Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-22
SEVENTY DEAD
IN CHICAGO
HORROR
FIFTY BODIES TAKEN
FROM BURNED CRIB
Rigid Investigation to Be Made
to Fix Responsibility for Dis
asteri Claim That Fire Ap-
paratuS Was Inadequate,



Chicago. Jan, 81 THAT the list OF
fifty known dead probably will be in
creased to seventy or even more was
developed today In the official lnvesti-
cation OF the burning OF the crib in
the lake. one and onc-half miles OFF
Seventy-first street. Wednesday. II
was discovered that most OF the work.
men had died at the mouth OF the
shaft This was searched to depth
OF 165 feet, but no bodies were found.
Thinking that. as the fire occurred
on the lake. the fixing OF the RESPONSE
bility might be under federal Iurisdic-
ton. City Engineer Erickson today
wired to Washington for Information
on that point Major j. b. cavannugh,
of the rivers and harbors bureau, re-
piled that the government assumed
jurisdiction only when traffic was in
terfcred with.
The possibility that the death list
may be largely increased was express
ed by the coroner. There are forty
seven bodies at the morgue. which
corresponds with the number report
ed missing by the Jackson Construc-
ton company. which had charge OF
the work at the crib. But the COM
panys pay roll is incomplete and in
quirles have been received for many
whose names are not on the roll, but
who are said bv relatives to have been
working at the crib.
or the thirty-nine injured who we're
rescued yesterday, fifteen remain at
the hospital today. The condition of
five OF them Is serious
The bodies OF the dead are unrec-
ognzable because burned and black
ened by the flames. In many cases
portions OF thN bodies arr missing
What remains OF the bodies are en-
cased in sacks at the morgue and II
has been decided to hold one big fu-
neral and bury them all together
The responsibility for the accident
At the crib Is being shifted from one
department TO another. but
i is certain that criminal prosecution
will follow and an effort be made TO
determine who Is responsible for tho
accident.
Among the charges made by the
are the following.
Very little fire apparatus was kept
IN hand
The fire extlnguishers about the
place were useless.
The dynamite was carelessly ham
lied and on several occasions explo-
lions were narrowly averted.
The building was poorly construct
ID and was veritablc fire trap.
The only method of escape In case
II firo was an aerial tramway which
,srried but few persons and was
low in action.
Efforts were resumed at daybreak
o ascertain whether any men were
till living In the tunnel beneath the
RIB. All the air pumps have been
kept working and Il Is believed that
Iomc of tho men will be found alive.
George w Jackson. OF the con-
truction company. which built the
rib. informed the coroner today that
I would be impossible TO give the
complete list OF dead for several days.
It was said late tonight that the po-
ice have concluded that one of the
hrce workmcn who escaped from tho
ire in the crib will be able TO explain
low the fire started. One OF the men
$ being kept under surveillance and
mother Is In tho hospital A survivor
3 said to have given evidence that one
4 the men carrying lighted torch
ntcred a compartment OF the crib In
ihich dynamite was stored