L
fORTY PAGES
PAGES ! TO 5
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
TOL. XXTTT. KO. 1.
PORTLAM), OREGON, SUNDAY MOKNINGr, JANUARY 3, 1904.
6
WM OF WAR
Rates of Marine In
surance Qo Up.
RISKS ARE REFUSED
German Companies Is
sue No Policies
ON ORIENT-BOUND VESSELS
Neutral Goods Only insured
on Japanese Lines.
CHINA (PREDICTS HOSTILITIES
If Russia Refuses to Accept Proposal
of Mikado's Government, Japan
Will Immediately Resort
to Force.
WAB IX A rEW DAYS.
PEKIX, Jan. 3. Information In the
possession of the best-Informed diplo
mats la Pekln convinces them, that
vrar is inevitable, possibly within a
tew days.
PARIS, Jan. 3. The Figaro this
morning says that the biff eons tor
the Japanese battleships Kasaga and
Nlaahin, which were bought from
Argentina, have not yet been supplied
to the 'vessels. The Italian Govern
ment is ,aid to desire that they re
ceive their armament .elsewhere la
order to avoid an lnuiiesslon that
Jtoig ..PhtCi"Si. .... ,
That war between Russia and Japan Is
regarded as Inevitable by the big marine
Insurance companies is shown by the fact
that they have advanced rates on vessels
bound to the Orient, or refused to insuro
them altogether. Policies have been writ
ten" on every vessel sailing or about to
sail from a Pacific Coast port, and the
business may be enlarged to take in those
already on the way to Asia. According
to the quotations received yesterday by
M. C Harrison & Co., marine under
writers and brokers, the London market is
given as follows:
For cargoes on American and English
steamers for Japan. South China and
Philippine ports, per cent.
For North China and Siberian ports, 3
per cent.
For neutral goods only on the steamers
of the Nippon Yusen Kolsha and Toyo
Kisen Kalsha, 2& por cent.
A still more conclusive evidence of their
belief that war is imminent is disclosed
in the announcement that tho London
companies are prepared to take risks at
Co per cent on war being declared this
month.
The German underwriters go still farther
and flatly refuse to write anything at all
on vessels bound to the Far East. Harri
son & Co. tried to get quotations from
Hamburg on a cargo for tho Orient by
the America Maru, sailing from San Fran
cisco January 25, but received an answer
stating that no Insurance would be placed.
On the Nippon Maru, another vessel of the
Toyo Kisen Kalsha, which is to sail from
San Francisco January SO, London quoted
2& per cent for a neutral cargo to Japan.
The English, and American vessels on
-which the Vt per cent rate is made are
those of the Portland & Asiatic Steam'
ship Company, Pacific Mall, Occidental &
Oriental and the lines running out from
the Sound. Large lines of war risks were
covered yesterday by Harrison & Co. on
the sailing of the steamship Indrapura,
which left New Yor's day, and also on the
Olympia, from Seattle. Tho fovr Orient
bound steamers now out from Portland
will probably be covered today.
Oriental Flour Rate Advanced.
Another indication of the tension is the
raising of the Oriental flour rate by all
the trans-Pacific lines. An agreement be
tween the Portland: San Francisco and
Northern lines -was reached, fixing $5 as
the Fobruary tariff. However, as the
agreement was not signed, tho San Fran
cisco companies yesterday backed down to
the extent of a dollar. The Puget Sound
lines so far have stood by the advance.
The Portland & Asiatic Company has
made no announcement of Its intentions.
It Is safe to say that if it finds the $5 rate
cannot be maintained, it will fix its tariff
at J4. Just why all the lines have re
fused to abide by the proposed $5 rate Is
not clear, but it is probable they feared
the Portland flour exporters might take
the opportunity to enter Into negotiations
with tramp steamers to move the output
of this section. A settlement of tho mat
ter Is expected today or tomorrow, at the
latest. General Freight Agent Miller, of
tho O. R. & N., is now in San Francisco,
and a telegram from him announcing
fixed rate for February shipments is ex-
. pected at any moment.
War Prospects Cause Advance.
