The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-10-29
SEEK ORIGIN OF
BURKE BLAZE
Started in BoiIerroom, But
Cause May Have Been
ss-Wiring.
IS BETTER

Johnny Hines the Live Wire" may
have gotten the wires so hot at the
Burke theater where it showed Tues
day night that fire broke out in the
building a few hours later; at least
this was the suggestion presented this
morning when Assistant Fire Chief
Michael Jacobs stated that the Burke
building fire might have originated
in cross-wiring.
"The fire did start in the boiler
room of the building,p said Mr.. Jacobs,
who in the enforced absence of duty
of Fire Chief Schwartz, went carefully
over the entire ground after the fire
had been put out to discover the true
origin of the blaze, "but we are not
sure that it was the boiler or heating
system that was at fault. 1t is just
as probable that the fire was caused
by defective wiring"
The building inspector stated that
the wiring in the Burke theater had
been condemned; and it was learned
also that steps had been taken by
the Burke building owners to have
at work on the rewriting of the thea
ter, the boiler room and bowling alleys
below and the Offices upstairs.
The janitor. did not have very hot
fire on Tuesday night, and when he
left at $3.50 p. m. everything was in
good shape, so far as the heating ap-
paratus was concerned. There were
men in the bowling alleys until about
11:30 o'clock that night, but none of
them smelled smoke or we're aware in
any way that fire had started. 1t
may not have broken out until an
hour or so later.
at is perfectly plain that the fire
began in the boiler room below the
orchestra pit, and we are fixing the
cause as defective wiring" said Mr..
Jacobs, "as of the two possible origins
it seems the more likely considering
the time of the year, and the fact
that there was no need for a hot fire
in the furnace such as otherwise might
in zero weather have caused an over
heated pipe. Everything about the
spot where the fire ragged the fiercest
is in such rubbish heap that it is
hard to get at the bottom of it."
Fire Chief Resting.
The condition of Fire Chief John J.
Schwartz, who was injured while fight
ing the fire at the Burke building, is
reported to be somewhat improved TO-
day. DR.. w. j. Hanley, who attended
the patient, said that the patients
condition was good.
"He slept several hours during the
night" said the physician, "and We
are keeping him out of pain. Sand
bags are being used to keep him in a
comfortable position, and so far as the
/ setting of the bone is concerned we are
| not sure whether we will use cast
/ or strap the bone into position. / am
having consultation this afternoon
with Dr.. Jorgenson, when we will go
over the X-Ray pictures together and
decide which course to pursue. We
will also decide whether it will be
! advisable to call in DR.. Percy, the
specialist from Chicago. Mr.. Schwartz
/ eventual recovery seems promising
but of course as was stated yesterday,
the siege will be long one"
| 1T was hard for a man of Fire Chief
| Schwartz adventurous high spirit to
be strapped to bed today, but when
he is in condition to receive friends
there will be any number of them who,
admiring his brave lfie,. will be
glad to spend time wiling away the
tedium for him at his bedside.
"Our chief" said one of his own
fremen adoringly this morning, "never
said Co; he always said Come He
was the first in the path of danger"