"I am only surprised that you escaped alive to tell of it," softly commented the coroner.
CHAPTER XX.
LACK OF FIRE SAFEGUARDS.
Examination of Robert E. Murray, engineer of the theater, and through that fact, the man in charge of its machinery and mechanical equipment, revealed in a startling way the absolute unpreparation for fire or emergency that characterized the palatial opera house. Coroner, jury and spectators alike were stirred by the confession of absolute disregard for life evinced by the management and the certainty that no thought had been given to the possibility of a fire.
The entire fire equipment of the Iroquois as described by Murray consisted of two kilfyre tubes on the stage and one below the stage; a two inch stand pipe on the stage, two under the stage, and one near the coatroom in the front of the house. Only one of these, that in the front of the house, was equipped with hose. The kilfyre tubes were two inches in diameter and eighteen inches long. Incidentally Murray said that the ferrule along the bottom of the "asbestos" curtain was of wood, and not iron.
Questions and answers touching on these conditions, as given under oath, follow:
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.