Tho advance in the flour Tate from $3,
now quoted, is attributed entirely to the
prospect of war In Asia. At the samo
time it gives the steamship companies an
opportunity to extricate themselves graee-
fully from the ruinous tariffs that have
been In force since early last Summer,
when the rate war broke out, and ship
ping men would not be surprised to see a
still further advance. If the Oriental situa
tion becomes very serious, that would
recompense the transportation people for
their losses in the past.
Will Not Withdraw Bid.
It was reported on the water front yes
terday that Laldlaw & Co. bad withdrawn
their bids made to the Government for
the transportation of fodder to the Phil
ippines on the contract expected to be
awarded to Portland grain and hay deal
ers. The reason for the withdrawal was
stated to be the imminence of war in the
Far East Inquiry at the office of the
company brought out the response that a
telegram to that effect had been received
from the steamship owners in Ixmdon, but
it was countermanded soon after, and the
offer to the Government will hold good for
a few days longer. Laldlaw & Co. were
the only bidders on transportation, " the
matter of getting the fodder to Manila
resting between them- and the transpor
tation department of the War Office.
JAPAN WILL NOT HESITATE.
Once She Sees Russia Will Not Give
In, War Will Be Declared.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2. Count Casslnl,
Russian Ambassador, thinks the Far East
ern situation "gloomy, but not without
hope of salvation." At the Japanese Le?
gation tonight It was intimated that if the
Russian reply does not give definite assur
ance that in general the concessions asked
for by Japan in Corea will be granted,
tho Tokio government -will be impelled to
abandon diplomacy for force.
Dispatches received by Mr. Takahlra,
the Japanese Minister, from Tokio today,
tell of the critical state of public feeling
there. It is stated that if Russia fails to
give a definite reply, Japan will interpret
a dilatory note as indicating Russia's wish
to defer hostilities until the Spring, when
her forces on land and sea can be used
to better advantage.
If Japan is convinced of Russia's inten
tion not to accept her proposals, the Tokio
government. It is declared, will not hesi
tate to take: the Initiative and assume the
responsibility for making war.
The Japanese Minister does not believe
that, afterthe manner in which he says
his people have acted throughout the ne
gotiations, they will forfeit any sympathy
which they have In this country by strik
ing first.
BEST TERMS OfF JAPAN.
Rights in Corea Must Be Equal to
Those of Russia in Manchuria.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 2. The Associat
ed Press learns from an official source
that Japan. In her last note to Russia,
announced that tne minimum proposition
which she can accept from Russia are
right in Corea equal to those claimed by
Rusela in Manchuria. In return, it Is
said, Japan agrees to recognize the su
premacy of Russia in Manchuria. To this (
proposition the Russian government will j
not give its approvaleellng that Japan
should content herself with modifications
in tho form of concessions in Corea for
her commerce.
The Russian government has not aban
doned hope of a diplomatic settlement of
the question in view of the powerful pres
sure which Great Britain and France are
bringing to bear upon Japan to consent to
a continuance of the negotiations, but It
is emphatically stated that Russia will
never admit the parallel between her po
sition in Manchuria and that of Japan in
Corea.
BELIEVES JAPAN GOT SHIPS.
Chilean War Vessels Reported Sold to
Britain Likely for Mikado.
ROME, Jan. 2. Notwithstanding the
pessimistic news from the Far East, of
ficial circles do not believe that war Is
RUSSIAN SHIPS SAIL TODAY.
BIZERTA, Tunis, Jan. 2. The Rus
sian cruisers for the Far East will
start tomorrow for Alexandria. A bril
liant reception and banquet was given
today aboard the battleship Osstlabyra
by Admiral Wlrenlse. in command of
the squadron, wbo toasted the alliance
between France and Russia.
near, as Japan before the opening of hos
tilities, will certainly desire to have in
the Far East the two warships she pur
chased at Genoa from the Argentine Re
public The crews of these vessels have
arrived at Genoa.
Japanese Admiral Mats a, who discussed
the possibility of the two ships going
(Concluded on Page 30
DEATH CLAIMS FAMOUS
JAMES LONGSTREET.
