New-York tribune., 1876-12-07
a part Of human body and q thigh were found
eharred beyond hope Of recognition.
REMOVING THE CoRPsEs.

REMOVING THE C0RPSES.
ALI, THE uNDERTAKERs' WAGONS IN BRooKLYS
INADEQUATE FOR CARRYING THRM AWAY
pRoNPrLY-ExcIrED CROWDS THRoNG1NG TO
THE sCENE-THB CHASTITY BURDENS on THK
WAGONS.
A dense crowd filed the streets in the vicinity OF
tbe pace of the disaster at an early hour yesterday
morning A Gordon of police was formed across
Washington-st near its junction with Fulton-aVe.
and at its intersection with Johnson-st but outside
of this line the multitude pressed closely one upon
another, striving to catch glimpse OF the ruins
and of the work which was in progress. Similar
throngs filed all the streets through which the veh
clcs containing the remains were drven. The crowd
wa. 20 great that il almost an imposslbllity tor
those who permitted 70 enter the lines to make
their way through it. All classes of people COM
posed the asSemblage-wOmen and Children, as wen
as mcn-all drawn to the spot by an excitement
which leyeed all distinctions of age or sex. The
determination on the part of the people to see all
that was possible led them to resort to all sorts Of
subterfuges to gain admission within the
limits, and only the excellent police ar
rangements kept them from encroach-
ing upon the scene Of the disaster and interfering
with those engaged in the labor of removing the
bodies A gentleman who with several companions
was held fast in tho midst of tho surgng crowd,
powerless to move hand or foot said: 1--WE Gre In
much the position as the poor wretches who
persisted last night. Only think how they must
have felt, knowing the flames were close behind
them, while they were helplessly involved in the
mad rush for the stairway" This suggestion was so
shocking as to cause his hearers to shudder invol-
unfairly. The asscmblage generally seemed to
realize the greatness Of the calamity, and hush
unusual in such large gathering held possession OF
L.
mur as ihe wagons with their loads passed through
on their way to the Morgue. Most of the buildings
opposite to the thoater through from street TO
street and the windows of all of them crowded
with spectators, principally women 1t became
necessary to station officers at tho Westinghouse.
entrance of each store to prevent the rush of people
through thom upon the scene. One or two OF the
buildings having low roofs which commanded a
view of the scene were also occupied by the anxious
crowd.
The appearance Of the front of the thcater was
much as usual except that the glass windows in the
tower were broken and the doors were much shat
tered. Dicters restaurant was not materially In-
iurcd and was open. The people who were allowed
10 pass within the limo were gathered III groups
about the entrance to the theater through which the
bodies were brought out. temporary wooden IN
cined plane WIS built from the horrible pit in which
wore carried in boxes covered with blankets.
They were then placed in the undertakers
wagons which wcro in waiting TO carry them TO
tho Morguc. The wagons of all the under
taEcrs in Brooklyn were IN use and were drawn mp
IN line along the edge of the sidewalk. One after
another OF them was backed up to the theater door
TO receive the boxes containing the dead AT inter-
vals of few minutes several men "ould emerge
from the door carrying cofin-shaped, ieaden-hued
box, covered with blanket 10 conceal the ghaStiy
spcctaclc presented by the charrcd and blackened
corpses. The blanket outlined the dcformed apd
shape!ess mass. A hand or foot protrnded above
the box, and in cases the bodies were
stiiicncd in almost n sitting posture. and as
the wagons were driven rapidly mp the street
their heads nodded to and fro beneath the blankets.
or the protruding limbs quyered horribly The
sight caused many strong men to turn away from
the spot with fearful eyes.
Tho First Precinct Staton-honse was filed with
an anxious crowd Of persons inQuring to the fate
Of friends and with officers reporters aud those en-
cagcd in the sad task of removing the dead Be
hind the desk was a large pile Of ovcrcOats, hats,
and clothing Of various kinds, picked up by Officers
about the scene of the disaster.
All day long the work went steadily on, and rs the
nnmLcr of the dead increased far beyond what the
widest rumors had stated 1t, the excitement deep
cnod and an anxious and hcartsicA expression set
tied on the faces of those whose sad duty II was to
assist in the recovery OF the bodies. The ambu-
lanccs aud the wagons Of all the unocrtaLes IN
the city proved inadequate to the task
Of carving away the remains. and large
twohorso truck, were sent for on viii four collins
couId be placed at once. These hastcncd The work,
and the .trcam Of vehicles carrying away the dead
and rcturnln. with the euptrd collins became con
tinuous. The auXions inquiry, Are there many
more ," was net by those eng ccl in the work with
Il dnbiou, shake of the head and they replied, " As
fast as we remove one tier of bodies 9th rs appear
below tLon, and il Is iupos be to tell how many
more NAV remain III that dreadful place"
Meantime tho crowds iH the streets were cOntinu-
ally augmented by men returning from business in
New-Yorl and toward o'clock movement became
dillcnt in any Of the streets leading to the Of
the coilagIation As the magnitude Of the calamity
became known, il seemed to cast pail over the
cty, and iacn spoke in whispers young man
who was detected picking pockets met with rough
usage at the hands Of his cIPtors and the excited
feeling wa displayed the frequent suggestions
rlch were made to lynch thc wretch who would
ply his ncflrious work at such time and place. llo
was searched. and found to have a considerable
variety Of articles upon hln and then locked up in
the First Precinct Staiion-house.
The only body which was not sent to the Morguc or
the Adams Street Market was ulat Of Officer Patrick
McEwon of the Central ONCE Squad, WHO was Oh
duty in the gallery Of the thealer. He was bnrncd
beyond recognition but the body was identified by
ms club, and it was taken into the First Precinct
Police Station and placed in the yard. Police In
spectOr George A. Waddy, who on duty at the
theatcr yesterday, said to Il reporter: " We began
wor, about halfpast three this morning, and the
first body that we discovered was that of a woman
who had caught on projecting portion Of the