Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-03-07
HUNDRED SIXTY.SEVEN DEAD
Funerals Of Many Victims Of Collin
wood School Fire Held.
BLAZE STARTED IN CLOSET
school Board Finds that One of the
Inner Doors Was Fnstened--
walls of Hall Formed
Huge Flue.

CLEVELAND, March 6-The body of
Miss Katherine Weller, one of the two
teachers who lost their lives in the Collin
wood fire, was positively identified today
by the filling in her teeth The body had
been so terribly burned that It could
hardly be distinguished from the bodies of
the smaller girls. The body of Rosetta
Machnich, a former pupil, was identified
by her shoes. When Mrs. Machnich was
positive of the Identification she fell faint
ing upon the charred body Of her little one
There are still twenty sthree bodies un-
identified. So far 167 bodies have been re-
covered. The list of missing now tallies
with the number of unidentified, which
would Indicate that all Of the bodies have
been found and that the total death list
win stand at 167.
In fully loo cases the funerals will be
individual, each family burying its own
dead. The first of these funerals was held
this morning, They will continue through
out the day. In some instances funeral
services were grouped with five TO ten
bodies in one church.
The unidentified will be buried next Mon
day morning, according to present ar
rangements. The expense OF these
funerals, together with the funerals Of
children whose parents are not in a finan-
cial condition to meet the burden, will be
borne by public subscriptions, which are
growing larger every hour Already thous-
ands of dollars have been raised. In addi-
tion to this a bill has been introduced in
the state legislature appropriating $1,000
for the relief Of the needy fire sufferers.
This bill, 1t is expected, will become a
law today.
Relief COMMITTEES Appointed,
CLEVELAND, O.. March 1.-The ap-
pointment of relief committee by
the Collingwood Board of Trade and town
council today is designed to care for the
bodies OF the unidentified dead as we'll as
assisting the bereaved parents. Should any
parent desire to undertake the interment
of the unrecognizable bundles Of human
flesh and bones, believing it may be his
child, he will be- permitted so to do, Tho
remainder of the bodies will be laid side
by side in the cemetery.
In an effort TO fix the cause and respon-
sibility for the holocaust various investiga-
tions were put under way. Coroner Burke
issued subpoenas for the seven surviving
teachers of the Lakeview school The in
quest was begun this morning, when a
number of witnesses were examined,
without, however, developing any testimony
that was beyond mere opinion.
Fire starts in Closet.
An investigation conducted by the Collin
wood school board which lasted far into
the night, at which a number of survivors
of the horror told their stories. brought
forth these facts
That one of the inner doors at the west
entrance of the school was closed and
fastened while children were pilng up
against 1t. In the passage wing partitions
in the vestibule narrowed the exit by at
least three feet. The flames came first
from a closet below the stairway at the
east entrance, the closet containing lime
and sawdust, and three little girls had
been found in the closet earlier in the
morning. There was but one fire-escape,
and that it's use never taught as a
part of the fire drill
Survivors among the teachers estimate
that only two or three minutes passed be-
tween. the time of the alarm until all
escape was cut off. The building was a
fair sample Of the kind of school construc-
ton in use in small towns. The halls and
stairways were enclosed between interior
brick walls, forming huge flue, through
which the flames shot up with great
rapidity.
Doors Opened Outward.
On the question, much discussed, whether
| the doors opened inward or outward, Fire
| Marshals Brocket and FeiRenbaum ex-
amined the doorways today and stated
| later that they were convinced that they
| opened outward. Whether they were locked
they have not been able TO determine
They have testimony OF both sides. Janitor
Herter still insists that the doors were
| open.
The Board of Education OF the city of
Cleveland tonight ordered all city schools
closed tomorrow and the flags will be half
masted on all buildings.
Like returning from death, Helen Marks
surprised her parents today by slipping up
behind her father and throwing her arms
| about his neck while he was prodding
| among the ruins OF the Lake View school
| for her body. She played truant and
visited aunt in the country instead OF
! going to school.
! COLUMBUS O.. March 6,-The legisla-
ture today appropriated $1,000 for the re
! lief for the sufferers in the Collinwood
!