WAR HER
D DEAD
General Longstreet Is
Hi Only Two Days.
PNEUMONIA WINS DATTLE
Equally Famous as a Diplo
mat and Statesman.
WAS BELOVED BY THE SOUTH
General Gordon Is .taw the Last of
the Confederate Lieutenant-Gen-earIs--feHIHant
Career of the
DeceasSdf
HIS IXFE AT A GLANCE.
Born in Edgefield, S. C, January 8,
1S21.
Graduated from "West Point, 1842.
Served in Mexcan, Indian and Civil
Wars.
Won Utle of Major at Battle of Mo
lino del Key.
Entered the Confederate Army.
One of its most brilliant Generals.
Became Republican after .war.
Appointed Surveyor of Customs at
New Orleans by Grant.
Supervisor of Internal Revenue.
Postmaster at New Orleans.
"United States Minister to Turkey, by
Hayes.
United States Marshal for Georgia,
by Garfield.
United States Commlssoner of Pacific
Railroads, by McKlnley.
ATLANTA, Ga., Jan. 2. General James
Longstreet, soldier, statesman and dlplo
mat, and the last Lleutenant-General of
the Confederate army, with the exception
of General Gordon, died at Gainesville,
Ga., today from an attack of acute pneu
monla. He had been ill two days.
General Longstroe'- was a sufferer from
cancer of onvs eye, "but his general health
had been good until Wednesday, when he
was seized "with a sudden cold, develop
ing later into pneumonia of violent nature.
He was 84 years, old. He is survived by
his wife, two sons and a daughter. He will
be burled at Gainesville, which has been
his home since the Civil War.
(James Longstreet was born in Edge
field district, S. a, January 8, 1S2L His
family removed to Alabama in 1S31, and
he was appointed from that state to the
West Point Military Academy, where
was graduated In 1842, and assigned to
the Fourth Infantry. He was at Jeffer
sou Barracks, Missouri, in 1842-44, on fron
tier duty at Natchitoches, La., 1844-45; in
Texas 1845-46 and in Mexico at the bat
tles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma,
Monterey, "Vera Cruz. Cerro Gordo'. San
Antonio, Churubusco and Moline del Rey,
For gallant conduct in the two latter en
gagements, he was brevetted Captain and
Major, and had already been made First
Lieutenant. February 23. 1847: at the
storming of Chapultepec, September
1S47, he was severely wounded. Hs was
chief commissary of the Department of
Texas, 1S49-51, was commissioned Captain
In December, 1&2, and Major and Pay
master In July, 1858. In 1S61 he resigned
to join the Confederate armv, of which
he was immediately appoinfed Brigadier-
General, and won uistlnctlon in the firs
battle of Bull Run, wbere he pr37Vitid a
large force of Federal troops from sup
porting McDowell's flank at tact. On May
6, 1862, he made a brave stand at Wll
liamsburg, where he was attacked by
Helntzleman, Hooker and Kearny, and
held his ground sturdily until Hancock
arrived to reinforce his opponents, when
he was driven back. At the second battle
of Bull Run he commanded the First
Corp3 of the Army of Northern "Virginia.
which came so promptly to the relief of
Jackson when he was hard, pressed by
Pope's army, and by a determined flank
charge decided the fortunes of - the day.
He led the right flank of the Army of
Northern Virginia at Gettysburg, and
CONFEDERATE GENERAL
tried to dissuade Lee from ordering the
disastrous charge on the third day. When
Lee retreated to Virginia,, General Long-
street, with Ave brigades, was transferred
to the Army of Tennessee under .Bragg,
and at Chlckamauga held the left wing
the Confederate forces. He rejoined Lee
early in 1S64, and was so prominent in the
Battle of the Wilderness that he "was
wounded by the fire of his own troops.
He was In the surrender at Appomattox,
April 9, 1865. Throughout the army he was
familiarly known as "Old -fete, ana was
considered the hardest fighter la the Con
federate service. He also had the un
bounded confidence of his troops, who
ero devoted to him, and the whole army
felt thrilled with renewed ardor in the
presence of the foe, when It became known
down the Una that "Old .rete was up.
