The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-20
HORRORS OF
THE MORGUE.
An Institution That Is a Disgrace
to San Francisco.
Shameful Mismanagement of Public Office in
Which There Should Be the Most Con-
So siderate Attention.

prominent citizen who was juror recently
at an Inquest held by the Coroner was heard TO
exclaim IN astonishment, as this our Morgue?
1t Is disgrace TO any civilized city. This Is nor
rbe. disgusting, repusive."
He had seen the p ace where the dead are re-
ceyed a The tender sympathy and regard Tor
their memory desecrat d, and be had served on
one of the jurIes at one Of the inquests where
metaphoriealIy skeletons are ratified before Il 9
eyes of suffering jurors and listened unwilling Y
to ridiculous questions that were very ttresome.
But lie had not seen 1t all by any means. His
was only vision similar In In 5aSur5 TO The fash
Of the instantaneous camera.
kiYet, bad as what he had seen is AMI i'll worse
what he had not, the m Judgement of this public
office is apparently emueutly satisfactory to the
Democratic politicians.
SHAMEFUL NEGLECT.
1T is a disgrace TO a civilized city" These
words of the juror have often been repeated by
men who know more OF the workings of the
place. The present state of the Morgue has
been commented on repeatedly by habltues Of
the old City Hall Indeed It is quite often the
subject OF conversation among the police and
other freQuenters OF Dunbar alley, who have
seen II under previous administrations and re-
member the reforms which they introduced.
They say that in comparison the Morgue Is about
in tie same arbarouS condition as when IL was
a private concern years ago In an undertaken 5
establishment. Gradually the Morgue has been
sinking INTO Inc ueptDS where IL ndu lung ago
been without eltler head or tail TO It's afair
During recent months il has been Shamefuily
neglected aud allowed to run itself almost.
Politics have been playing sad havoc with IL.
Coroner Eaton receives a salary OF $4,000 a
year for his services as Coroner. He Is seldom.
If ever seen at the MOrgue except when an in
quest compels him to be present. The nveStiga-
ton requires but a short time, and then the Cor
oueI's work appears TO be at an end uutll another
inquest calls him there.
LEFT TO DEPUTIES.
He goes away; leaving the public institution to
be cared for by his deputies, who IN turn appear
TO take as much interest in il as do their superior
The natural sequence follows-neglect aud for
getfuness OF responsibility. And this extends TO
every branch, clerical. treatment of cOrpses post
mortem examinations, sanitation, cleanliness
everything except perhaps tile disposal oil oodle S
mediate attention. So the Molgue is truly dis.
grace TO San francisco, an eyesore to observing
men and stencil literally III their nosirils.
An examination OF the place by CALL repre-
sentative, who placed II in comparison with the
MoTgues OF Eastern cities, caused HIM 10 be I'M
pressed forcibiy Will The following condition OF
Ice is an unknown quantity In the place. No
matter al what time of the year or the tempera-
ture OF the season. todies are left on rusty slabs
without even The customary dripping OF water
from elevated piDes-to decompOse as rapidly as
they may, and, fostering with rampant neglect [,
to emit most foul and nosome doors.
A SICKENING SMELL.
The smell coming from below permeates the
offices on the FIRST floor, and mas IN The course OF
time impIegnated the papeTed walls and carpets
with a sickenng, aI-peTvadiug odor OF musLi-
ness mud decay. Oitentmes when many per
sons not Injured to such an atmosphere attend
inquests al the MOrgue, the smell from neglected
remains is oppressive.
White sheets TO spread over bodies on the slabs
are also unknown in the place. There is very
little use for them, however, as things are man
aged at present, for the remains are seldom ex-
posed on slabs. When taken inside In re
ceiyer," or wooden coffin, the body is holsted on
al elevator TO the autopsy-room, or, as Inc de-
parImenI is vulGarly, though not inappropriately,
called, I" the butcher-shop." There 1t Is nam
died behind the scenes, and an autopsy, which
may reveal some wonderful results is made.
Some doctors would have the temeritY TO say
that the deceased had met his death through
pneumonia. The autopsy would show fracture
OF The skull and meningitis" or a similar cause
PECULIAR AUToPsIES.
And, again QhOugh this casa is given by way
of an Illustration OF the value of Morgue post
moItem examiuatons), IL Is well-known fact
that the detectives complain that IN many cases
II a uaus death be accidental the autopsy shows
that it was a murder. and, II murder, that II
was accidental or natural. The only motive, II
is alleged. can be 10 give The Police Department
trouble. ,u,o.,,,,. 49,, ..r,,o. .eo.,or !,
"a body found in the bay-is received aud can
not be identified 1t is placed in receiver and
laid not on a slab under white sheet with the
features exposed and ice around IL, but in the
ugly box outside The railing, where people may
walk around it.
Its only covering when the clothes are re-
moved, which is rarely The case, is coal Sc,
vari colored blanket, suspiciously Ike horse
cover, with streaks OF red, yellow, blue auc
goodness knows how many bright hues.
A dirty, colored blanket over the dead. II is
SO striking contrast glaringly lnappfOpr late
beside the pallid and solemn face Of death That
many idle stroller happening In goes away
uDedifed and greatly surprised at what he has
seen.
There are four or six slabs behind a railing,
placed there at considerable expense 10 the city,
with water-pipes and modern improvements, but
they are never used. In other places where
nothing should be but daily spray from the
hose, may be seen heaps Of old rubbish such
as clothes. To such extent has neglect
taken the place of vigilance and attention that
the Morgue is almost deserted by its officials
and left in the OF private employee, who
attends 10 all kinds of business, from occupying
seat in the 1uIy-bOx TO taking the part Of gen
eral rOustabout.
This state of decay and mismanagement may
not be wholly LAID TO the deputies. Rather
should The men who selected inexperienced as.
oistants be accountable, for IL seems to Il casual
observer that the deputies have not the rlght
| idea OF Morgue management.