The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-27
THIS IS HORRIBLE.
The Criminal Negligence Of the
New York Authorities.
RECOVERY OF THE DEAD BODIES
Delayed While omcials cayil About
Which Department Of the City
Should Bear tho Expcnse---Awful
Condition of the cBodies--over Sixty
Victims of tho Park Place Disaster.

Victims OF tnc fafk fluCe DlAuStcEs
NEw York, Aug. 2O.-The work OF
delving for the dead in the ruins Of the
Taylor building continued uninter-
rupted through the night. The first
body taken out after midnight was dis
covered at 1:l5 a. m. 1t was that Of
man about five feet seven inches in
height, with the arms and the lower
part Of the left leg burned of. The
clothing was also burned off and the
body was burned and deComposed be-
yond recognition.
At l:25 q. IN. there was taken out the
body OF q man about thirty years old.
The head was separated from the body,
which was burned beyond recognition.
Even all the clothing had been burned
of. The body OF woman was found
at l 80 q. IN. The body was burned be-
yond recognition.
At 1850 there was found the body OF
man weighing about ITO pounds, The
clothing wns burned off, The body OF
another woman about twenty-three
years old was found ut q. m. At 4:55
the body of Morris A. Haring, OF Jersey
City, was taken out. II was identified
by his brother. At G:50 there was re-
covered the body OF q man forty years
old. The body Of young man about
nineteen years old was found at $3.50 a.
m. This made eight bodies recovered
between midnight and $3.50, bringing
the total number Of bodies recovered up
10 this time to IS,
FEARFUL SCENES.
"Any one here looking for sister,
mother, friend2 If SO step to the
coffin and identity this body" This
was the command that Jared the
strained nerves Of the watchers beside
the death pit last night as each body
was thrown out 1t was mere quip OF
the law, mocking formula to shield
the fearful criminality OF incompetent
authorities. Every body recovered last
night was q reeking nest OF maggots.
That human beings should SO far forget
their duty to the dead as to leave them
rotting and purifying in vast mouldy
pit for three days, ii presented as an in
cident in a romance, would be con-
demned us a violation OF decency and
an insult even to mans imagination.
Yet, such were the revelations which
last nights labor caused, and further
proved that these horrors could have
been averted if proper decency and
common humanity rules at all among
men. There should be no mercy for
such criminal negligence Of men that
will lead them to permit their fellow
men to rot in very chaos Of pestilent
ruins for the sake Of political red tape
and personal interest.
COULD HAVE BEES AVOIDED.
There are three men whose
names should earn the praise
and gratitude Of all self respect
ing men and women. They are
Dr.. King d. Page, who volunteered his
services in assisting to identity the
bodies, and has worked fifteen hours
out OF the twenty-iour ever since the
calamity; T. i. Crimmins, who being
shrewdfy aware OF promises made by
the city in this matter, stated last night
that he would pay for the labor Of his
men ll25) now at work on the ruins, II
necessary, aud who has practically
shown, with prompt action, all the bod
les could have been recovered before
putrliaction destroyed NIL chance OF
recognition; and Chief Of Battalion
eastman, who has worked with un-
tagging energy to expedite the recovery
of the bodies.
The heads of various city departments
seem to have been more anxious that
the expense attending the work should
not be charged to their particular ac-
count than that the bodies OF the dead
should be recovered before all chance OF
identifying them was gone.
Ever since Saturday night the work
Of clearing out the ruins has been great
ly delayed by the presence OF huge
mound Of debris blocking up the street
in front, and leaving no place to deposit
the wreckage taken out, and yet it was
not till last night that any steps were
taken, and only then because city con-
tractor stepped in and offered to pay for
the work himself il tho city officials
could not decide which department
shouldpay the bills. The pile Of wreck
age in the street is now rapidly disap-
bearing and by night will be gone, but
no city official Is to be thanked.
MORE noDrEs.
At 7:SO o'clock the body OF another
man was taken from the ruins. The
body was badly burned and decom-
posed. Fifteen minutes later in the
same spot was found the body OF an
other man. Th4 body was burned and
horribly decomposed.. At s o'clock the
body OF n man about forty was taken
out. At tl0:30 there was taken out the
body of young woman, apparently
twenty-five years OF age. Unlike the
greater number OF other bodies recov-
cred it was not burned, and though the
face is distorted and badly decomposed,
recognition would seem possible. The
hands were raised as II she had died
while praying.
Shorty before II o'clock the search
for bodies in the cellars OF 6s and 10
was abandoned. All the debris had not
by any means been removed, but il was
stated what remained there had been
thoroughly examined and that no more
bodies remained in 1t. Work was then
concentrated on the cellars Of 72 and "A.
About 1890 o'clock Mayor Grant, ac-