The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-20
CONFINES OF THE MORGUE
Sights Within the Walls of the
City's DeadhOuse.
Wooden Cupboar;is Resembling Re
Observation-Disclosures Reserved Only
short Time for Identification.
When Unclaimed They Become
Subjects for Medical Students.

Is, happily perhaps, known to but rev peo-
pie. To these who have gone there for
the purpose of Identifying the remains OF
a relative or friend the place is connected
naturally with the most poignant and sor-
rowfuI recolIections, while, with the
great mass of the public, unacquainted
even with its whereabouts. there Is, per-
haps. that interest regarding its lugubri-
GUS history and the events OF which 1t Is
daily the scene, which seems ever attach
ed TO anything in which the unknown and
horrible are commingled.
The building known as the Washington
city morgue is small clubhouse standing
in the rear of the police station on New
Jersey Avenue in the neignborhood of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot The
morgue may be approached either through
q small alley by the side Of the police
station or from a large open lot in the
rea. In the former instance. as in the
reporters visit. one passes the stable IN
which the morguemaster's wagon appro-
priately painted black. even to the large
gong in front, is kept. The functionary
himself displays his taste In mis- card
namented with large deaths head and
crossbones. In company with the gentle
men designated in this card and colored
boy, who is his assistant. we enter low
brick building back of the stable and
stand at once in the presence OF death,
providing, of course, the morgue is not
empty.
particularly chill and damp air greets
one as soon as the rude wooden door is
opened. and the mUrky light falling from
the clouded skylight above, the cold con-
crete floor and plain wooden trimmings
OF the small chamber greet one anything
but pleasantly One is not confronted i'm
mediately, however with the most CHASTITY
feature of the place. Extending across the
back of the apartment is row OF square
wooden eJpboards. which look very like
large refrigerators. Opening the door Of
ore Of these the morguemaster disclOses
the moral remains of one whose career in
this world vas OF exceeding brief dura-
ton, to wit, a small infant, portions Of
whose interior anatomy lying by its side,
reveal the fac that an autopsy has been
conducted. Above the compartments Ice
is kept in warm weather, though in the
winter season the atmosphere Of the
morgue is sufficiently cold to preserve
the bodies the requisite time allowed for
Identification.
What is the proportion of unidentified
cases ?" was asked the morguemaster.
VERY small" replied that individual.
Here, however" he continued, taking
down an old shoe from above the refrig-
orators, "is one such instance. The shoe
in question had evidently been soaked in
water a considerable time. This" went
on the morguemaster, belonged to a man
who was drowned way back last August.
They fshed him up near the Bathing
Beach, but although his identity was
made pretty certain no one claimed the
body, so 1 buried him at the expense Of
the city In potter's field
He tool; from the inside OF the shoe a
small pocket comb which had been found
on the person of the deceased, together
with a paper containing personal descrip-
ton and lock of hair in an envelope
DO you ever take photographs in such
cases?" was asked.
mo" vas the reply. but here is fur
Their record in case anyone should ever
Turn up who has an interest in the ee-
ceased" The morguemaster then turned
TO his desk and, in a business -like way took
out q large leather and canvas-bound vol
ume known as the morguemaster's record
book. This contained the following heads
of items concerning each of the remains
brought to the morgue: Date of death,
sex. color. time. from place OF death.
II.
rible record of murders. suicides. and
mysterious demises was this book and a
no less sad and pathetic commentary on
the end Of the pauper and unhonored dead
Regarding these latter. in the case of the
remains not being identified by .ela-
tive or friend, AID the deceased
not having expressed a wish to the
contrary, the bodies are. In conformity
with recent law passed by Congress,
OH fnr or1p n. "a
purposes.
Il prepare bodies myself for such use"
said the mOrguemaster, and he opened a
door that led into another small room also
light ed from above by clouded skylight.
In the centre of this apartment, lying on
a low. wooden trestle. was the body of
colored woman, partially covered by a
sheet, which had just been subjected to
the embalming process, preparatory to be-
ing devoted to the purposes of science. In
this room. as in the outer one, strong
chemical odor was noticeable Around
the walls and on a table were surgical in
struments and various drugs. Here are
held most of the autopsies conducted by
the city Coroner or his assistant. and
here the Coroner's jury swear to render
a Just verdict to the best of their ability.
over the bodies OF those who have met
death under such circumstances as to war
rant an inquest.
The securing of a Coroner's jury in
these days is a work of considerable ce-
lerity compared with the old methcd. Six
men constitute the legal number of ju-
rors in Washington. though in other cit
les in the country it is still twelve. The
members are not required to have spe-
cial qualifications. and may be selected
from persons in the street. and consist,
in fact. Of those most available. It is
no longer necessary to hold the entire in
quest in the ntflinal presence of the body,
so that the relatives or friends of the
deceased may make the interment as
soon as the jurors have once viewed the
remains.
Some very tragic and pathetic scenes
have occurred amid the repellant sur
roundings of the city morgue. On the oc-
casion of the memorable Ford's Theatre
building disaster several years ago sew
enteen bodies were lodged in the one
room then constituting the morgue.
vast crowd lined the narrow approaches
to the building. and extended into the
street outside to some length. Three po-
licemon guarded the entrance to the
building. and endeavored to keep order,
and to distinguish the relatives and
friends who sought the absent am ns he
dead from those actuated by mere morbid
curiosity. 1t was not difficult to do this.
The agonized expressions of the wives,
children and relatives who crowded
around the morgue that day it would be
impossible 20 forget by anyone who wit
messed them.
At times a heartrendring cry of grief
would echo from within as some loved one
was recognized among the cruelty crushed
and dlsfgured corpses which>closely packed
the small apartment 1t is said that the