The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-22
so FAR LIST OF DEAD FROM FRI
DAYS CATASTROPHE NUMBERS
1o5-FAcTs WHICH BRING AWE
TO THE sUPERsTlTloUs.

Slowly the list of deaths resulting from
Friday nights panic at the Shiloh Bap-
fist church confines to expand. This
morning the most accurate information
possible to secure places the number of
known dead at los. OF this number all
have been identified except three.
One death occurred yesterday, accord
ing to a statement made by the Rev.
T. w. Walker pastor of the church
While this death was reported the name
Of the victim was not given. The only
names to be added to the list published
yesterday morning is of a woman then
unidentified at the place of Taylor & Co..
who was Identified yesterday morning as
Roxie Taylor of Marlin, Tex, and ne
gro man who was identified as George
Wright of Savannah
No trace could be obtained yesterday
of the two persons whose bodies were
supposed to have been carried to Pratt
city Friday night. Dilligent inquiry also
failed to locate the four supposed dead
bodies said to be In private homes scat
tered over the southside.
Dead Number 1o5.
As a result the known list of deaths
include the 100 published yesterday, the
three unidentified bodies now at Cheek s
undertaking establishment the identified
George Wright and the woman whose
death was reported yesterday, making a
total of 1O5.
At st. Vincent's hospital a report was
given out last night that all the in
jured there were resting easily and
would probabl.. recover during the next
few days. The statement published Sat
urday that ten deaths had occurred at
this hospital was a mistake and doubt
less based on a rumor, the fact being
given out last night that no deaths had
occurred there since the accident.
During all of yesterday funerals of vic
Tins were being held, but the exact num-
Der of the victims laid to rest could not
be obtained. One undertaken conducte ed
eight funerals while others were busy
both morning and afternoon. From
twenty to fifty bodies were inferred, is
the estimate made
UnIucky Number.
One of the most peculiar things of the
entire affair escaped notice until yester-
day, and last night was discussed free
ly and awesomely by many of the ne
groes given even slightly to superstition
This statement is that the number of
steps upon which the victims were crush
ed is thirteen, the number of steps lead
ing to the first landing is thirteen and the
panic occurred on Friday.
To some of the older negroes whose
superstitions received full development
long years ago the statement of these
conditions explain the entire affair. They
say that no act or acts, no matter by
whom done could have prevented the
panic and that Ballou should at once b,
released from jail. They think this ex
plains the whole occurrence and and dur
ing the day they could not be persuaded
to walk into the church without skipping
at least one step.
OF course this superstition Is not taker
seriously by the pastor of the church and
the more sensible negroes, but notwith.
standing that fact it has caused much
discussion by the delegates and many
negroes of Birmingham.
Identified by Photograph.
The identification of George Wright
was accomplished yesterday by William
Rice, employed by Gaudin & Co, and the
story of the manner In which it was ac-
complished is unique. On the body of
the dead man was an envelope containing
a photograph. There was no name of
any kind on it except that of Covell, the
photographer. With only this in hand
Mr.. Rice went to the place of Mr.. Covell
and from the number on the photograph
learned Wrights name. He then went all
over the city and after inquiring of fully
200 persons learned that Wright had
worked three weeks at the Norris There
he learned that his home was in Savan-
nah.
Mr.. Rice stated last night that at
Woodlawn cemetery there We're seven
teen bodies which 1t had been impossible
to inter on account of coming darkness
during the afternoon. These will be in
tered today.
BalIou Makes Statement.
]. II. Ballou, the negro lawyer, whom,
1t is said, started the stampede, made the
following statement last night:
II have heard since my last interview
that it was being talked that I left the
church and intended GLIDING the officers.
For the second time I wish to say that
this is false, as l walked the streets of