Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1904 — PROBING THE HOLOCAUST. [ARTICLE]

PROBING THE HOLOCAUST.

Effort Belnn Mad* to Hi* Responsibility for Iroqaol* Pluittr. Harry J. Pi .vers and Will J. Davis, Chicago malingers of the Iroquois Theater, which burned, killing 501 people, made their first statements under oath Wednesday. Fire Department Attorney Fnlkerscn had them brought before him for examination. In answer to his inquiries both men professed to have no personal knowledge of the management of the theater; were uninformed as to whether employes had instructions for action at time of fires or panic; were uninformed ns to what fire apparatus was in the house; had only given most general instructions to their subordinate manager, and did not know how many people were iu the theater when the fire broke out. “Evidence submitted under oath proves conclusively that had the skylights and ventilators over the stage of the Iroquois Theater been open, and the openings over the auditorium been closed, there would have been no fire in the audience room of the playhouse last Wednesday and no lives need hnve been lost by panic." > This statement was officially made public by Attorney Mouroe Fulkerson of the Chicago fire department in summing up the result of the investigation as conducted under his direction. other points covered by the inquiry and, in the opinion of the attorney, conclusively proved, tell the story of the holocaust as it has not nppeured in detail. In his analysis of the vast amount of evidence heurd up to date Mr. Fulkerson does not attempt to place responsibility. Following are the points which Mr. Fulkerson announced hnve been proved' conclusively by the verified testimony of witnesses: Thnt the fire started from an overheated floodlight twenty feet above the floor by which a linen curtain, which was nearer than usual to the light, was ignited. That both skylights over the stage and the ventilator, or fire flue, were closed during the fire. That both stage skylights were fastened down from the outside ns well ns from the inside, hut that the ventilator was in working order and was not thrown open. That the larger of the two ventilators over the auditorium was open, and thnt the stage doors were open, creating a perfect draught for the death-laden flames which swept over the audience. Thnt the drop of the asbestos or fire curtain was obstructed by a light or light board fastened to the wall of the theater back of the proscenium arch. Thnt there had been a previous fire at the theater, and- thnt the same obstruction at that time prevented the fire curtain's being thrown between the stage and the audience.

That the skylights and ventilator, pr fire flue over the stage, were opened by employes of the Fuller Construction Company the day following the fire, when the property was in the hands of the coroner. That, with one or two notable exceptions, the employes of the theater deserted their posts, or did not understand what should have been their duties at such a time. That there is no evidence that there had been any fire drill or systematic organization of the theat<r employes for the protection of the pu'tic in an emergency. That there was no fire alarm box on the stnge, or in the theater building. “Those are the main points brought out by this investigation to date,” said Attorney Fulkerson. “Evidence showing responsibility, and in regard to crowded aisles, locked doors and inadequate and closed exits, is still to be produced. So far, the evidence I have on these points is largely hearsay information. They have not, been proved. “In the light of the information which is now n matter of record. I desire to make this statement, without the fear of successful contradiction: Had the condition of the stage and auditorium skylights been reversed the catastrophe would certainly have been averted. Again, bad the asbestos curtain worked as it should hare, there is little doubt that there would be a different story to tell. “In my opinion, either one of these conditions in nil probability would have averted the disaster. Certainly, both would have protected the audience. In other words, regardless of any violation of existing laws, ordinances or other regulations in regard to construction, the operation of the safeguards in that theater for just such an emergency would have saved the lives of about 000 people. “Somebody is responsible for the conditions shown to have existed and enumerated above. It is my intention to hew to the line in an effort to establish responsibility.”