UNKNOWN DEATH ROLL

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 346, 29 January 1937, Page 5

UNKNOWN DEATH ROLL

UNITED STATES FLOOD.

MUCH CREMATION. Impossible To Identify Many of the Dead. Press Association—Copyright. Chicago, Jan. 27. The sudden realisation that the dead at Louisville alone may total hundreds broke over the harassed city to-day. The Associated Press stated that 120 bodies were recovered during the day in the submerged western area. Despite a strict censorship by city and military authorities it is learned that nine undertakers were made deputy-coroners tq deal with the situation.

Stories regarding the disposal of the bodies are conflicting. The health commissioner, Mr. Leavell, said an unknown number of badly decomposed bodies were buried in shallow trenches in the highlands. It was impossible to identify them or even to determine whether they were whites or negnogs, “There is no way of knowing how many are dead until the waters recede,” he said. It is agreed by alt authorities that many bodies will never be found. Bodies Being Cremated. New York residents reported to the Associated Press that telephone conversations relatives at .Louisville said many hundreds of dead bodies were being cremated aq fast as possible to prevent the spread ot disease. Most of the bodies, were unidentified and cremation Ws' making identification for ever impossible. It was reported that the city incinerator was used for cremation, but authorities denied this. The bodies of two persons who committed suicide to escape suffering were removed from one JB>use.

. .The known dead in the flood areas number 137 and the homeless at least ■BOO,OOO, stated an earlier message from Chicago. Property damage stA’ecds £60,000.000. An epidemic of ITffiuenza and pneumonia is rampant, •particularly at Louisville, where the health commissioner stated that at least 200 had died. The diseases are attributable to the inundation.

At Cincinnati the river is receding inch by inch from the high stage ot 79.99 feet reached yesterday. Evansville is under martial law and awaits the crest of the flood, which is expected on Thursday or Friday. One Million People Now Homeless. Press Association—Copyright. Received 1.30 p.m. Washington, January 28. A Relief Corps numbering 130,000 is concentrated on two fronts to-day cleaning up the Ohio Valley and preparing for the expected Mississippi rising. To-day’s estimate of known dead is 235, a million are homeless, while property damage* is in excess of 400,000,000 dollars.