THE IROQUOIS FIRE INQUEST.

THE IROQUOIS FIRE INQUEST.

The coroner's jury that sat on the inquest on the Iroquois theatre disaster at Chicago have returned a verdict holding the following persons to await the action of the Grand Jury: Mayor Carter H. Harrison; Fire Marshal W. H. Musham. W. J. Davis, part proprietor and manager of the theatre; Building Commissioner George Williams, Building Inspector Edward Laughliu; William Sallers, theatre fireman; James E. Cummings, stage carpenter; William Muller, in charge of the light that caused the fire. The jury found that the fire was caused by drapery coming in contact with a flood or arc light; city laws not complied with, relating to building ordinances, regulating fire alarm boxes, fire apparatus, dampers, or flues, on and over the stage, and fly galleries; violation of ordinance requiring fireproof ing of scenery and all woodwork on and about the stage; asbestos curtain was inadequate; and was destroyed; building ordinances were violated, in that aisles were inclosed on each side of the lower boxes, and in absence of the fire apparatus on the orchestra floor; also, in that there was no fire apparatus in the gallery or first balcony. As manager and president. Davis was responsible for the observance of the laws and seeing that his employes were properly instructed as to their duties in case of fire. Mayor Harrison, the jury holds, showed lamentable lack of force, and made every effort to escape responsibility for the action of his subordinates Building Commissioner Williams showed great neglect of duty in allowing the theatre to be opened while not yet completed, and did not comply with the city’s building ordinances Fire Marshal Musham was held responsible for not enforcing the city ordinances and failing to have his subordinate William Sailers, fireman at the theatre, report to him the lack of fire apparatus in the theatre. Sallers was held for not reporting the lack of apparatus; McMullen, for carelessness in handling the light that caused the fire; Cummings, as stage carpenter, for not providing the stage with proper fire protection. All the men furnished bonds. As to Mayor Harrison, it was stated that in following a “weak course” he has "given Chicago inefficient service, which makes such calamity as the Iroquois theatre horror a menace until the public service is purged of incompetents."

The coroner's jury that sat on the inquest on the Iroquois theatre disaster at Chicago have returned a verdict holding the following persons to await the action of the Grand Jury: Mayor Carter H. Harrison; Fire Marshal W. H. Musham. W. J. Davis, part proprietor and manager of the theatre; Building Commissioner George Williams, Building Inspector Edward Laughliu; William Sallers, theatre fireman; James E. Cummings, stage carpenter; William Muller, in charge of the light that caused the fire. The jury found that the fire was caused by drapery coming in contact with a flood or arc light; city laws not complied with, relating to building ordinances, regulating fire alarm boxes, fire apparatus, dampers, or flues, on and over the stage, and fly galleries; violation of ordinance requiring fireproof ing of scenery and all woodwork on and about the stage; asbestos curtain was inadequate; and was destroyed; building ordinances were violated, in that aisles were inclosed on each side of the lower boxes, and in absence of the fire apparatus on the orchestra floor; also, in that there was no fire apparatus in the gallery or first balcony. As manager and president. Davis was responsible for the observance of the laws and seeing that his employes were properly instructed as to their duties in case of fire. Mayor Harrison, the jury holds, showed lamentable lack of force, and made every effort to escape responsibility for the action of his subordinates Building Commissioner Williams showed great neglect of duty in allowing the theatre to be opened while not yet completed, and did not comply with the city’s building ordinances Fire Marshal Musham was held responsible for not enforcing the city ordinances and failing to have his subordinate William Sailers, fireman at the theatre, report to him the lack of fire apparatus in the theatre. Sallers was held for not reporting the lack of apparatus; McMullen, for carelessness in handling the light that caused the fire; Cummings, as stage carpenter, for not providing the stage with proper fire protection. All the men furnished bonds. As to Mayor Harrison, it was stated that in following a “weak course” he has "given Chicago inefficient service, which makes such calamity as the Iroquois theatre horror a menace until the public service is purged of incompetents."