General Longstreet took up his residence
In New Orleans after the war. and estab
lished the commercial houje of Longi
street, Owens & Co. He "was appointed
Surveyor of the Port of new urieans uy
President Grant, and was afterward Su
pervisor of Internal Revenue in Louiei-
ana, ana .fostmasier ul cw uiicauo,
in lSSO he was sent as United States Min
ister to Turkey by President Hayes, and
under Garfield as was united states Mar
shal for the district of Georgia.)
ONE OF LAST OF NAPOLEONS.
pVlncess Mathilde, "the Good Prin
cess" to Fjrance, Is Dead.
PARIS. Jan. 2. Princess Mathilde, tho;
only daughter 'of Prince Jerome Bona-g
parte, died here at - 7 ociock tonignui
Shortly before the' Princess expired thH
Empress Eugenie and Princess Clothllde
visited tho bedside!, ,
TbTe ,eath of Prlnces Mathilde has
caused sorrow throughout' France, not
only Because sne was one oi weiasi
the Napoleon, but because show was al
ways known as "the good Princess."
Count Felury once tpld this story or ner:
'A little cousin of the Princess asked
her. 'Do you know that through Queen
Catherine you are related to almost all
of the reigning houses of Europe?' The
Princess answered: Tis good, tls true:
but what Is that beside being the niece
of Napoleon? "
Prince Jerome Bonaparto arranged a
marriage between his daughter and Louis
Napoleon, but without success. The pre
tender, who later became Emperor, caused
the breaking off of the match, and this
rupture was followed by Princess Ma
thilde s marriage to Count Demldonr, a
rich Russian. Whilo they were in St.
Petersburg Emperor Nicholas conceived
great affection for the Princess ana
gave her a decree of divorce when she
was no longer able to livo with her hus
band. During tho presidency of Louis Napo
leon Prlncesa Mathilde managed his house
and dispensed the honors, retiring grace
fully to her personal studies when Louis
Napoleon married. During that epoch sho
was regarded as one of- the most beautiful
women In France, combining as she did
the French type of beauty with Italian
vivacity.
Since the fall of the empire Princess Ma
thilde had maintained a salon In Paris,
which was frequented by celebrities of the
art, literary and military worlds and by
diplomatists and foreign Princes. Until
her last illness the Princess was deeply
Interested in politics, and It is said that
after Joseph Remach's defense of ex-Cap
tain Dreyfus she eent to Relnach her card
initialed "P. Ft C." (Pour prendre oonge).
a punishment abe meted out to au who
displeased her
CONTENTS OF TODAY'S PAPER
Par Eastern Situation-
Marine Insurance companies make great ad
vances in rates. Page 1.
China regards war as Inevitable. Page 1.
Japan demands same rights in Corea as Rus
sia lays claim to In Manchuria. Page 3.
British masses are heart and soul with Japan.
Page 3.
If Japan sees Russia will not accept her pro
posals, she will not hesitate to declare
war. Page 1.
Chicago Theater Fire., ,
Mayor closes all the theaters. Page 1.
City suspends business and observes a day of
mourning. Page 2.
Scene-shifter declares curtain caught on re
flector carelessly left open. Page 2.
Managers of Ill-fated theater arrested on
charge of manslaughter. Page 2.
Notable Dead.
General James longstreet, the famous Con
federate general. Is dead. Page 1.
Princess Mathilde, one of the last of the
Napoleons, Is dead. Page 1.
Domestic.
Horace O. Burt, president of the Union Pa
ctSc, resigns; Harriman Is almost sure to
succeed him. Page 1.
Countess Es ternary sued for $100,000 for
alienating affections of Virginia couple.
Page 3..
Sports.
Favorites take only two races on tho closing
day at Ingleslde. Page 14.
Lucas is working for a Montana-Utah league.
Page 14. .
Pacific Coast.
Montana farmer meets a gang of white-
cappers with blood-letting fusillade of rifle
shots. Page 6.
