The Mena weekly star., 1908-03-12
HOLOCAUST
kxact Number of Fatalities in Ohio Public School Horror Still Undetermined.
Auss OF FIRE UNDER INVESTIGATION
Elty and County Authorities Working Toqether to Determine How Blaze stsrted-So Far 168 Bodies of Vic
 tims Have Been Recovered-Only 1t2 Are identified.

Cleveland. O., Mar 6.-Up to 10
 clock Thursday 112 little bodies had teen identified from among the pupils
 the Lakeview school in Collinwood
 ho lost their lives in the fire that
 utted the school building Wednesday
 borning. Twenty-four hours had kassed but the exact number of fatal lies was unknown. The number may
 each ITO. How many bodies still arc
 the ruins, If any, has not been Positively determined. Village fire
 len and voluntary assistants still are
 |robing among the smoldering ruins
 |o far 16S bodies have been recovered. kf these there remain 56 still to be Identified. Of the 56 1t is generally kdmitted that practically none will be distinguished one from the other Their names must be ascertained from
 he list of missing. A great public
 hneral will take place Friday or Sat
 rday
 l County Coroner Dr. T. A. Burke Thursday began a thorough investiga-
 Ion of the causes leading to the ter
 Ible loss of life. His work will be Supplementary to the investigation be-
 bg conducted by the various Collin Food officials, such as the board of
 ducation and the village council. The Fork of the Collinwood officials also Sas resumed early Thursday. So far hey have arrived at no definite conclu- Ron as to the cause of the fire or there to place the blame, if blame
 to be placed. It is generally admit Ia that the school building was of |pproved fre-proof construction and
 hat the calamity could not have been |verted. looked at from this stand .oint. Also 1t now Is believed that the Ire did not have it's origin in the fur 'ace or that 1t resulted from the ex- 5losion of the heating boiler. From
 be testimony So far adduced, the fire bust have started under the stairway eading from the basement to the first )oor of the building. The janitor. Fred Herter, stoutly maintains that bere was no waste rubbish there. The officials are doubling their eff. brts to ascertain the names of the bree girls who are reported to have (een in the basement at the time the Ire started ana who are said by the hnitor to have first notified him of the Ire. Much depends. it is thought, up h the stories these girls may be able D tell
 These are the problems that are con tonting the officials. The latter de re to learn the exact reason for the |olocaust, not only because it may be De means of preventing a repetition Of be calamity in the future and stand Is warning to other schools through nt the country, but will, to a degree, |ppease the anxiety of the afflicted par nts and the public in general. In his connection the janitor has been pade to bear the major portion of the Came. While the janitor practicall, |as cleared himself upon his own tes- lmony yet the feeling against him is Egh In Collinwood. Wednesday one other, crazed by his grief made an ttempt upcn the life of. Herter but Fas restrained with difficulty. Herter being guarded by the police. In |ddition to the blame. whether justi- led or not, being heaped upon him. ierter is broken down with grief over he loss of three of his own children D the fire.
 Tn response to the call for financial ssistance for the afflicted and needy 'eopie Of Collinwood. as a result of sednesday's calamity, cash contribu- lons are pouring in at a rapid rate. 'ewspapers have started subscription nnds and large sum will doubtless ecome available with but little delay. D many families there are three and our caskets to be provided for. Thurs ay the village council of Collin ap- ropriated s5.000 and the Collinwood oard of trade pledged a similar mount.