Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1904 — CHICAGO IS BOWED IN DEEPEST GRIEF. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHICAGO IS BOWED IN DEEPEST GRIEF.

the hour between noon and 1 o’clock the melancholy clangor echoed through the' city. From Rogers Park to Kensington, from the lake shore to the Austin prairies, the bells called to each other from spire and church tower, from belfry and minaret, across the wind-swept, snowdriven spaces, mingling their brazen voices to toll one mighty knell for the passing of nearly 600 souls. In a driving snow, which fell all day long, and in a temperature only a few degrees above sero, nearly 200 funerals were held. Through the night before, ghostly lights by the score bad burned in the darkness above the snowy desolation of the city's cemeteries. They were the lanterds of grave diggers working overtime upon the graves. All night they tolled In relays and all Saturday and all Saturday night and they continued their labors Sunday and Sunday nig&t. There were many combined funerals of relatives who died in the fire. Several whole families were laid away to rest together. In consequence many funeral processions contained two and three hearses. One contained four, a black hearse bearing the remains of a mother leading to the grave three little white hearses carrying the bodies of her three children. Funeral processions that shouldered through the weather to the graveyards were small. In most cases ouly two or three carriages followed the hearses. The largest funerals of wealthy people had no more than ten or twelve. Carriages and hearses were scarce and undertakers had much ado to make them go round. Chicago public schools remained closed Monday as a token of sorrow for the teachers who died in the terrible theater fire. Thousands of children Mourn the anas they knew and loved la the daat-

Harry J. Powers, proprietors and managers of the Iroquois Theater, and George Williams, city building inspector. were placed under arrest on the criminal charge of manslaughter. Arthur B. Hull, who lost a wife and three children, with their maid, in the holocaust, swore to the complaint on which the warrants were issued. Ten of the employes of the theater are also in jail, and many of the chorus girls of the “Mr. Blue Beard” company, who were on the atage when the fatal fire started, are under restraint, being held aa witnesses. According to the Tribune an inadequately protected “apot light” machine, close to which hung the frayed edge of the arch draperies, made the combination that caused the fire. William McMullen, the man who operated the "spot light,” is under arrest with a charge of manslaughter against him. In a signed statement regarding the lights in the IroqUois Theater at tbe tkfl* of ths disaster W. F. Machlan, manage* of the Chicago Calcium Light Company, declared that there never was a calcium light in the Iroquois except the ones sent over by the company to assist the police In caring for the dead and wounded la the building. Thirty School Teachers Dead, Thirty teachers in the Chicago public schools, all women, are among the dead in Wednesday’s holocaust at ths Iroquois Theater. Probably not another day la the whole year would have found sa many teachers together In a theater at one time. Like the children, they had taken advantage of the holiday season t» attend the matinee, which in itself was a . sort of holiday affair. The scenery of Hanlon’s “ftaperba” was burned In n ear at Norik