The evening world. Newspaper, December 31, 1903, Page 5

1 Sane - ’ PANIC- STRICKEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN PERIS Fm MMe Mv D2 Sm > . i NRA AT I ‘THE ‘WORLD: THURSDAY _ EVENING, | DECEMBER 3t, 1903. mercer aaa i] Bee A AS MMe et aa i © eee WILLIAM A. BRADY SAYS THE TRAGEDY WAS LIKE A SCENE FROM DANTE’S INFERNO. ' Such a panic as followed the first cry of fire | have never seen in all my life. the poor people cut off from all escape was the most awful thing imaginable, : Hundreds joined the rescuers and from one of the entrances to the balcony we removed 150 bodies by actual count. They were iammed and twisted together in all shapes, Many of the women and children had been stripped almost naked in their mad efforts to escape from that living: tomb. —IVM, A, NEARLY ALL THEATRES IN PERIL, AY oTURBIa Fire Commissioner Declares that the Majority of New York Playhouses Are in Same Condition as Was the Iroquois— Aisles Too Narrow and Houses Overcrowded. NEGLIGENCE, HINTS NEW YORK EXPERT Joseph George Thinks that the Light Which Caused the Fire Must Have Been Too Near the Border. Joseph George, President of the Broadway Electric Stage Lighting Co., at No. 694 Seventh avenye, was inter- viewed to-day by an Evening World re- porter in regard to the cause of the fire. He said: “From the reports the fire started by sparks thrown against a border in the TWO BENEFITS FOR HAE SUFFERERS Shubert Brothers Offer Receipts of Performances at the Gar- rick Theatre, Chicago, and the Casino in This City. The Shubert Brothers have telegraphed to Jacod Shubert, of the Garrick ‘Thea tre, Chicago, authorizing him to offer to Mayor Harrison the receipts of tha playhouse on any day he may select, t be devoted to the rellef of the injured and the familles of those who lost their Fire Commiesioner Sturgis believes that just such an accident as that which happened Inst night in Chicago Is not only possible in this city, but «rat It Is ever threatening, To an Evening World reporter he said to-day: “I have read all the morning papers carefully and find grave danger of just such an accident in this city. The alses of the theatres in this city are not near- ly wide enough. Even in the new thea- es the passages are too narrow. Ja apite of all the precautions which the Fire Department has taken and now takes, a fearful repetition of this horror may jsome day stun New York unless some immediate action {s taken by the legislative bodies. “Nine ont of ten of the theatres in this city are in the same condition as was the Iroquois, It is the policy of the theatre owners to make the theatres hold more than their capacity. Most of the theatres here were built before the passage of the present building laws. Whenever a reform is proposed the people interested work to procure some ‘joker’ or ‘rider’ to the legislative meas- ure, which practically nullifies the law. Law Applies to Proposed Theatres, “The present law was intended to cover all theatres and to make them comply with every provision of it, At the Jast moment a rider was tacked on and the Jaw was made to apply to only those theatres to by built in the future and not to those in existence. The ef- fect is easily foreseen, as most of the theatres here have been converted from acme other building and formerly were used for other purposes. “More than this. The managers avoid the Building laws whenever possible. When the plans are filed the specifica- tion shows seating capacity which means that no more persons than that asserted number should be accom- modated. The law says that all pas- gage ways should be clear, but even the courts are not certain as to what is meant by passage way. Should Be an Iron-Bound Law. “There should be an tron-bound law which declares in so many positive un- ambiguous terms just what passage ways do mean. Let the courts stand by the Fire Department in ¢his matter. “In the theatres the exit Is narrow and widens out as you go in, As to the closed doors, that could never happea here, as the men investigate this every night, and every door jeading to an exit must be kept open, “Concerning