The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-07
THE GRIPPE In HOBOKEN.
One Undertaken is Burying an
Average of Seven Persons Day.

The death rate in Hoboken for the past
two weeks shows an alarming increase
in the number of deaths from pneumonia
Several of the undertakers said this
morning that although the number of
funerals in the city had been greatly exss
aggerated, business was exceedingly
brisk and that they were worked very
hard
SEVEN FUNERALS DAY.
The man who has had the most funerals
of late has been Coroner. John F. O'Hara.
Since New Years Day he has buried on
an average of seven persons day.
When I called on Mr.. o. Hara at his
residence on Washington street, last
night, there was pile of coffins and rude
pine boxes piled on the sidewalk and
another pile in the shop.
"Yes, he said, 81 have been very busy
| for the last week and have had very little
sleep, working night and day. On New
| Years Day buried eight bodies, and
since that time have buried on an aver
age of seven day. 1t has been the heav-
| lest week have had since | have been in
/ the business"
What do you find has been the cause
| of death as rule P'' / asked.
IN THE PRIME OF LIFE.
"In nine cases out of ten pneumonia,
and the, majority of deaths were of mid
| dle-aged persons who seemed to be pos
sessed of the best of health. On New
| Years day l buried Mr. Stover. He wBs
| only 40 years of age, and prior to his
illness seemed to be i'll perfect health.
| "On the Sd buried Matthew Fitz-
| patrick, the contractor. He was only
| Jhirty-one years of age and in robust
health prior to contracting the cold,
| which develoDed into pneumonia.
| could go on relating dozen similar cases
in which the dead were in the prime of
! life.
"on the Saturday before New Years
| buried James Seymour, brother to Judge
buried the Judges sister. Both died
| from pneumonia"
When called at MIR. Cranes place he
was not in, but his assistant Mr.. Ranges,
| informed me that they were kept very
| busy. Mr.. Crane has buried on an aver
| age three bodies day. In nearly all the
! cases pneumonia was the cause of death.
BUSINESS DULL HERE.
| AT Pars]oW'S undertaking establish
ment, on Washington street, Mr.. Apple
| gate informed me that business was
| rather dull and he had not noticed an in
crease in the number of deaths. Mr..
| Parslow's business comprises the aristo-
cratic portion of Hoboken, and perhaps
| this explains the cause of his dullness.
| A pile of coffins about eight feet high,
| lying on the sidewalk outside of Under
taker Devitt's place on Washington street,
made my question as to how business was
appear rather superfuous.
~ have seldom been so busy" Mr.
Dewitt said. "You have no idea of the
number of people dying. l am kept on
the jump all the time, and have had
scarcely any rest. Pneumonia seems to
| be the cause of a majority of the Deaths"
At Grimm's place of business on First
street his assistant informed me that
during the past week they had buried
more persons than at any time during the
| past five years.
PARALYZING BUSINESS.
| There are ten policemen laid up with
| the grippe. All of the factories are run
| ming two-thirds force, and the Hoboken
| Land and Improvement Company are
running with about one-half their usual
| force of men. This morning John Doorley
| the twenty -four-year-old brother of Tim
Doorley. of Corporation Attorney Min
| a.. 1F