Oregon's expenses for 1004 amount to $1,403,
310; apportionment oi counties. Page C
Nicholas Elchner. 7-year-old Baker City
schoolboy, brutally beaten, dies from oper
atlon. Page 6.
Amalgamated miners at coroner's inquest
swear that fatal explosion In the Michael
Davitt followed attempt to smoke them out.
Page "7.
"Washington shingle mill combine expects large
profits during the coming year. Page 7
Commercial and Marine.
Violent break in stock prices at New York on
war rumors. Page 15.
Review of week in "Wall street. Page 15.
Bank statement shows further loan expansion.
Page 15.
"Wheat jumps three cents at Chicago on war
news. Page 15.
Four-cent advance in wheat at San Francisco.
Page 15.
Portland and Vicinity.
Four cities apply for permission to erect Y,
M. C. A. buildings. Page 16.
Mayor "Williams will not remove Chief of Po
lice Hunt.' Page 18.
Strong assurances given that Dlx will come to
Portland. Page 10.
Oregon presbytery will be asked to decide who
are elders of Grand Avenue Church.
Page 2S.
First steel frame building in Portland is be
ing erected. Page 16.
Oregon Fish and Game Association elects of
ficers. Page 12.
Features and Departments.
Editorial. .Page 4.
Church announcements. Page 36.
Classified advertisements. Pages 24-27.
Bears at the City Park make their bows.
Page 40.
Measuring a tired child's brain. Page 31.
Golden days of whale fishing. Page 30.
: Book reviews. Page 36.
Greatest problem of the Nation. Page 30.
Chlmmle Fadden. Page" 32.
Portland consumes 8000 pies a day. Page 40.
Tom Fitch's resolutions. Page 31.
Household and fashions. Pages 34 and 35.
Youths. Pages 3S and 39.
Ten Years of Oregon. Page 37.
Social. Pages 20 and 21..
Dramatic Pages IS and 10.
Y Musical. Page 2
BURTTIHES OF IT
Labor Trouble Impels
Him to Resign.
HEAD OF UNION PACIFIC
Harriman. Is Almost Sure to
Assume the Position.
DIRECTORS' EXPRESSED WISH
He Also Desires to Be President of
tho Lines He Owns or Controls-
Burt Will Make Trip Around
the World.
HORACE G. BURT.
Born In Indiana, 1849.
Graduated from University of Michi
gan, 1S73.
Entered service of Milwaukee-Northwestern,
1873.
Became chief engineer of road, 1SS2.
Superintendent of Iowa division,
1SS3-SS.
General manager Fremont-Missouri
Valley road. 18S8-1S06.
Third vice-president Northwestern
Railway, 180G-03.
President Union Pacific, 180S-1004.
NEW YORK, Jan. (Special.) Horace
-. Burt has resigned as president of the i
Union Pacific Railroad, and will make an
extensive tour arouna the world. His
resignation is in the hands of tho direc- j
tors, and will probably be accepted at
the next meeting, which will be held
within a few days.
It can be stated with almost official
certainty that Edward H. Harriman will
succeed to the presidency of the road, as
he did to the presidency of the Southern
i'aclhc on the retirement of C. M. Hays,
nearly two years ago.
Mr. Harriman is now president of the
Oregon Short Line, of the O. R. & N.
Co., and it is said to have been his
purpose from the start eventually to be
at the head of all the properties which
he owns or controls. It is due, it is
said, to. the. expressed wish of the directors
of thevarious railroads which comprise
the, Harriman system.
Although the retirement of Mr. Burt
comes In the nature of a surprise, it is
stated emphatically by those high in
Mr. Harrlman's confidence that it is not
due to friction nor to the slightest dis
satisfaction on the part of Mr. Harriman
with the Burt administration. It is ex
plained by Mr. Burt's friends that his
work as president has proved distasteful
to him, and that he has desired for more
than a year to retire from the position.
This feeling on his part, no doubt, in
creased by the continued and severe labor
troubles which, for nearly 18 months, have
interfered materially with the efficient
operations of the railroad. Mr. Burt Is
essentially a civil engineer, and the bent
of his mind is such that the constant
annoyances of railway management has
severe effect upon him.
