The new North-west., 1897-01-29
FEARFUL SUFFERING IN CHICAGO

FEARFUL SUFFERING IN CHICAGO
Police Department Turned Into IL
Vast Relief Corps.
Chicago, Jan, 25.-The cold wave struck
Chicago harder today than either yester-
day or the day before, going materially
under the lowest points Sunday, when the
record of % years was broken. At this
morning the signal service reported the
temperature at 20 degrees below zero, with
no relief in sight. At 8 the tempera ture
was exactly the same A heavy fog came
from the lake, which enveloped the down
town district and made the cold doubly
dangerous. Frozen fingers, noses and ears
We're common occurrences, and numerous
cases of a more serious character were re-
ported.
The police department has been turned
into vast relief corps. Chief of Police
Badenoch has issued orders to every Off
Ger in the city to make a personal invesJi-
cation of all cases of destitution on his
beat and report at once. Help is sent i'm
mediately, and every patrol wagon and in
srectors carriage is being used for This
purpose
At the home of Edwin Martin, 211 West
Ihlrty-first street today it was found that
child died Saturday of starvation. The
family was without food, fuel or money,
and had been for several days.
Only one death from cold had been re-
ported to the police UP to noon, that of
Fred A. Busch, years old who succumb-
ed to exposure. Ambulances, however,
were kept busy conveying people to the
hospitals with feet and hands froze,l
George Grant was found in a freight car
near North street almost dead, with his
feet badly frozen. They will have to be
amputated.
The work of clearing the downtown
streets of snow has been abandoned on ac-
count of the intense cold Many men had
no gloves or overcoats, and nearly 400 were
frostbitten.
Joseph Few, driver on a snowplow of the
street cleaning department, had his body
and limbs so badly frozen that he will
probably die.
On some lines passengers on the street
cars suffered badly. Miss Emma Smith,
while riding from Thirtyfth street TO
Madison, on a Clark street car, became
unconscious and was only resuscitated lf-
ter nearly am hours hard work by physi-
clans. The various police stations were
crowded to the utmost, the Harrison
street station alone sheltering over 300 lln-
fortunates. The Salvation Army barracks
on West Madison street We're kept open all
night and many were taken care of there.
Whistles of distress began to sound
from the Sixty-eghth street crib early this
afternoon, and Il tug was sent out at once.
The crib is about four miles out in the
lake and had run out of coal. Six men
were there at work, and four of them We're
brought back to the city. They had Sc
we're struggle to keep from freezing
throughout Sunday night, but by burning
up everything that was not nailed down,
they managed to get enough fire to gene
rate steam for the whistle.
Chicnso's Coolest Day.
Chicago, JAN 25.-With a minimum OF
20 degrees below zero and a maximum OF
10 below, today was the coldest day in
the history of Chicago. The mercury
hung at the 20 mark from 6 O'Clock to
o'clock AT 8 o'clock the thermometer
showed u below, and continued falling
throughout the night The mean tenn
perature today was Is below, which is
quite the lowest Chicago ever experienced
While there have been days when the
temperature in Chicago was 20 below OF
lower, the maximum temperature on
these occasions has been SO much higher
than the maximum temperature today
that the distinction of being the coolest
day in the history of Chicago will re-
main with January %, 1897.
Appeal From the Mayor.
Chicago, Jan. 25.-Mayor Swift issueG
the following proclamation this after-
noon:
ITO the Generous People of Chicago
The present severe weather must natu
rally excite the keen sympathy of every
kindly disposed person for the worthy
and suffering poor. protracted de
preston in business has thrown thous
andS of men and women out of employ
ment and brought want to families no
previously familiar with it. No startling
emergency exists, but the need natural
ly prevailing in a large city is now con
siderably augmented by continuous hare
times and the terrible cold. You have
ever been found generous in behalf o
many worthy objects, and | think it prop
er at this time and in this way to cal
your attention to the especial occasion
for a manifestation of your usual gener
osity. The distress of women and chill
dren in their homes ought especially Il
be relieved. I ask contributions of mon
ey, food and clothing. Money may b'
sent to E. G. Keith, president of th'
Metropolitan National bank, and al
money contributions should be desgnat
ed as intended for The Mayors Relic
Fund This will be expended under th
direction of the general superintendent
of police for the purchase of food ant
fuel. GEORGE z. SWIFT, Mayor"
Mayor Swift also issued an appeal Il
the big packers, coal dealers and mer
chants for contributions and supplies t,
relieve the suffering.
Heavy contributions kept coming in al
day.
On the board of trade several THOUSAND
dollars was subscribed in a few min
utes.
Big department stores and dry good
merchants sent in checks for $500 AM
$1,000.