People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1893 — FOUND IN THE ASHES. [ARTICLE]

FOUND IN THE ASHES.

Tw»«ty-Thre« HorriMy Burned Bodlee DUcovered in the Rain* of the Cold Stortfe Warehoaae at Jackson ParkOnly Four of Them Possible of Identlfleation. Chicago, July 13.—Early this morning it was learned that ten more bodies had been found in the ruins of the world’s fair cold-storage warehouse. Nine of these bodies are of men and one of a woman. The corpses of the dead lay piled all in a heap near the foot of the elevator shaft When the searching party discovered the remains a crowd of morbid spectators surrounded the fire lines. The enormity of the unexpected find staggered the fidfemen who had made the fearful discovery. For an hour before the fearful discovery was made a sickening odor issued from a spot near the east side of the ruins to the left of the doorway. Three men were set to work on this place, and just before the order was given to stop work for the day a heavy beam was lifted and right below through the interstices of half a doze# crossed and broken timbers and bent rods of iron could be seen a heap of bodies. This was the source of the foul smell. The bodies are quite badly burned, but they lay at the very bottom of the. ruins and had been partially protected from the fire by water. It is impossible to tell just how many bodies lie in this terrible pile. The men who discovered them differ as to whether the total number is ten or eleven, but is probably the first named number. One is said to be a woman because of her dress, which is partly unburnt.

Thirteen bodies were found during the day, and those found as narrated above bring the total number up to twenty-three. Individual identification is possible in but four instances, and most of the bodies recovered will be buried by mourners who know not which of the human cinders was their son or father or husband or companion. The four identified positively are: Paul Schroeder, William Denning, John Mcßride and N. M. Hartman. Four of the bodies were found during the morning. The distorted and frightful objects were found in a heap near the northeast corner of the black heap of debris. From each human trunk arms and legs had been burned away and the heads of all but one were missing. Shortly before 5 o’clock in the afternoon the fifth black stump was dug out of the tangled mass of iron and timbers near the iron pipe that stands as a monument to the awful work of Monday. Numbersof subscriptions of.-generous amounts for the relief of the families of the dead firemen are being spontaneously made by large-hearted citizens. Boxes have been placed at various points about the city and the world’s fair grounds for the reception of subscriptions, and money is being contributed in other ways. Subscriptions are coming in from fire departments of other cities. The Trocadero management has kindly come forward with an offer to donate the entire receipts of the performance a week from next Saturday to the dead firemen’s families. The American Exhibitors’ association, the national commission, and, in fact, all the organizations having such connection with the fair that they may be depended upon to assist in collecting money will join the throng of fund-raisers. Upon the beard of trade, a place where sympathy for bereaved families in cases like that of Monday always takes a quick and deep root, no time was lost in starting a subscription list Several private contributions of SI,OOO have been received, Messrs. Ed Partridge, Potter Palmer and Byron L. Smith being among those to send checks for that amount. Phil Armour will contribute largely to the fund. The mayor, it is understood, will appoint a committee of business men to take charge of the arrrangements for the receiving of subscriptions. Losses entailed by the fire caused the Hercules iron works to make an assignment in the county court. The Chicago Title & Trust company is made assignee. The company was incorporated in 1885 with a capital stock of $400,000. It owns a plant at Aurora covering 7 acres. Its assets are estimated at $400,000, against $200,000 liabilities. The fire caused a loss of $200,000.