Whether the retirement of Mr. Burt,
who states that he has no plans for the
future other than the world's tour, was
hastened by criticism, it is undoubtedly the
fact that'it fits in with the plans which
Mr. Harriman has for the Union Pacific,
and which do not require the services
of an expensive president. As president
of . tho company, It is probable that Mr.
SENATOR FRANCIS E.
A LEADER IS THK FIGHT FOR LAND-LAW REFORM.
Harriman will draw a nominal salary,
as he does "with tho Southern Pacific, and
will' have personal direction of all his
properties.
During his six years in the presidency
of tho Union Pacific Mr. Burt has in
augurated and carried to successful con
clusion' some of the greatest engineering'
undertakings in railroad history. It is
understood that' the suggestion for all
the big Union Pacific improvements" came
from Mr. Burt, and that he found little
difficulty in securing the support of Mr.
Harriman in carrying them through.
rFom Omaha to Ogden the Union Pacific
has practically been rebuilt; mountain
grades have been reduced materially, tun
nels have been dug and ravines filled, at
a total cost of nearly $40,000,000. Mr Burt
.also 13 given a large share of credit for
the inauguration of the Ogden-Lucln cut
off on the Southern Pacific, which cost
nearly $5,000,000, and which engineers for
years had declared could not bo con
structed, '
UNPOPULAR WITH LABOR.
Strikes Under Burk's Regime Cost
the Union Pacific Heavily.
OMAHA, Jan. 2. (Special.) Although It
had been rumored from time to time that
there were to be important changes on
some of the Harriman lines. the resigna
tion of pfes'iSjnt Burt ot the Union Pa
cific, was unexpected." Mr? Burt said today
he had no plans for the future, and that
1 his retirement from the company was due
osolely to his desire to take a long rest
after over 35 years of railroad service,
Soon he proposes, accompanied by Mrs.
Burt, to make a trip around, tho world.
and after that, ho declares, he expects to
make his home in Omaha. This being the
case, it is probable that Mr. Burt means
to retire permanently from railroad serv
ice, which his large wealth would easily
enable him to do. It Is generally thought,
however, that he will not care to make a
permanent retirement at the ago of 54, and
will again be seen in the railroad service.
The impression exists ,n Omaha that
Mr. Burt's resignation was hastened by
the labor troubles which recently, have
been settled, and which have reduced ma
terlally tho Union Pacific revenues during
the last 18 months. The shopmen over
the entire system first struck for higher
wages, and when the matter was settled
and they returned to work It was only to
find that piecework had been Inaugurated
in all the Union Pacific shops. Another
strike was precipitated, and the engine-
men sympathized with the shopmen, mak
ing the situation a serious one. The strike
badly crippled the power and equipment
of the Union Pacific, and by the uncom
promising measures employed by Presi
dent Burt, he became unpopular with the
labor element. Apparently, he was un
able to cone with the situation, as on
three occasions committees of shopmen
went from Omaha to New York to con
sult with E. H. Harriman.
Officials of the Union Pacific, nowever.
declare that Mr. Burt's policy met the full
approval of Mr. Harriman and the Union
Pacific directory. However this may be,
the old Union Pacific loyalty among em
ployes was severely shattered.
CAREER OF RETIRING OFFICIAL
He Has Been Actively Engaged In
Railroading for 30 Years.
OMAHA, Jan. 2. (Special.) Before he be
came president of the Union Pacific, on
January 1, 1S98, Horace Greeley Burt was
for 25 years connected with the Northwest
ern Railway. From 1S96 until 1S98 he was
third vice-president of that company, In
charge of trafflc, and was succeeded by H.
R. McCullough. Mr. Burt was born In Jan
uary, 1S49, and was graduated from the
High School In Te'rre Haute in 1867, and
from the University of Michigan in 1873,
After his graduation he went with the
Milwaukee & Northern, and on March 1,
1873, he accepted a position on the engi
neering force of the Northwestern. Nine
years later he became chief engineer of
th road, which position he held for one
year, when he' was made superintendent
of the Northern Iowa .and Iowa divisions
of the road. From November 1, 1SS8, to
July, 1396, Mr. Burt was general manager
of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Val
ley road, a part of the Northwestern sys
tem, and during 1896 was made general
manager of the St. Paul, Minneapolis &
Omaha.
