The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-06-15
FORD:S THEATER.


fee. The old building was used by the
pension and record division of the war
depart nent. Repairs undertaken re-
Gently had weakened the supports, but
to the penuriousness Of congress, which
made it impossi Die to secure a fitting
building. may he charged the awful
catastrophe that mist cast blot OF
shame upon the national government
LIST OF THE VICTIMS.
The following list of the dead thus
far reported, with the names of the
state from which they were appointed,
contains twenty-five names, including
one unknown:
O'CLOCK Friday evening, evidently a q ERIK;
George Allen, Pennsy lyania; George w Ar
sio.d, Virginia l. W. Body, New York;
Samuel T. Banes. Pennsylvania: John Bossius,
District OF Columbia: Arthur L. Dietrich, Ken
lucky: Jeremiah Daley Pennsylvania: James
r. Pagan, Kansas; Joseph B. Gage. Michigan;
David c. Jordon Missouri: NJ NJ Jarvis
Michigan: j. Boyd Jcnes, Wisconsin: F. B.
Lotus, New York: F. W. Nae ser: b. F. Mil
Ter. New York: Howard $ Miiier, Ohio: j. H.
McFall, Wisconsin: E. q. Shull, Kansas: VII
liam Schriever, Maryland; H. S. Wood: F. NJ.
Williams, Wisconsin
The injured, so far as known, num-
Der forty-fve. Many of them are being
treated at their homes. Some will I'M
doubtedly die of their injuries. The
list is as follows:
WITHOUT WARNING.
@he building collapsed without a
r1nnent's warning. The front half of
vi three Loors fell, carrying every
thing to the bottom. For moment
4. was still. Then the air was
split by the shrieks and groans of the
frightened, wounded and dying
| hundreds who, like mass of
worms. struggled, twisted and fought
| to free themselves from one anotn.
er and from the heavy iron beams
and timbers and furniture and govern.
ment records which pinned them to
| their places. The people in the neigh
borhood were tor the moment stunned.
The horror of it all had robbed them OF
their senses. Then IN few moments
but what to the wretches pinioned in
deaths EN- brace seemed ages, the truth
| burst upon. their befuddled brains
and they Joined their cries with the
| unfortunates within the collapsed
building. Then, dividing. some rushed
| for help; some ran to the sinl1-hOle OF
death itself to lend their hands, while
others, with selfish regard for thei,
own safety and curiosity, stood where
they were to look upon the scene.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
An investigation of the cause of the
accident discovered that it was appar
emily due to criminal carlessness
number of laborers were at work be
meath the first floor excavating 70,
an electric plant. The building
rested on underpinning and the
earth, and as the earth was dug away
the pressure of the building rested or
the unsupported beams of the frs,
floor. The weight proved too much
and the floors collapsed and fell
into the excavation, burying the labor
ers and clerks beneath them. The
people in charge of this excavation
were supposed to have known that the
building was condemned and had beer
unsafe for years. The general insecur
ity of the building had already been
repeatedly reported, and for long
time past, whenever heavily loaded
wagon has gone by, the building
seemed to sway backward and for
ward, as the clerks describe the sensa
ton. A strange coincidence is tina,
the old theater is wrecked on the day
of the funeral of Edwin Booth, brother
Of John Wilkes Booth.
| CONDEMN THE GOVERNMENT
Condemnation of the government fol-
! permitting the building to be used is
heard on every hand. The federal gov.
eminent has an account on it's hands
of immense proportions. There is little
doubt that friends of the dead and
the victims who were fortunate enough
to escape with their lives will seek
damages from the government which
may aggregate millions of dollars. In
the dangerous condition of the build.
| ing they will have strong popu.
lar support of their claims. Strong
words of denunciation were ut
tered against the federal au
thorities for permitting the building to
be occupied in view of its unsafe con.
dition. The strongest condemnation
was visited on Col Ainsworih, who as
chief seems to have beeno opt. mistic all
along regarding tn. buildings condi.
ton.
Col. Ainsworth, VITO has charge Of
the department. gave out the following
| as his official statement:
The placiEgsof The electric light plant did nol