Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-02
CHICAGO STOPS NEW, YEARS FEs.
,TIvITIEs TO FOLLOW HEARS
Es TO GRAVES.
kANY DEAD UNKNOWN
Task Of Keeping Record Of Those Who
Have Lost Their Lives in the lro-
quois Fire Is Given Up-striking
Drivers DO Not Interfere.

Chicago Jan. 1.-The pitiless inves-
tigation Of the Iroquois fire horror to-
day divided attention with the burial
of the dead.
The removal of bodies from the pub
lie morgues to private undertaking es-
Establishments developed a fresh ele-
ment of uncertainty in computing the
totals of the dead and missing.
Records Very incomplete.
Coroner Traeger has issued an ap-
peal to the public to notify him of all
fire deaths that may have escaped the
records.
He says many bodies were removed
from temporary hospitals and relief
stations in the vicinity of the theatre
directly after the fire without any rec
Public Regains composure.
Except among the relatives and
friends of the dead and missing, the
people here today to a large extent,
are apparently satisfied with the de-
tails of the horror. To such extent
was this evident that the evening pa
pers decided to follow the usual holi-
day custom and abandoned publica-
tion.
& Moying Bodies. Causes Confusion.
The City Press association today dis
continued all attempts to keep track
OK the nun 5 ii sss 4 bodies, at the
morgues, the fact being palpable that
the effort is more productive of error
than OF genuine information, owing to
the confusion incident to removal of
the bodies and the dazed condition of
those in charge as the result of over
work and loss of sleep. Instead of
records at the morgues, the issue Of
burial permits at the coroner's office
was substituted as less unsatisfac-
tory method of obtaining the death
count.
Strain Tells on People.
The crowds of searchers for rela-
tives and friends continued at the
morgues today. While the number Of
persons pressing for tidings or identi-
3tication showed material decrease,
anxiety and WEAKNESS is intensified.
Dead Wagons Everywhere.
The constant presence of the black
wagons of the undertakers were CON
spicuous additions today to many of
the scattered neighborhoods where
morgues are located.
Victims Being Buried.
A mournful variation was the occa-
sional appearance. of bands playing
dlrges as funerals slowly passed to-
ward churches, railway stations and
cemeteries.
Deaths MomentariIy Awaited.
At the hospitals where many of the
fearfully burned persons are being
cared for death is being momentarily
awaited in a number of cases.
Another Victim.
y James Schneider died at the Samar-
ttan hospital this morning.
Striking Drivers PeaceabIe.
q Funerals during the next two days
will tax the capacity OF the liverymen
snd undertakers to the utmost The
majority of the Striking drivers have
returned to work and it. is not likely
any of the funerals will be interfered
with.
List Hard to Compile.
The City Press association had last
nlgnt the names OF 800 identified dead.
A re-examination of the list today
showed that number were included
incorrectly. Instead of being dead the
names of some were those who had
identified dead bodies. M
Estimate Is 582.
While it is perhaps true that the to-
tai number of dead is in the neighbor-
hood of 5S2, only about $50 of these
have been identified, leaving 1872 un-
identified dead. A recount of the un-
identified dead was started today.
The recount of the bodies at the va
rious morgues this afternoon showed
q total of liz unidentified dead.
Many Funerals Tomorrow.
AT the coroner's office today the
number of burial permits soon reach
ed into the hundreds. Preparations
have been made for the issuance of all
that may be asked for as it is anticipat-
ed that tomorrow and Sunday will be
particularly characterized by funerals.
is NOT scHEMING.