New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-04
STORM HINDERS BURIALS.
TOO M4NY FOR CHICAGO.
Cry of Fire Causes Panic at Funeral
of Theatre Victim.

Chicago. Jan. 3.-For the first time in the his
tory OF this city to-day all the people who de-
sired 10 bury their dead were unable to do SO.
The unprecedented demand for hearses and car
Yiages would have been enough in itself 10 task
10 the utmost the resources of the undertakers,
but the heavy snow that has fallen in the last
two days has increased their difficulties enor-
mously. All the cemeteries are miles from the
business centre and residence districts. and with
good weather and the streets IN passable cond-
ZION II takes several ho4rs TO reach one OF them
To-day. when every hearse in urgent de-
mand IL required about twice as long 10 reach
L cemetery as under normal condition
serious panic occurred at the funeral OF
Miss Carrie Sayers, one OF the victims OF the
FIRE. The service was IN progress In the South
Chicago Congregational Church. at Seventy
Ccventh-st. and Saginaw-ave. and the building
filed with the friends ana relatives Of the
girl. A fire broke out three doors from the
church. and some one in the street shouted
Fire" Chicago gatherings are somewhat ner-
vous az this time the subject Of FIRE, and il
needed only the one shout to bring all the peo-
pie 10 their feet. and many of them started for
the door.
Policemen O'Keefe and Petersen, who were
stationed in the church, called out to the peo-
pie that there was danger and urged them
to resume their seats. Their advice was not
needed The pallbearers went 20 the coffin and
stood ready to remove il, and the family of the
dead girl prepared TO leave the church. Sud
denly cloud OF smoke came in through the
open doo-. and the sight and smell maddened
the people in an instant. The two officers bare
ly had time to swing the doors open when the
rush came. This was all that saved severe
crush and probable loss OF life as the crowd
plunged through the doorways.
When the street was reached and IL was seen
that there was no cause for alarm, the greater
part Of the people returned to the church and
the services finished. No one was injured
In the panic.
Arrangements were made by the undertakes
10 have as many funerals as possible held early
In the day. in order TO allow. if possible. the
Use Of the heGrses for other funerals in the
afternoon. In a number Of cases this was
Done but there were instances where the fam
lies who were wait for the return Of the
hearse were compelled TO defer the burial of
their dead until tomorrow. 1t is not expected
that there VIII he any trouble in this direction
after to-day. and by tomorrow the streets 10
the cemeteries VIII be such condition as TO
permit The passage of funerals in almost the
ordinary time.
The cemeteries were obliged to keep men at
work all through the night digging graves. and
N some OF the larger cemeteries they were
burials Of victims Of the Iroquois Theatre fire in
progress in Rose Hill Cemetery al time this
afternoon In the rooms OF undertaken
he South Side d fraternal organization held
services over five members Of the order at the
same time. and all We're buried side by side
n Waldheim Cemetery. The funeral of Ella
and Edyth Freckelton. sisters. was held in
Boulevard Hall at Fifty-flfth and Halstead SITS.
Fully 1000 persons were in attendance and 800
more stood outside in the biting wind until the
funeral had started for Oakwoods Cemetery.
In the home Of Ludwig Wolff in Washington
Boulevard was held the quadruple funeral of
his daughter. Mrs. William H. earn, and her
three children. crowd of more than 1000 peo-
pie surrounded the house. and the police
compelled TO open passageway for the pail
bearers when they left the house with the coffin.
The funeral one Of the largest ever seen on
the wesr Side.
A funeral conducted in a humber manner was
held few squares from the Wolff home It was
that OF Mrs Mary W. Hoist and her three chill
aren. all of whom died in the second balcony.
Fully many people We're around the small
frame church in which this funeral was held
as gathered outside the Wolff house, and here,
also, the police were compelled TO open a pas
sageway for the collins they were borne TO
the hearses.
These are but instances OF what happened
throughout the length and breadth Of Chicago.
Multiply these funerals by twenty and a better
Idea can be had Of this first Sabbath IN the new
year.
The list OF dead was increased 10 5SS to-day
by the death Of lie Roy Rainbold, four years old.
Ssho was severely burned. and died in St Lukes
Hospital OF the ten bodies at the county
taorgue. four were identified to-day. They were:
FAIR Mrs.. Merry
uAg ~
LUDWIG. Sadie.
REYNOLDS. Emma years old.
The injured now number 103. Of whom there
Is any record though the number OF those who
were hurt slightly would swell this number
greatly.
John Schmidt the stage hand who IS said
20 have left open the reflector which prevented
The asbestos curtain from descending. is still
sought by the police. He is believed TO he in
hiding IN the city but the Chief OF Police re-
ceived an intn1ation from schnidts friends
that he would he ready when he was wanted
as a witness at the coroners inquest on Thurs
day.
Coroner T-aeger viii resume tomorrow morn
ing the task &C collecting evidence in the the
atre. An exhaustive examination OF the build
!az xiii be made. Because OF the unlimited
scope that the coroner intends to give 10 the
investigation. it is expected that the work OF
taidng testimony viii consume several weeks
From all indications the meeting of the City
Council tomorrow night VIII be taken up en-
tirely by TIE Introduction OF resolutions relating
20 the FIRE. Bills viii he presented covering al
most every 6etal OF che management and equip
Taent OF a theatre Alderman Dunn Will intro
duce 3 b.n torbdding members of the City
Council TO accept passes. either from railroads
or places OF amusement
Nayor Harrison said tonight: