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N0KFQ > TODAY 30.12.12 21:39l 68 Lines 3190 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 33759_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Dec 30
Path: IZ3LSV<IV3SCP<IW0QNL<IK6ZDE<VE2PKT<ZL2BAU<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 121230/1934Z 33759@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.53
...
Dec 30, 1903:
Fire breaks out in Chicago theater
A fire in the Iroquois Theater in Chicago, Illinois, kills more
than 600 people on this day in 1903. It was the deadliest theater
fire in U.S. history. Blocked fire exits and the lack of a
fire-safety plan caused most of the deaths.
The Iroquois Theater, designed by Benjamin Marshall in a
Renaissance style, was highly luxurious and had been deemed
fireproof upon its opening in 1903. In fact, George Williams,
Chicago's building commissioner, and fire inspector Ed Laughlin
looked over the theater in November 1903 and declared that it was
"fireproof beyond all doubt." They also noted its 30 exits, 27 of
which were double doors. However, at the same time, William
Clendenin, the editor of Fireproof magazine, also inspected the
Iroquois and wrote a scathing editorial about its fire dangers,
pointing out that there was a great deal of wood trim, no fire
alarm and no sprinkler system over the stage.
During the matinee performance of December 30, while a full house
was watching Eddie Foy star in Mr. Bluebeard, 27 of the theater's
30 exits were locked. In addition, stage manager Bill Carlton
went out front to watch the show with the 2,000 patrons while the
other stage hands left the theater and went out for a drink. It
was a spotlight operator who first noticed that one of the
calcium lights seemed to have sparked a fire backstage. The
cluttered area was full of fire fuel--wooden stage props and oily
rags.
When the actors became aware of the fire, they scattered
backstage; Foy later returned and tried to calm the audience,
telling them to stay seated. An asbestos curtain was to be
lowered that would confine the fire but when it wouldn't come
fully down, a panic began. It later turned out to be made of
paper so it wouldn't have helped in any case. Soon, all the
lights inside the theater went out and there were stampedes near
the open exits. When the back door was opened, the shift of air
caused a fireball to roar through the backstage area.
The teenage ushers working the theater fled immediately,
forgetting to open the locked emergency exit doors. The few doors
that were able to be forced open were four feet above the
sidewalk, which slowed down the exiting process. Most of the 591
people who died were seated in the balconies. There were no fire
escapes or ladders to assist them and some took their chances and
jumped. The bodies were piled six deep near the narrow balcony
exits. In fact, some people were knocked down by the falling
bodies and were eventually pulled out alive from under burned
victims.
In the aftermath of the disaster, Williams was later charged and
convicted of misfeasance. Chicago's mayor was also indicted,
though the charges didn't stick. The theater owner was convicted
of manslaughter due to the poor safety provisions; the conviction
was later appealed and reversed. In fact, the only person to
serve any jail time in relation to this disaster was a nearby
saloon owner who had robbed the dead bodies while his
establishment served as a makeshift morgue following the fire.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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