Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-06

Cleveland, Ohio, March 5.-Twenty-
four hours after the disaster which
swept into eternity approximately one
third of the school children OF North
Collinwood, the death roll numbers
16f. OF these 1871 have been identified
at the Lake Shore mOrgue, while q
bodies remain there in Il condition of
mutilation, probably forever beyond
chance of recognition.
The work of digging in the ruins of
the Lake View school in further
search for remnants Of children still
missing, began at daybreak. Dawn
found mothers and fathers waiting
about the fire ruined building after
spending the night in an effort to find
their children's remains at the ex-
temporized morgue. But little was
brought forth during the day that
would satisfy them and it is believed
tonight that all the bodies that can
be removed from the ruins have been
taken out.
Burial of the dead is the burden now
confronting those in authority in the
little village. Arrangements for the
funeral of the victims We're dis
cussed tonight at a meeting attended
by the mayor of Collinwood, members
OF the Boad of Education. the clergy
and the undertakers. The idea of hav-
ing a public funeral of all the dead
has been abandoned, although it is
probable that where it can be done,
bodies will be grouped by churches. To-
night the work of removing the iden-
titled bodies to their former homes
l,a ,+,1-1
to work to prepare for the interments
on the morrow.
In the homes of the afflicted citizens
Of the village the weeping parents
were sustained by the presence of Wis
iting nurses and women who volun-
teered to lend such comfort as lay
within their power. A relief commit
tee appointed by the Collinwood Board
of Trade and Town Council today is
to care for the bodies of the unidenti-
fled dead and to assist the bereaved
parents. Should any parents desire
to undertake the interment of one of
the unacceptable bundles of human,
flesh and bones, believing it may be
their child, they will be permitted to
do so. The remainder of the bodies
will be laid side by side in the cen!e-
terry.
In an effort to fix the causes and
responsibility for the holocaust various
investigations were set under way to-
day. Coroner Burke issued subpoenas
for the seven surviving teachers of
the Lalkeview school The inquest was
begun this morning and a number of
witnesses We're examined. but the in
quest did not produce any testimony
beyond mere opinion.
An investigation conducted Blythe
Collnwood school board which lasted
far into the night at which a number
of survivors of the horror told their
stories brought 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, flames
came first from closet below the
stairway at the east entrance; the
closet contained lime and sawdust'
three little girls had found It, hiding
in play. in the closet earlier in the
morning; there was but one fire IS
cane and its use was never taught as
part of the fire drill.
Survivors among the teachers esti-
mate that only two or three minutes
passed from the time of the alarm
until all escape was cut off. The
building was fair sample of the kind
ofsschool, construction in use in small
towns. The halls and stairways were
enclosed between interior brick walls
forming a huge fiue through when
the flames shot up with great rapidity.
On the question, much discussed
whether the doors opened inward or
outward Fire Marshals Brockfnan and
Fergenbaum examined the doorways
today and stated later that they were
convinced that they opened outward.
Whether they We're locked they have
not been able to determine. They
have testimony on both sides. Janitor
Hirter still insists that the doors were
open.