1t being evident by noon that
this demand had been fully met, the
stores closed for the remainder of the
day.
For an hour at noon the bells of the
city tolled requiem for the dead. The
idea Of all hour Of mourning was not
generally disseminated, but when at
noon the sound of the silver chimes
of st. James Church, on the North
Side, were borne by the wind over the
heart of the city, it seemed es though
every other church in the city caught
from it the inspiration. and the bells OF
M oh resnon6ed 0t once