The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-20

The Chicago newspapers arc peculiarly
sweet to read just now. We hope they are
not read by persons in foreign parts. or
translated for the benefit or the bane OF
Europe and Asia and the isles Of the sea-
Americans are philosophers and acquainted
with the eccentric conditions OF Chicago.
1t doesn't surprise. however much it may
pain. the native and the naturalized citizen
to read in the Cook county chroniclers that
masked highwaymen infest the place. that
the police are useless. that there is no more
money for cleaning the streets, that there
are floods of filth therein. as the Inter-
Ocean confesscs. not without sObs: that in
short the air is choking smoke. the surface
unfathOmable mire and slime. and the fOun-
dation OF the welkin-chipping buildings
mere ooze aud qucksand. Foreigners. es-
pecially if they have intended to visit the
Fair. might be deferred by these little &C.
centrcitics. Indeed. many n man has won
the Victoria Cross for deed Of less daring
than will be shown by the stranger ventur-
ing within the gates of Chicago.
But to the Chicagoans themselves this
state Of things seems as normal as sunrise.
A certain bravado. a veritable mOrtuary
passion. may be detected in their bearing.
Every person in the town lives in the cx-
pectation OF a violent demise either from
the cable cars or from the steam cars at the
grade crossings. We fnd therefore, that
the Coroner is the busiest man in town
which prides itself on being busy. This
official, who is kept in the background in
most communities. and has acquired in this
town, for instance, social rather than
mortuary distinction, is in Chicago the
nj uo IL a.,
so by any inflated idea Of his own impor-
tance, but by the simple necessities of life.
or rather OF death. in Chicago. He is sought
with prediction and almost passion
which remind you Of the Ddnse .MacGbre Of
the middle ages. Thus the Nrrs Record
has an interview with him. an interview
full of cheerful omeR to intending visitors.
We don't mention these things wantonly or
irrcvcrcntly: they have severe interest to
| everybody in view OF the continual round
| OF pleasure and expense to which the Windy
City will invite the attention and presence
OF mankind in 1898 Therefore the gloomy
prophecy of Coroner NIcIIALE, who is look
ing at the Worlds Fair from IL grewsome
point of view" is Il necessary part of con-
temporary information. We must listen to
Coroner MCHALE. no matter how unpleas-
ant his remarks may be:
II have made up my mind that separate arrange.
mons wiz have to he made for deaths occurring at tho
grounds or in transit to and the grounds 1t will
no necessary in the first place. haye held As
possible after the deaths This will grow out
OF the fact that NJ KIND ni he pors N
ouao II will not he right to detsn tho body IN the
city and a'ong with 1t the friends for several days in
order to hold the inquest. And. again it will be use.
less annoyance and expense to have the bodies OF nm
known persons taken the Morgue or other p.ce for
Identification when tho whole trend Of travel viii be
in another direction. In addition to this many OF the
persons who viii witness accidents resulting in death
will not he citizens OF Chicago A man will perhaps
be run over by locomotive The psopIs who will ses
II will probably be from various parts OF the country
They would have no objection to testfying II they
could do without inconvenience but they would not
want TO take any chance OF being detained in Chicago
No. the witnesses would not care to
lnger. 1t would be too dangerous It is
dangerous enough now, as Coroner McHALE
went on to explain to the reporter who had
casually dropped an inquiry as to 1.-THE
present death rate from accident and
violence People do not realize" said
the Coroner, the frghtfnl sacrifice OF life
In Chicago During the last twelve months
nearly twenty-thrce hundred bodies were
handled by the CorOner's Office. Tho total
number OF deaths for the same time was
believe. about thrty-hve thousand. Thus,
the deaths from violence or unknown
causes were nearly per cent. OF the total
number The Coroner looks forward to a
large business:
of course our force will have to greatly Increased
Besides those accidents which will from the crush
At Jackson Park tho ordinary classes violent
will be increased in number. Mere trains will be rim
on all the railroads the will DO crowded tho
street.car lines will have moro passenger the eeys.
tors will be jammsd tho crowded condition iof tho
city will increase the deaths from sunstroke IL hot
weather Is experienced"
Coroner McHALE thinks Two shall need
regular Coroner's office at tho grounds"
Yes. lie ought to have one Of the buildings.
IL would be grave discourtesy not to give
GROWERS quest law to the visitors as soon
as they are killed.
TInu