The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-21

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- HE total known cost in human life
of the panic which ragged for
three minutes at the Shiloh Bap-
tist negro church Friday night at the
conclusion of Booker T. Washington's
address, is 104 dead bodies. 1t is asserted
that there are six other dead bodies in
addition to this number.
OF the known dead the bodies of 100
have been positively identified, while
three remain at P. NJ Cheeks undertake
Ing place and one at Taylor & Co.'S place,
none of which have been claimed or
recognized. 1t is said that two bodies
were carried to Pratt City Friday night
and that four are lying In private homes
On the southside. but full investigation
has failed to ascertain the names or To-
cation of these.
At St. Vincent's and other hospitals
ten victims of injuries received in the
mad rush are being cared for. While some
are rather seriously hurt. II is the belief
of those attending them that they will
recover.
THOUSANDS READ NEWSPAPERS.
Yesterday the streets were filled with
thousands of negroes who eagerly swoop-
ed down upon the newsboys and read the
details of the previous nights affair." as
told in the early edition of The Age
Herald and the extra edition printed at
80 o'clock. Nothing but talk of the
dead could be heard from these emotion
al streams of idling humanity. Little
else was spoken of by the thousands of
whites who read of the disaster, as
eagerly as did the negroes.
At the undertaking establishments
where the corpses had been carried Fri
day night thousand of persons passed
identify the unknown and see the remains
of those who had been of close relation
ship. Thousands of others thronged
through the places out of morbid Curl
osity.
The employees of the undertaking es-
tablishment worked with eagerness in an
untiring manner during the morning and
afternoon hours to arrange the bodies so
that they might be removed for inter-
ment. AS rapidly as they could be iden-
titled and relatives could arrange for
their reception the bodies were removed
to homes in the city or carried away to
homes scattered throughout the country
BY nightfall nearly all of the bodies
had been removed from the establish
ments of the different undertakers, ex-
cepting those of Harris on Eighteenth
street, Broadly on Eighteenth street and
Cheek. on Fourth avenue
uNDERTAKERs KEPT BUSY.
At Harris and at Cheeks the number
of dead was so large in each case that
the establishments were unable to ac-
commodate all until some had been re-
moved. While room in the main halls
was being made for the dead many bodies
were laid on the floors of stables ad-
Joining the buildings. Eventually. how
ever all were cared for within the
houses.
Last night at the homes Of many of the
families of the dead the bodies were
watched over by friends and relatives.
During all the hours from dark until
dawn the plaintive means and cries of
the relatives and loved ones left on
earth could be heard. In many cases the
cries were intermingled with uncon-
trollable overflows of tears, and sobs
loud enough to be heard for some dis
tance.
In some cases members of the church
asked that persons go to the homes of
victims and remain with the families
and the dead. Several committees, ap-
pointed to secure such assistance in
caring for the lifeless corpses. made
canvasses throughout the city. All places
visited sent some member to aid in this
duty.
MANY FUNERALS TODAY.
More than fifty funerals will probably
he held durips this morning and after
noon. Tie exact number cannot be told,
hui arrangements were made yesterday
for many At the livery stables nearly
ali carriages and vehicles in the city
had been engaged for various hours at
nm early hour last night. 1t is said that
The number will exceed any one days
record in the history of Birmingham.
The gloom consequent upon the pres
ence of such a quantity of dead was felt
in all circles of city life. 1t passed from
the hovel of the lowest negro, through
the better class of cottages Of the higher
negroes, through the homes Of the citys