the explosion phase of the fire, that is the great danger. Nearly every theatre uses calclum lights and that Js explosive in its very nature. Be- sides every theatre is so thoroughly equipped with electric lights that uniess the safest insulation ts sustained at all times there ts always a danger from this source, Building Superintendent Talks, Henry 8. Thompson, the retiring Su- perintendent of Buildings, whose resig- nation takes effec. to-night, was ques- ‘tioned ‘arding the condition or the } theatres, He said that judg! rom the account so far lished ur the Chicas’ tire, the trouo- ed to be due in thé first place fact that the theatre was opened before it was completed. Some of the a pes, it is stated, could not be “used, and’ the theatre should certainly not have been opened until It was completed. As regards as- bestos curtuins, he said that inspectors from the Bureau of Buildings are ac- customed to examine such curtains almost every day In every theatre in the elty. ‘They examine them, too, with reference to their workin pnd wee that they can be let down gute! ‘The con- Of Mre-escapes aNd exita Is in the control of the Fire Department. Red Light ‘Over Each Exit, Another point which Mr. Thompson had noticed was that after the fire had gained some headway the theatre was total darkness, which doubtless added to the panic. ‘This, he thought, could hardly occur in a New York theatre under the new rulo established in this city. Over every exit there is a red light, and these lights are on an. entirely separate clroult, which is not connected with the stage, even though the lights In general go out. ‘Yherefore the red lights over the exit will still ba CONFUSION IN CARING KOR DEAD. CHICAGO, Ill, Dec, 31.—While scores of men were busy carrying out the dead and injured, others, fortunately few in number, searched the aisles and seats for valuables. Two men wero found who had provided themselves with baskets and were filling them with the property of the dead. “bey were immediately placed under are (Tet and the theatre ushers and stage hands were given the work of collecting all the valuables on the floor of the theatre. During the evening the police trrested more than a dozen men accused wt being thieves and pickpockets. Despite the utmost care, great con- fusion marked the removal of the bodies. In their haste the police t bodies to undertaking j d In many instances forgot to rooms, report the fact to thelr stations. Thin 4s ovidenced by the fact that sin nye diferent undertaking | astabiie were received ot. which the b pot bad no recon, whatever, ‘the last Superintendent, Peres’ M. Stew- This is not In the law, but it {s a rule prescribed by the department ond was established under the adminiefration of art. He, in fact, recommended that separate Janterns ‘should be used and that the red Hghts should not be elec- i tric at all. Another regulation which Mr. Thomp- son has himself established rogulres that everything In the; vicinity of eal- cium or othar powerful lights aligil be absolutely, fite-proof. According f0. the accounts ‘the Iroquols ones re fire started from such a. Ught. shomp, gon recently established a Se that any woodwork is used in, the vicinity of such a light eet must with Tetrion, and the ladder reaching to the platform must be of fron. wings of the first entrance, ‘This could | ice inthe Tnoquols dre happen in several different ways. One| traimison aenusas theory Im that it was due to a spot ght, which is an electric ight from the curbons which run through a square metal box. ‘carbons and catch on the border which have but this would not be possible if a care- ful’man was operating tie switch. \'n- less the border 40 the light it wouldn't have happened," ull seqson it is only necessary to advertise: in the right place. The Wunday World ‘« the right place, und informed hi 8 the Casino. In this city. would. be sei aside on Wednesday next for the Iro- quois relief fund, DRIVING CLUB-HOUSE BURNS.| Sparks might fly from the understand wes nearby. It might been caused by 9 short circuit, Infern.. BRADY, New IROQUOIS FIRE —EACITES LONDON panne? Ln Flags at Half-Mast American Steamship Offices. LONDON, Dec. 81.