Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-29

Chicago Filled With Grief as
Bodies Are Identified.
HUNT MINUS FOOD OR DRINK
Officers Hampered in Work by Hun
dreds of Curiosity Seekers Who
Congest Temporary Morgue-
Relatives Fill Streets Wait
ing Opportunity to Enter.

Chicago, July 26.-According to the
latest figures available S92 bodies
have been recovered from the East
land. The bodies are accounted for
as follows: Bodies identified at arm
DRY 757; bodies unidentified at arm
DRY Al; total bodies at armory S04;
dead identified at undertaking rooms
n; dead reported at coroner's Office
and not accounted for elsewhere Il;
total bodies recovered 1872.
The sorrowful work of Identification
goes slowly on.
One by one the bodies in the rows
of unidentified" on the floor of the
Second regiment armory at Washing
ton boulevard and Curtis street are
given names and taken away by IN
dertakers.
Every moment some searcher falls
down by body, the long quest ended,
and weeps Historically.
There were some 200 persons in the
armory at time looking at the
bodies.
OnCertakerS Are Busy.
Undertakers and embalmers are at
work everywhere. The odor Of en-
balming fluid and other drugs is heavy
and sickening.
Face after face is uncovered;
strange eyes, glazed and fixed, look
up at one; this one is bruised, that
one distorted, and after one has looked
at many victims he comes at length
on the one he seeks, or else continues
walking among the rows of bIanketed
figures.
Some there are who have searched
all day and all of last night-without
food or drink or sleep or rest.
Streets Are Thronged.
Outside the armOry there are long
lines of men and women, extending
for blocks in all directions.
Chicago has seldom seen crowds
like these-crowds without any gay
ETY., without bpisterousness, without
much talk-crowds with solemn, visit
full, staring, tear-stained faces. Chi
cagO is used to happy crowds. These
people are desolated.
The police keep them back until
there is room for them inside the
building where rest the dead.
The police have worked all day,
and they are tired and harried and
bit calloused with all the SORROW
they have seen so much of it. The ap-
peals of the emotional, the sobs of
women, the grief of relatives, do not
affect them. All must wait their turns.
The lines must be kept in order.
Take your time; you'll get in when
there's ROOM" is the only answer to
demands, entreaties, walls and threats.
SchuettIer is in Charge.
First Deputy Schuettler is in charge
of the policemen. He looks over the
crowd with critical, practiced eyes.
Probably one-fourth of these per-
sons are relatives of the dead" he
says to Captain Meagher. THE others
come here just as they would go to
see a bull fight or a hanging. It was
this class that looked on at the Coli
scum when the Christians were torn
by lions or killed by gladiators."
He consults with Coroner Hoffman
The coroner raises the police officials
megaphone to his lips and turns it on
the crowds inside the armory.
Our work is being hindered by any
curiosity seekers" he says slowly.
All persons not relatives or friends
of the dead will have to leave. The
aisles are blockaded now, and there
are other people outside who must
come in"
Only a Few Remain.
There follows a general crowding
in the direction of the exists. Only
a few remain. Sons Of these are on
their knees, speaking words to dear
ones who cannot answer; giving direc-
tions to undnrtakers, or tremblingIy
lifting the blankets from the faces of
the dead.
Dr.. Louis Faulkner and his wife,
who live at $40 West Lake street,
beckon to an attendant.
This girl" says the doctor, lis
Miss, Nellie Meyers. She was seven
teen years old, and came from Berlin,
Wis. She was employed in my Office.
III notify her brother, Chester Meyers.
He's on the way here now. Is there
any means by which he may be ad-
mitted as soon as he comes ?"
He'll have to wait his turn" is
the answer.
There are no regular lunch hours.
Four policewomen act as impromptu
walters. They distribute coffee and
sandwiches and pieces of pie where
ever they are needed. Attendants eat
without knowing they are eating, judg-
ing from their preoccupied manners,
and the fact that they do not inter
rupt their work
Miss Napieralski Aids.
Miss Emily Napieralski of the Pc
Hsh Social Workers club, one of the
delegates to the woman's peace con-
ference at The Hague, is there with
many Of her fellow club women. They
are aiding the searchers
There must be more than 400 Po-
Personally Concerned.