The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-01
COUNT ABANDONED.
Efforts to Keep Track of the Dead
Are Given I'm.

Chicago. Jan. 1.-The City Press as
ISOLATION today discontinued all at
tempt to keep track of the number of
dead bodies at the morgues, the fact
being palpable that the effort was more
productive of error than genuine in
formation owing to the confusion Incl
dent to the removal of bodies and the
dazed condition of those in charge as
the result of Overwork and loss of sleep.
Instead of records at the morgues the
issue of burial permits at the coroner's
office was substituted as a, less unsat-
isfactory method of holding the death
count
The crowds of searchers for relatives
and friends continued at the morgues
today. While the number of persons
pressing for tidings or Identification
showed material dimunition the ankle
ty and WEAKNESS was intensified. The
constant presence of the black wagons
of undertakers were conspicuous addi
lions today to the many scattered
neighborhoodS where the morgues are
located. A mournfUl variation was the
occasional appearance of bands playing
dirges as funerals slowly passed toward
churches, railway stations and cene
teries. AT the hospitals where many
fearfully burned persons are being
cared for, death was being momentarily
awaited in a number of cases. All that
could be done had been, except to sit
and watch for the last breath. A typi
cal case was that of James Schneider.
who was being cared for at the Samar-
itan hospital by relatives from his
home on Roscoe boulevard. Mr..
Schneider finally passed away today.
The majority of the striking drivers
have returned to work. and it is not
likely that any funerals viii be inter
fered with.
1--WE ordered them back wages or no
wages, to help the city out of the great
calamity that has befallen it," said
President Hagen of the union. after
ten days the strike will be resumed
WHARF it left off. Strike benefits are
being arranged today and will be paid
just the same"
THE men are glad of the chance to
come back said President Edgerton
of the liverymen and undertakers' as
ISOLATION.
"An will be taken back as soon as
possible. They will have to work. and
checkers and cards in the drivers
rooms will no longer be the main occu-
patton of their working hours When
man is ordered to clean up, he will
do it. and he can't plead the union as
an excuse"
The funerals during the next two days
will tax the capacity of the liverymen
and undertakes to the utmost. There
will be demand for the services of all.
and some people doubt whether the
strike will be resumed.
At the coroner's office burial permits
soon reached into the hundreds. Pre-
pdTdllODS nave Deen Hlduo LOT tie Is
suance of all that may be asked for as
it is anticipated tomorrow and Sunday
will be particularly characterized by
funerals.
The local insurance fraternity was
hard hit in the loss of life. E. D.
Clarke was killed in the crush. Three
daughters of A. B. Washington, were
at the theater and two were killed.
Florence o. Mann, sister of Clarence o.
Mann, persisted. E. r. Wetmore, who
placed the insurance line on the thea
.er went to the scene of the fire soon
after it started to ascertain the proba-
Bile insurance loss. forgetting until he
saw the firemen carrying bodies from
the building that his own 12-year- old
daughter and her 14-year-old cousin
had intended going to the Iroquois.
Both children escaped through the eff
forts of one of the ushers. No attempt
has yet been made to accurately esti-
mate the loss on the theater. Guessing
places the amount % per cent of the in
surance, or $4,000 Some thought this
estimate was too high. The damage
was all on the contents and furnish
igs, the structural part of the building
being intact.