The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-03-06

Cleveland, O.. March 6.-This is a
day of funerals in North COllinwood,
as sorrowing parents are following one
third of the school children living in
the village TO cemeteries. where the
dsfiCured bodies are being laid to
their last rest The little CoffinS were
taken in the churches, The children
attended and were grouped about. Ser
vices are being held in every church
and great crowd Joined the funeral
oorteges to the cemeteries. Bells
were tolled in Cleveland, and signs of
mourning were displayed and in many
other ways the grief of the whole
state was evidenced. The number of
the dead this morning is found to be
one hundred and siXty-seven. Twenty
five bodies are unidentified
A big general memorial service for
the unidentified dead has been set for
Monday morning. Services will be
held in all protestant churches. Sat
urday morning high mats will be held
Al ST. Joseph's church for six of the
dead. The investigation to locate
the cause and carried on by state of
ficials. indicate that the fire was caus-
ed from over heated steam pipes in the
basement 1t has been established
that the doors opened outward. 1t is
not known whether they were locke
The investigation is to be thorough.
Investigating Cause.
In an effort to fix the cause and re-
sponsibiity for the holocaust various
Investigations were set under way yes
terday. Coroner Burke issued sub
poenas for the seven surviving teach
ers and the Lake View school. The
inquest was begun when a number of
witnesses were examined. without,
however. developing any testimony
beyond mere opinion.
Doors Closed end Fastened.
An investigation conducted by the
Collinwood school board. 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 pill
ing up against it 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 contained lime and sawdust
three little girls had been found hid
ing in play in the closet earlier in the
morning: there was but one fire es-
cape and its use was never taught as
a part of the fire drill. Survivors
among the teachers estimate that only
two or three minutes passed between
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 en-
closed between interior brick walls
forming a huge tlue through which the
flames shot up with great rapidity.
Doors Opened Outward.
On the question. much discussed
whether the doors opened inward OF
outward, Fire Marshals Brocket and
Feigcnbaum examined the doorwa,
and stated later that they we're con
WINGED that they opened outward
Whether they were locked they have
not been able to determine
They have testimony on both sides
Jauitor Herter still insists that the
doors We're open aud stoutly main
tains that there was no waste or rub
bish under the stairway.
The officials are doubling their eff
forts to ascertain the names of the
three girls who are reported TO have
been in the basement at the time the
fire started. and who are said by the
ianitor to have first notified him OF
the fire which later developed into such
a death-dealing instrument.
1t is considered entirely possible bv
certain members of the Collinw ood
school board that they may have
through carelesSneSs. started the blaze
that caused the lives OF so many child
Ien.
l.. r. Gardner. a member of the
school board, is positive in his asser
tion that the fire was OF incendiary