Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-02
FATE OF MRS. HART
Rock Island Woman Burned Be-
yond Recognition in Chicago
Theatre Fire.
is IDENTIFIED BY HER SHOES
Body Not Found Until Thursday
Night-Other
Victims.

ouois theatre fire in Chicago, Will be
buried tomorrow morning at 10l
o'clock from the home of her father,
John English. at Atkinson. III.
The kilograms that came to the hus-
band Thursday were misleading. One
read that Mrs. Hart was at the Home
hospital but what ii was meant tol
convey was that she was at some
hospital, as she was numbered with
the missing. This information was
sent by John GILES. a cousin of Mrs.
Hart. in the hope that she would be
found alive during the day.
The body was not located until .
o'clock Thursday night. Mr.. Hart was
accompanied to Chicago by County
Clerk Fl. Il. Hubbard. his friend and
neighbor. We arrived in Chicago at
$50 in the afternoon said Mr.. Hub
bard today" MIR. Hart was prostrat-
ed when ne learned the worst. We
prevailed unon him to stay AT a hotel
while Mr. English. Mrs. Harris father.
and myself took up the search that
anxious relatives had been pursuing
without success since the afternoon
of the fire. At O'Clock we discovered
Mrs. Hart'> body in Sheldon's morgue.
She was beyond recognition. and the
only means of identification was her
shoes. having purchased Il new pair
here the day before her departure for
Chicago. As
Clothing Burned From Body
THE clothing was burned from the
body down to the waist. Two other
men were standing before the body.
and one of them had about made up
his mind that il WAS that of his miss
ing wife. | WAS positive. however.
that it was Mrs. Hart. and at my re-
quest an officer removed her shoes.
The one on the left foot had no idcn-
tification marks, but on the one on
the right foot appeared the name of
Dolly Bros, Rock Island. Mr.. Eng
lish also identified the uvergaiterS.
having placed them on his daughters
feet when she left the home Of her
cousin. DIR. Fred Smith. for the thea
tire Wednesday afternoon. The jewel
ry had been removed from the body
and stored. We afterward secured it.
but it was 50 badly charred that it
would have been impossible to identi-
~ the body by il.
Mrs. Hart Went to the theatre
with her sousir. Mrs. Fred Smith. and
the latter's daughter. Maurine Smith.
Mother and daughter persisted also.
Their bodies were found i'm two differ
ent mor"ues i'm ;drt- If the city re-
mote from where Mr.. Harris remains
were located. pr smith had bought
three seats for the matinee in the sec
ond gallery. Intending Ia go with his
wife and daughter. After securing
the seats they were surprised To have
Mrs. Hart ami her father drop in on
them for visit.
Did Not Wish tn Attend.
DIR. Smith eudcaNorcG to secure an
additional seat with the three already
! procured, but was unsuccessful. Mrs
| Hart did not wish To attend the per
| fOrmauce. stating she preferred To
remain At the house for q rest. as She
was fatigued from travel. but when
| the doctor and Mrs. smith insisted.
she consented. DR.. Smith got stand
| ing room i'm the parqUct. He escaped.
/ but probably would have been killed.
as the police prevented him rushing
into sure death. aS ne made immedi-
ately on the breaking out of the fire
! ilI tiit StNtiAbii III ii4' i'.i~t MS " we
and daughter and Mrs Hart were
seated in
| Mrs. Hart was - years of age. In
4 the past year there have been two
other funerals from the English home.
where the obsequic~ Of Mrs. Hart will
/ he held tomorrow. her mother and sis
ter having preceded her 10 the grave.
1 She i now survived 10y her husband.
/ father and brother.
COrdova Girl Among Dead.
! Eva NJ. Hire. aged -. whose picture
appears in today's Chicago Tribune as
among the dead. i daughter Of the
! late David Hire. who died a wear ago.
and her mother is a niece of George
f. Bailey. Of this city. She was born
! in Corduva and was we'I-knuwn in
this city. having spent last summer
visiting here and with her grandfath-
er. Il. {. Cool. at CordoSa. She attend
ed the theatre in company with Ruth
| NJ. Robbins. who was also killed. The
! funeral was held today at Chicago and
the remains viii be brought to- Cordo-
Va t. be inferred beside those of her
/ father.
Former Residents e -i-h.
Mr. and Mrs W. !. Harold. SIC
| Twenty-third street. have received
wore that their cousins. Miss Pet Bel
and Mrs. Rena Rciter. formerly resi-
dents Of this city. are among the VIC
Tins of the IroguoiS theatre disaster.
Mrs Reiter has been Identified. but
Miss Bell IL stilI among the missing
The remains viii he brought TO this
city for inteTment Miss Bell and Mrs
Reiter were daughters Of the late
Uncle Billy Bell. an old settler Of
Rock Island county. They are Suryiy-
ed by two sisters. Mrs. !. Paul Homes
and Hiss Ella Bell. of Toledo. Ohio.
Arthur. 1O-year-cId son of r +.
ISterlisg of Rockford. who year ago
was a candidate for the presidency OF