"Lest We Forget": Chicago's Awful Theater HorrorEverett, Marshall
History
"Lest We Forget": Chicago's Awful Theater Horror
Everett, Marshall
Iroquois Theater, Chicago -- Fire, 1903; Theaters -- Fires and fire prevention
Q. Do you know whether the employees of the theater were at any time
instructed by anybody to use these kilfyres or hose in case of fire?
A. No, sir.
Q. Was there anything on the reel of hose in the coatroom to indicate what
it was there for?
A. No, there was no sign on it.
Q. Was there anything there to tell you or anybody else how to use the
hose in case of fire?
A. No, sir. The hose was on the reel and all you would have to do----
Q. Never mind what you would have to do. Was there anything there for
anybody to know what to do?
A. No, sir.
The witness testified that when he reached the stage after attending to
his engines, the "asbestos" curtain was caught part way down.
Q. No signs saying "Exits" or "This way out" or any-thing?
A. No, sir.
Q. Any fire alarm boxes that you know of in case of fire?
A. No, sir.
Q. No bells to ring in case of fire?
A. No.
Q. No appliance to call the fire department in case of fire?
A. No, not that I know of.
Q. What would you have to do in case of a fire, go out in the street for a
fire alarm or fire box?
A. If I could not put it out I would run to the box or to the telephone.
Q. Do you know where the wires were that worked the ventilators, where
they were located?
A. On the north side of the stage, on the proscenium wall.
Q. Who had charge of working them?
A. The people on the stage.
Q. What do you know about the skylights, how were they opened?
A. I never noticed.
[Illustration: HARRY J. POWERS, One of the Theater Managers Arrested for
Manslaughter.]
[Illustration: MONROE FULKERSON, Attorney for the Fire Department.]
[Illustration: EDDIE FOY, Leading Actor, who told the audience to go out
slowly.]
[Illustration: SCENE ON THE STAGE WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. The star shows
where the fire started.]
[Illustration: PROMENADE IN FRONT PART OF IROQUOIS THEATER.]
[Illustration: RELATIVES TRYING TO FIND THEIR DEAD.]
[Illustration: WAITING THEIR TURN TO GET INTO THE MORGUE.]
[Illustration: POLICE MAKING LIST OF UNIDENTIFIED BODIES.]
[Illustration: CARTING AWAY THE DEAD.]
[Illustration: MAIN EXIT FROM FIRST BALCONY, WHERE OCCURRED THE GREATEST
LOSS OF LIFE.]
[Illustration: MANAGERS DAVIS AND POWERS GIVING $10,000 BONDS AFTER THEIR
ARREST.]
[Illustration: MISS MINNIE H. SCHAFFNER, 578 45TH PLACE, CHICAGO.
Miss Schaffner, 25 years of age, had been a teacher for a number of years,
and at the time she met her death was connected with the Forrestville
school. She attended the matinee with two friends, one of whom was among
the victims.]
[Illustration: JACK POTTLITZER, LAFAYETTE, IND.
The ten-year-old boy who lost his life at the fire while in company with
his cousins, Miss Tessie Bissinger and Walter Bissinger. Miss Bissinger
only escaped. Jack's mother died six months before.]
[Illustration: MRS ARTHUR BERGCH, 4926 CHAMPLAIN AVENUE. CHICAGO.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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