Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1897-01-28

Through the complete organization
of the force, covering the entire city by
divisions and precincts, and the elab.
crate telephone system by which each
precinct may be in ready communica.
ton with the headquarters of the de-
partment, the mayor hopes to prevent
the loss of life which might ensue
through more tardy means Of dealing
with urgent cases.
Mayor Personally Responsible.
II is the mayors purpose, pending
the time when the work of relief
through intelligence gathered by the
police can be put into organized form,
to be personally responsible for what.
ever sums it may be necessary to ex-
pend to relieve extreme cases Of need,
and save tho poor from freezing or
starving.
Fifteen hundred homeless men par.
took of the hospitality Of the city
Sunday night, and slept under the
roofs Of the police stations.
Fifty.three persons were listed as
overcome by the terrible cold in Chi
cago, and were rescued in partly
frozen condition. One death occurred
which was due to the cold, and num-
ber Of people are likely to die az re.
suit of frozen limbs or exposure. Most
Cf the sufferers succumbed to the cold
while about their usual tasks, but a
number of the victims were homeless
wanderers.
In the Northwest the temperature
went down to so below at Medicine
Hat. From meteorological stand
point, the cold wave is especially inter-
esting. 1t was caused in the first place
by tremendous atmospheric pressure
in the extreme Northwest, the barom-
eter there registering 311a inches.
This is pilenuu1en,.i, FIufessur GarriuIJ
says, the highest reading in his men,
ory.
Street Force Badly Frozen.
Only one death had been reported to
the police up to noon, that Of Freda
Busch, years old, who succumbed as
the result Of exposure. The ambulances,
however, were kept busy conveying
people to the hospitals with their feet
and hands frozen. George Grant was
found in freight car near North
street, almost dead, with his feet SO
badly frozen that they will have to be
amputated The work of clearing the
down town streets of snow has been
abandoned on account of the intensity
of the cold. Many of the men had no
gloves or overcoats and nearly 400 of
them were more or less severely FROST
bitten.
Joseph Fey, driver on snow plow
of the street clearing department had
his body and limbs SO badly frozen that
he will probably die. Many of the
men were removed to their homes or
the hospitals in the ambulances. On
some ilnss passengers on the street cars
suffered badly. Miss Emma Smith,
while riding from Thirty fifth street to
Madison, on = Clark street car. became
unconscious, and was only resuscitated
after nearly an hours hard work by
physicians. The various police stations
were crowded to their utmost capacity,
the Harrison street alone sheltering
over 800, ,unfortunates The Salvation
Army barracks on West Madison street
was kept open all night, and many
were taken care of there.
Responding to Calls for Aid.
Mayor Swift has issued an appeal for
aid, calling upon the big packers, coal
dealers and merchants for contribu-
tions and supplies to relieve the suf-
fering. In many instances the procla.
nation was forestalled, and heavy con-
tribations kept coming in all day. On
the floor of the board Of trade SUBJ
scription paper was started and several
thousand dollars subscribed in q few
minutes. The big department stores
and dry goods merchants sent in checks
for $500 and 81, 900.
Police - . Relief Corps.
The police department has been
turned into q vast relief corps. Chief
of Police Badenoch has issued orders to
every officer in the city ia make per.
sonal investigation of all cases of desti-
tuition on his beat and report the same
at once. Help is sent Immediately,
and every patrol wagon and inspectors s
carriage are being used for this pur.
pose.
One pitiable case of suffering was re-.
ported to the Hyde Park station. At
the home of Edwin Martin, at 251
West Fifty.frst street, was child
that had died Saturday from starvation,
and lay unburied in the house. The
family was without food, fuel or money
and had been for several days.