Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-12
THOUSAND BODIES
JJNBURIED IN CITY
Coroner Calls for Volun-
teer Grave Diggers-Pris-
oners to Be Used
ASSAIL BAN ON LIQUOR
Stool Order" Has Caused
Deaths by Depriving Sufferers
Of Remedy, Says Knight

More than 1909 bodies Of Philadelphia
Influenza victims are awaiting burial
To bury them the city has been called
upon to transfer hundreds of laeorers
from the street. water and sewer de-
nartments to cemeteries where they can
serve as grave diggrs. Convicts have
also been commandeered.
That hundreds of the bodies must re-
main in the homes. morgutS and base
ments Of emergency hospitals over sun
day Is virtually certain, for the hard
pressed undertakers are unable to cope
with the situation.
These were the outstanding features
in a statement made today by Coroner
Knight when discussing the influenza
, situation.
There is a pressing need for grave
diggers." said Coroner Knight, "and to
relieve the situation and eliminate the
menace of the bodies hundreds of loyal
citizens ought to step forward today
and serve as graVe-diggers in the city
cemeteries"
The coroner asserted that the situa-
tion is acute and that drastic steps must
be taken to protect the health of the
city.
Chief Dunlap. of the water Bureau,
notified Coroner knight that he had
ordered the leborers at the water works
10 build 200 cctfins to help out In the
crisis. Many big Industrial plants with
carpentry shops are turning out cor
fms also the Brill plant having COM
Melted 200 for the health authorities.
The Rev Dr. J. NJ. Corrigan, of the
Roman Catholic Cathedral East Lo-
gan square. notified Coroner knight
hat
church would be opened for the bodies
OF Catholics because of the present lack
Of burial facilities.
Investigating Tndertnkers
Despite the serious charges of prof
iteerine that have been edged against
certain undertakers, Coroner Knight to-
day asked the public to withhold judg-
ment until his deputies have completed
their investigation.
"If it is found that any undertaken
has been gouging." said MIR. Knight.
I'VE will begin proceedings that will
land the gouger in jail But we must
bsar In mind that undertakers are hard
pressed and that many men and women.
driven frantic and half insane because
Of their inability to bury their dead.
are in a mood to say most anything.
Their statements are being Investigated.
and not a stone will be left unturned
in our effort TO Jail undertakers who
have capitalized the dreadful situation"
Coroner Knight made it plain that
the first duty of the city concerns the
burial of the dead and asserted that
prisoners could be taken from various
jails to act as grave-diggers.
Criticixes Liquor Dan
Concerning the death rate that con-
tinues to grow instead of diminish ng.
Coroner Knight charged that it was due
TO a large extent to the closing of liquor
stores.
"Closing liquor establishments" he
I added, was n fool order and cost many
lives. I am not a drinking man and an
not defending the booze business. but IN
a time like this, when liquor Is admitted
by physicians 10 be good remedy. II
ought to be easy for people TO get II
Many a man is stricken and IL his wife
could get some whisky 1t would serve
as a remedy. To get II she has &c
obtain a prescription from a doctor And
doctors are hard to find. IN many in
stances whole day passes before tn,
frantic wife obtains a prescription Il
buy the necessary liquor, and by tina
time II is too late, The husband hai
developed pneumonia and Is heyond aid
"Open up the wholesale esta ablishment
and trust to the common sense of tn
people. Closing them is absurd"
A nervous wreck from overwork. an
''sick and discouraged" because of state
rnents insinuating that he Is a profitee
Joseph PERI, South Philadelphia ur
dertaker, doing business at 11T9 Sout
Eleventh street, today asserted that h
IL refusing business. and that when h
buries the bodies that. he has prepare
he will go out Of business.
IT am heartsick of the whole bus
ness" said PERI. II have done the be.
could have worked day and night fc
twenty days and have buried men an
women without considering whether
would be paid. | am at the end of m
resources. because I have spent my cap
tai for burial equipment, Now woma
comes forward and says that | am
profiteer and that l am capitalizing Il
terrible situation. 1t IL false. and I a
through"
Perris statement was made in answ'
TO the charge made by Mrs. Ralr
Iudanno, 1913 South Bancroft stree
concerning the burial OF her husbar
who died last Sunday The woma
alleges that PERI refused TO touch Il
body until she had paid him 5000, La
might the complaint OF Mrs. LudanI
was sent to Coroner knight. That o
hcial took a hand and Ludanno will
buried today.