—All local and for- eign topics of Interest were forgotten here this morning in the universal hor- ror over the Iroquois Theatre tragedy. he extra editions of the newspapers giving the latest details were eagerly wusht up, and the newspaper placards yore In flaring type only the announce- t of further news from Chicago, iroughout the morning American in London made frequent in- at the newspaper offices. The flags over the American steamship of- were half-masted. The acco of the deadly pante were The club-house of the Parkway Dri- ving Club, on Coney Island boulevard, King's Highway, was destroyed by fire early to-day. ‘Mystery surrounds the cause, as there ‘was no one on the premises at the time, save the superintendent. The building was a two-story frame structure. The toss ts $12,000. was hanging very close —— {To make bustness boom during the sympathy and horror, for the panto- mime season here Js now at its height ind the London theatres are packed dally with women and children. The aleaster of vesterday doubtless will keop vondoners from sending thelr, ‘laren to the usual Christmas hollday xintomime. The afternoon newspapers Genaaall | americans: Besiege eal Offices for Details of Horror—| Over | read by the English people with pecultar | $ York Thearical Manager. ! —_---— LONDON'S MAYOR | VUICES DEEP GRIEF FELT IN ENGLAND.}, following |} of well sym- LONDON, Dec, 31 —The nm the Lord May 7 ration Rite ughout the || + the disaster || “MANSION HOUSE, LONDON, “Dec. 31, 1908. “The cttizens of London offer their deep sympathy and sincere condo- lence with the American people in the awful loss of life In the fire at JAMES T. RITCHIE, “Lord Mayor of London." Chicago. thetically on what the Globe ‘one of the most terrible disas- f its kind.” pola the Lord Mayor's message of sym. thy, which was also transmitted to The United States Smbasey by which It will be forwanled to the State De- partment at Washington, Ambassador Choate repliet: "I have recelved your tender message of condolence In behalf of the citizens of London to the people of the United States In the tragic cainmity at Chicago yl thank vou most sincerely, I have transmitted it to Washington (Signed) CHOATE." Blames Chicago Authorities, “It Js diMoult to understand how the Chicago authorities came to permit such an awful death-trap to be constructed.” ‘The Globe thinks that in the outset there could have been no adequate fire appliances, or else they falled to work, {to Insure tts good « The stairways and exits became jammed with fighting humanity in a moment, and the shrieks and moans of ‘ It can only be likened to Dante’s ve that in thi nger would be “ Chicago to asatst thos en deprived of thair bread: ners whl gladly contribute $500 or * says the Pall] $1,000. me irs to have been| “Aynericans in Vienna Anxious | ¢ { ‘80 ut-/have Should i Vv: , Dec. 31.—The catastrophe at! ete Hel cenace Chichgo has aroused the most ea es's Gazette says: interest and the utmost saying ] ly holocaust at least the Viennest havin; iaddom of the local ordi- of the disuater at the, ; Theatro in 1882, when many people their lives. Intense anxiety prevails in the Amer- lean colony. as many doctors and mug sical students, who form the bulk’ of the colony come from the Middle Wi ————— Cantor Won't Serve on Art Boards Borough President Cantor Lipton Offers Assistance. yesterday a plage on the Municipal Sir Thomas Lipton says he believe: | Commission, which was offered him Cities dest evidenced by hel erick Crowninshield, ‘and ‘that if © fund isl ine bine Arts Federation. Go Picakleiinsle, 3 HAVE MARKED DOWN ; Ladies’ Waists Childs’ Furs quizes the flreproof cur- A every evening "he Wontminster, Gasette points to the terrible regularity with which Christmastide coincides with a great dimaster, and thinks it only shows hovy necessary to public security are th theatre regulations which so often are deemed oppressive. French flannel, Scarf and Muff, all colors, 1.75 lambs wool, were 2.59, were 98c set, INTER 1904! Welcome! The Siegel Cooper Store