Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-05
THE DEAD SOLDIERS
Work of Identification of the Wars
Victims.
4 LABORI0US And GRUES0ME TASK
Successful Experiments With En-
banning Fluids.
THE MORGUE AT MANILA

Chaplain Charles C. Pierce has made an
interesting report to the War Department
in regard to the organization and develop
ment of the United States morgue and the
office of Identification in Manila, p l. In
March, 1899. Chaplain Pierce was ordered
by Gen. Otis to assume charge Of the
morgue and insure the perfect identified
ton of the dead, seeing that all bodies
were suitably clothed and that all fune-
rails were properly conducted.
The solicitude of the commanding gen.
eral was very great that everything should
be done to guard the interests of bereaved
families at home and to show every mark
of respect for the dead which the disturbed
conditions would allow.
At that time the government had made
no provision for embalming the remains
of those who died in the Philippines, but
Chaplain Pierce was instructed to SUPER
wise the work of embalming whenever the
proper arrangements could be made and
a request for the operation should be pre-
scented.
The Work of Identification.
''At the request of the chief surgeon of
the sth Army Corps" he says, II also
undertook the difficult task of completing
the identification of a number Of bodies
already buried as unknown soldiers or
whose identity was not absolutely estab-
lished.
Eat the beginning of the work I had
one private of the hospital corps as my
entire working force and, without cleri-
cal assistance, began to evolve system
of identification and to arrange records
which would be reliable.
MY first work was to inspect the hos
pital records of 5000 patients that might
note the names and regimental connection
of all who had died in the Philippines and
whose graves must be located, as well as
to record the date and cause of death in
all cases.
After three months of unremitting labor
in the morgue and in my office until 1 and
o'clock am. each day, and corresponding
with every organization in the islands,
had completed list of all the dead
Repeated visits to the various burial
places for the purpose of checking the
graves already marked resulted in a per-
feet balance between the number Of I'M
marked graves and the number of dead not
definitely located.
Further correspondence with the organ
fzations to which these men had belonged
gave me the descriptive list In each case,
together with the exact nature of wounds
In the case of those who had been killed
as well as the clothing worn and other
facts needed by the identifying officer.
Though these bodies had been buried
and had disintegrated to such an extent
as to lose all facial characteristics. l had
them disinterred and personally conducted
the fnexpressfbly repulsive work of their
ldentihcation. finding In every case abso-
lutte proofs of identity before allowing them
to be shipped to their homes for final
burial
No amount of remuneration could tempt
me TO repeat the process, unless, as In this
case, the greWsome work would save some
heartbroken mother or wife from mourn
ing over the fact that the graves of her
dead could never be located with certainty.
Upon the arrival of a body in the
morgue 1 personally attended to the work
or Identification, and made q note of all
Valuables or trfnkets accompanying it, SO
that the latter might be turned over to the
company or other commander Each bod Y
was then clothed in uniform and place6 IN
coffin, together with a sealed bottle con-
tanning the name rank and organization. A
tag containing the same data was placed
on the outside of the coffin, and the whole
draped with the flag TO await the hour of
burial. Commanding officers were in,na-
diately notified by wire and yeridcation
OF names, etc, requested.
In the hurry and hustle of active cam
paignfng II often happened that names and
even regimental connection had been moor
Iectiy given, but the date so carefully re-
corded in my office enabled me to effect the
identification always, although weeks and
even months sometimes elapsed before al
necessary correspond with regiments
could be completed.
Owing to the urgent demand for troops
1t was frequently impossible to secure the
customary funeral escorts, although this
was done whenever practicable, but it was
my rule to personally conduct a religious
service in every case when no specially
designated chaplain was at hand Since
the date of my assumption Of duty this
service has never been neglected in q
single case.
Experiments In EmbaIming.
Until the American occuuation bepan