Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-25
.THE VHITE HOUSE.
WHAT is BEING DONE AT THE ExEcU-
TIVE MANSION.
NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND CHANGES
BEING MADE.

Mrs. Cleveland Plays Part in what
Might Have Been Serious Accident.
The President Glad that Congress Has
Adjourned-He Takes His Accustomed
Walks About the White House Grounds,
NEW York. Oct. 25.--The Worlds Wash
ington special says:
Mrs Cleveland had a very narrow escape
day or two ago from an accident which
might have proved serious in the extreme
AS it was, her companion, Col John NJ
Wilson, commissioner of public buildings
and grounds, actually plunged through the
ceiling up to the waist Ani would surely
have gone entirely through had not the
joists of the floor been near enough to catch
him by the arms and break the fall The
actual damage done amounted to only a few
scratches, but the escape was very re-
markable one.
Workmen are engaged in putting new
floor in the upper story Of the White House
The boards had all been removed and moth
ing was left but the substructure, consisting
mainly of the old joists and the lath and
plaster Of the ceiling. Mrs Cleveland, after
a long vacation, returned to the White
House, and, in company with Col Wilson,
went around to see the alterations and re-
pairs that were being made.
They had nothing but the joists to walk
upon, and as Mrs. Cleveland, holding the
colonel's guiding hand stepped across from
joist to joist, her foot slipped. In trying to
save Mrs Cleveland from falling the gallant
colonel missed his own footing and stumbled
f,-,,y fbo ;1;s fha lotl, md r,Io
This frail support gave way, and he dropped
through the hole until the parallel joists
caught him by the arms and held him sus-
pended between earth and sky.
There were several workmen at hand, but
before any of the could reach the spot where
the colonel fell, he had raised himself up and
was again above board. Quick as his action
was, however, it was not SO quick, but That
Mrs. Cleveland, with the promptness and
energy for which she j. distinguished, had
time to o'step across to Tue sunEen colonel,
and, catching him by the arm, helped him
to the surface again.
Those who were present say Mrs Cleve
land did not scream, as most women would
have done, but was as prompt and cool
headed as if the accident and rescue had
been all carefully rehearsed.
Having been around that part of the
White House where the work of alteration
and repairs are going on, correspondent
had occasion to see for himself the hole in
the ceiling through which Col Wilson fell,
and out of which Mrs. Cleveland bravely
helped him.
The workmen were engaged to-day in
taking down the three large crystal chande-
liers which hang from the ceiling of the main
corridor Since the superstructure Of the
floor has been removed these chandeliers,
weighing nearly half ton each, have proved
too heavy for the subStructure of the floor,
which they have sprung considerably, at the
immineut risk of breaking down and de
stroying the beautiful ceiling which Tiffany
frescoed in Arthur's time.
The president has passed trying week
and is very glad congress has adjourned.
The labor of scanning all the bills and reso-
lutions passed and demanding his approval
before the adj 1urnment has been herculean.
He will 60 over to New York to review the
business mems parade, as already an
nounced, and as soon as his election is over
will begin work upon his annual message.
Those who know the president best say the
excitement incident to election day will not
affect him in the slightest. When the ST.
Louis convention was renominated him, he
was the coolest man in the White House
There is private telegraph wire running
into the White House, and on occasions of
Importance it is connected with New York
Full returns viii be received in the executive
office, and Col. Lamont win tabulate them
With the return of cool weather the pres-
dent has resumed his walks about the White
House grounds, and now and then extends
them beyond the gates out into the West
End. Secretary Fairckild frequently &C
companied him in his S5rolIs last spring, but
Secretary Villas is now his usual companion.
The president has an aversion for an over
coat, be it ever so light, and on these chilly
afternoon walks without one, depending for
warmth upon a very brisk pace, He is q
better walker than any member of his cab
met, and boasts record of mile In ten
minutes
Fatal Horse Disease.
NENU PEnFopD Macs Oct Oh -HOrsoYaan