is splendidly prepared to greet EF the lusty youngster, There are avalanches of special attractions for shrewd shoppers who believe in utilizing every hour .in obtaining extraordinary values in the way of desirable merchandise at decisively reduced prices. | Store Closed New Year’s Day. || Saturday, San. 2, 1904, Ohe White Sate. Gxtra Special Bargains Saturday, The first week of the Annual White Sale at The Big Store draws to a brilliant close. Despite untoward weather conditions crowds of tables daily, buying with avidity from the bountiful stocks of snow-white garments, crisp and fresh from the manufacturers. As special attractions for Saturday new lots of dainty Undermuslins for women. misses and children have been added. Prices, too, are more pronounced than specialize the following : Muslin Underwear. WOMEN'S. NIGHT GOWNS: muslin; Halted tucked Pith more ec tow 24e WOMEN'S NIGHT GOWNS; muslin: V, high and round neck; 49. trimmed with lace and embroidery, (1 PA CMENS a AM hee e roun trimmed, 25e WOMEN'S CORSET COVERS; 439e lace and embroidery trimming, WOMEN'S PETTICOATS; TS £50 good muslin; cambric tucked ruffle, WOMEN'S PETTICOATS; cambric: deep tucked flounce, lace 75 trimmed; extra dust ruffle, ce Infants’, wo, s and Misses’ nderwear, Sips and Dresses. Mustin U, INFANTS’ LONG SLIPS AND DRESSES; cambric; yokes of tuck- ing and embroidery, INFANTS LONG SLIPS; nain- sook; dainty round yoke of tucking, 19¢ 29¢ Drawers, DRAWERS, Masonville muslin; extra heavy; umbrella ruffle of lawn, embroidery edge and insertion; sizes 2 to 14 years, 49e DRAWERS. muslin; extra heavy: hem and wucias sizes 20 14 youre FOO DRAWERS, cambric; fine quality, umbrella style; lace and embroid- ery trimmed; 2 to 14 years, annual event. Other bargains—scores of Saturday are unexceiled in price attractions : Gowelling. Imported Checked Glass and Damask Towelling in dice patterns; 7c, Se yd. grade, Cable Linen. Bleached All-Linen Irish Damask; pretty patterns; 65c, yd. grade, Vapkins. 24-inch German Damask Napki only one pattern; $1.50 doz. pecking Bed Sheets. Job Sheets for all size beds: slightly eeiees nerfed would ellie ISe, ISe on ro Ushers in th Our MWe shoppers counters and Fifteen ever. We Hlannelotte Underwear. jue : rolling collar; trimmed with washable trai, 69e FLANNELETTE GOWNS; pret- ity stripes; trimmed with silk; scal- IS: loped edge on collar and cuffs, ce COANE ETE UNDERSKIRTS; stripes; trimmed With wide rofl 25c FLANNELETTE ONDE TS) fine quality: trimmed with scal: ISe loped edge, WYONIEN'S DRAWERS; muslin of Manufacturers of Reputation. cambric; hemstitched and ‘ic; fe Mstit an 2 Ge ‘c Jawn ruffles; trimmed with torchon Sires to Kit Eve: lace trimmed ri WOMEN'S DRAWERS; tucked lace and embroidery, 39e (Second Floor, Centre, 19th St.) ing of 1904. Bolt Coats For the Cie Man, = Children’s Petticoats, PETITICOATS of cambric; um- brella ruffle: lace insertion; sizes I9e 219 14 years, 10, Men Corie Vom Senne Zn GA ANS heavy, Mother Hubbard style, tucked 49e Hh yoke, 2 to 14 years, . NIGHT GOWNS, Masonville Princeton Swagger long Coats. muslin, round and square yokes of Ghe Sreatest Gathering of 5I9e tucking, ruffle finish, 2 to 14 years, Also a large variety of CHIL- DREN'S SKIRT DRESSES; new 39¢! 396, 490, 75¢& ISe. Linens and Red Clothing Saturday Specials from the White Sate Merely «few hints of the remashab'e values offered prudent housekeepers at this them—equally desirable ; but the following for PIe | medium Weight Siched Comfort (Second Floor, Centre.) Pitiow Cases. 