WARREN, OF WYOMING
ALL ARE CLOSED
ChicagoTheatersHave
to Lock Up.
ORDER OF MAYOR
Stringent Rules Are to
Be Enforced.
ASBESTOS CURTAINS TO CO
1
Steel-Roll Ones Alone
Pass Inspection
Will
"SPOT" LIGHTS UNDER A BAN
Managers Make Great Effort to Se
cure a Postponement of the Action,
but Executive Fears a Second
Iroquois Disaster.
THE NEW REGULATIONS.
Steel-roll curtains,
"Wide exits.
No combustibles of any kind.
Fireproof scenery.
No calcium or "spot" lights.
Automatic skylights to permit egress
of smoke.
Separate stairways and exit to each.
CHICAGO, Jan. 2. Tonight every the
ater in the city of Chicago is dark, and
its -doors are locked. Not one of them will
be open, to the public until their man.
agers have complied in the fullest man-
ner with every section of the ordinances
regulating playhouses.
The order compelling the theaters to,
close was Issued thi3 afternoon by Mayor
Harrison, after a conference with Cor
poration Counsel Tolman, who assured "
the Mayor that ampla legal ground ex
isted for his action.
Seventeen theaters and museums wera
closed last night, and the sweeping order
of the Mayor today shut the doors of 1C
more. These last are the leading thea
ters In the business section of the city
and are the Studebaker, Grand Opera-
House, McVicer's, La Salle, Garrick, Illi
nois and Powers, Calumet, Cleveland,
Columbus, Trocadero, People's Institute,
Haymarket and Hopkins. The last two
are owned and controlled by Messrs.
Powers & Davis, the managers of tho
ill-fated Iroquois.
The Garrick Theater closed today is not
to be confounded with the Garrick closed
yesterday, it being one of the largest
playhouses in the city, while the ono
concerning which action was taken yes
terday, is a much smaller house, in tho
Northwest portion of, the city.
The Auditorium is not included In. the
list. This hall is open occasionally and
not regularly as are tho other theaters.
There is no engagement there at present,
and none in the immediate future. While
technically a theater, it Is generally con
sidered as a hall for great and special
gatherings..
Reason for the Order.
The 17 places of amusement which wera
shut last night were closed for the one
reason that they were not provided with
an asbestos curtain. The further action
taken today is in consequence of viola
tions of other sections of .the ordinance
regulating theaters.
There was a hasty rush of theatrical
managers to the office of Mayor Har
rison in the effort to secure the with
drawal, or at least a postponement of tha
order, but their reception was of an ex
ceedingly frosty nature. They were In
formed by the Mayor that the inspectors
had reported every one of them violators
of the law, and he was determined it
should not be said hereafter that the city
had neglected anything which could pre
vent a repetition of the horror of last
Wednesday afternoon.
The fact that the asbestos curtain in
the Iroquois Theater was so badly wreck
ed by the fire, that charred portions of It
have been, carried away by the various
investigating committees, caused the com
mittee to decide that asbestos curtains
could not be relied upon to afford. tho
most complete protection.
The New Rules.
It was announced that every theater in
the city must hereafter comply with tho
following provisions before they will he
allowed o open:
"Steel roll curtains, wide exits, no com
bustibles of any kind in the house fur
nishings, fire-proof scenery, no calcium or
'spot' lights to be used in stage, sky
lights above the stage provided with
automatic lids to permit the egress of
smoke, fire and gas, separate stairways,
each exit having its own stairs leading
to the street."
After Issuing his sweeping order, Mayor
Harrison said:
"I do not wish to assume responsibility
for these theaters. The order was is
sued to make It certain that no precau
tion to insure the safety of audiences had
been neglected. It is quite probable that
(the owners of the theaters may sustain
,
(Concluded on Page 2.)