The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-23
CH|CAGO NOUNS
GREAT CALAMITY
FLAGS At HALF-MAsT As TOKEN
or RESPECT FOR DEAD
FIREMEx.
COUNCIL VOTES RELIEF
FUND OFF HALF MILLION DOLLARS
no HE RAISED TO CARE FOR
FAMILIES OF THE DEAD
FIRE UNDER CONTROL.


CHICAGO, Dec. 23.--Reeovery of
the charred bodies Of twenty six fire.
men who persisted In the blaze at the
Nelson, Morris & Co, beef house here.
and the reduction, Ia Identification of
the dead. OF the missing list to-day.
made Il probable that the total list of
dead will not exceed thirty.
Other bodies are known to remain
in the smoking ruins of the beef house.
and the vast amount of debris to be
removed makes 1t probable that all
will not be found for at least another
twenty-fou hours.
While details OF firefnen were still
delving in the ruins to day. provision
for the families OF the victims was
being made.
Members af private organizations
and the City Council met and agreed
10 raise fund Of $4,000 for the sue
cor of the widow and orphans through
the disaster.
the Council decided to appropriate i'm
mediately $3.50 .or each of the stricken
families. to expstid 1900 for each fune-
raj. and arranged for a great demon
stration at the burial of Fire Chief
Koran. 1t was decided that the dead
fire leader should be buried with mill
tary hoaors
AT noon to-day practically all danger
of further spread OF the beef house
Ere had ended and part OF the forty
three engine companies who had
fought the flames were withdrawn. As
they LETT their places were at once
taken by great gangs OF pick and shovel
men, who, under the direction OF the
police, Will prosecute the work OF re-
covering the bodies.
Rumors are general that Instead OF
two or three of the Packingtown en-
p!oyees having teen in the fire, at least
u dozen were killed. only the removal
OF the great heaps of fallen walls ana
other debris can establish the real
facts as To the cost OF life in the
disaster
That The dead men met their fate
through the explosion of the ammonia
tanks used i'll the cold storage ware
house WIS definitely established by
Acting Fire Caief Seyferiich.
But that can't he helped he con-
tInaed. such accidents are unavoid-
ahis. As long as ammonia Is used in
cold storage houses 1t will explode and
fhsn VIII be killed. What should be
done when a cold storage plant has a
serious lire Is IL draw Il line about IL
and let IL go"
Coroner hoffman to-day began full
invsstiga ton OF the disaster
1t had been int-naea 10 take a
roll call from the fire companies this
morning. but Acting Fire Chief Sey-
ferilch has decided that the fire fight
ing for the present will have to take
precedence over all other matters
and that no attempt will be- made to
clear up the list OF dead and missing
until the last spark has been eatin-
Kuished In the suaouidertng piles
which still conceal the boales OF the
victims.
branching the ruins with water,
the men OF the foriy-three engine
accompanies still on duty at the stee Il
yards are improving every opportuni-
~ 10 reach the bodies OF their com
rades. and as fast as the wreckaxe
can be cooled sufficiently to admit Of
digging. the grimed and weary fire.
fighters are pIunging through the
smoke and steam, heating and strain
ing at beams and pillars III the at
tempt to uncover some of the charred
forms known to lie in the debris.
All over the city. on schools. pub
lie buildings and private homes flags
float at half mast for the victims Of
the fire and fully dozen separate
and distinct movements have been
started to provide sufficient funds to
insure that the widows and children
Of the dead shall never want. as the
only bright spot In what for them
will lee sad and memorable Christ
~, a sf tJa