45x36 Bleached Muslin Cases; linen finish. Regularly 124c., each, Io| Comforters, We Yo Values; We Give 5 Pe designs; 4 col- ‘oa 4200gade AS Feather Pillows, Filled with curled feathers; covered wh striped ticking. , Regularly 55c. 3. To. tiles hig bea ming Sebo } Consisting of Sarments Your Choice at iN, & Overcoats «5, Description. Including correct fabrics and mddels for the coming year. Every garment is the product Regular, Tall or Stout, including Black and Mixtures Chem. 0 Yow Year in n’s Store With an Offering of Choice Winter Apparel, Hundred ry Build of Man, Ineluding the Extra Large and Stout, Every serviceable texture and conservative coloring is represented in this initial offer- Medium length Coats. A Storm Coats wae For Zero Weather. Manhatian, 2 0) ZN ZN << Sarments at a Popular Price Sver Seen Under One Roos. (Nine entire sections devoted to this sale.) Single Breasted and Double Breasted Sack Suits in Sizes Up to the Largest. ~Soft or Hard Finish—in fact eae of Cer7y, Description S tate Qfain Floor, Kan of unusual offerings, Double “S. & H.” Green .Trading — Saturday Morning from 8.30 until 12 o’Clock. After That Hour and Until Store Closing the Regular Number of Stampg Will Be Given. LL OVER the Siegel Cooper Store Saturday there will be a very strong exposition This Store never does a thing timidly, and when it makes an announcement of this nature it means that those who avail themselves of the opportunity will profit in many ways—unexpected ways. 79,°"\|_ Store Closed New Year’s Day. | SIS Wink Uetorines, 90-inch Satin-lined Mink Victorines; made of selected dark natural mink skins, finished with silk cord, tassel and ornament and at bottom of scarf six full fox tails (Second Floor, Front.) DecoratedChina Special for Saturday. Cups and Saucers, Salad Bowls, Oatmeal peerage eirompentares Tages ream ets, et, ioe decorated on fine thin china; pees 65c, 75c, 902. and $1.00; 50c Ceyiy Floor, Front.) Rolt-Gop Desks Special for Saturday. “CUTLER” ROLL-TOP DESKS, made from selected fine quartered oak writ- ing bed and top, panelled sides and back. 4 drawers in each pedestal, pigeon holes, small drawers, pen rack and letter tray in upper best ere! § 95, 00 work and finish; 5 size; regularly $45.00; special (Fitth Floor.) Linoleum & Out Cloth. Clearance of Remnants. LINCLEUMS; all grades; regularly 50c, 65c. and 75c. per square yard; in lengths of 2 to 5 yards long and 2 yards wide; per square yard, Saturday, at OIL CLOTHS; all grades; rang- ing in price from 30c. to 50c. per sq. yd; Saturday, at per yard, (Pith Office Books. Special for Saturday. 300-page CANVAS BOOKS; cap folio and. long day; good white paper FS5e 500-page CANVAS BOOKS; cap folio; good white paper. 45c Counter Books. COUNTER BOOKS, stiff board linen covered; cut flush: cap folio ISe 15¢ or, Front.) and long day; 180 pages, good Sinaloa 15¢ INDEXED BOX FILES, 190 i (Third Floor, Centre) ; VE. = ee Wen’s Shirt Sale Offers Mfany Natchless Values. Negligee and Stiff Bosom Colored Shirts in many and stripes, properly ma. You. would surely pay as” for them elsewhere. Not old stock, but the proper thine right at this time. Cuffs are attached or detached. Crowds have already taken advantage of this to buy high grade Shirts. We have an immense quant, however, and you'll find a.complete selection aturday at ~ (Main Floor, East of Eecalgten) | Smokers’ Articles at 100. CGhe Atter-Holiday Clearance Sale, ‘The aftermath of the greatest Holiday in the sy, cf Ths Bis ee Racks Talis" Water. Ping “eebecon dark Soba Set ngs inported Ch ‘ater Pi Brood Gsige and Mamthane Pit eee Regular selling prices up to This sale affords you an unusual opportunity to fit up your den. To values you must see them. WOMEN'S BOLERO JACKETS, of all-wool-ripple eis ine WOMEN’S DRESSING. SACOUET oe of awe al So ss tnd’ sh, Coes very og, [ee Sas eens eee special, ah Rees OGe| Ge cee wera eae * oe. WOMEN'S DRESSING SACQUES, of all-wool ripple eiderdo collar praily appliqued la baat coloes fo Umteey tad praise ft ace onl OGe% 4 Sepond Floor, Mast of Centra, - Ghe Winter Shoe Sale. 3 Pa | ce Clearing Many Lines at the Most Decisive a of the Season. Ky Some splendid bargains. in aenrcnable footwear for Saturday yi eee, Prices have been lowered }¢ to #6 Won’ ae 195 Patent Coltskin. in several styles; leather lining; all sizes. $3.50 Shoes, 7. 95 Kid. Calf and Patent Leathers, several styles of Misses’ S750 Shoes, S23. 50 Shoes, Calfskin with Women’s each; all sizes ISe. Kid or Paxent Leathers all sizes. RBeys’ S150 Shoes, Ic. Satin Calfskin Lace Shoes, in all sizes up to sa A 5%. Py ‘ippers for Red Slippers, de. Won, Women and Chit} per par, | at greatly reduced prices. Thes de of fleece Sepa sizey