The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-11

relating to the accident, and Ii Will not
be restricted In making its findings TO the
responsibility of Colonel Ainsworth alone
II will have power to call for all persons
and papers, and to determine whether
court-martial Of any officer of the army
is necessary. 1t is clearly accepted by
everybody that the Government and the
War Department. as the executive branch
having immediate control of the building
must accept the responsibility for Inc
calamity Even the War Department Of
ficials are willing to admit that the Dis
trict authorities are in no way to blame.
II has taken considerable inquiry 10 find
ont the exact methods under which the
work OF excavating was being performed,
so diverse are the ways OF the Govern
ment in handling such matters.
Ii has been finally learned. however,
that the first steps looking TO the estab-
Hshment Of an electric plant in the old
museum were taken by Colonel Aims
worth, the officer in charge Of the re-
cord and pension division. The specifica-
tions for the plant, including exeavating,
were prepared In the supply bureau, pre-
sided over by Captain NJ II. Thorpe They
were prepared by Colonel Ainsworth and
Captain Thorpe. Jointly, after consulta-
tion with experts. Advertisements were
then issued by Thorpe for the erection
Of the plant, and the contract. includ-
ing excavating, was awarded 10 George
Dant, who sublet the work OF excavating
10 +. r, Pullman. Ainsworth and Thorpe
made frequent inspections OF the work TO
see that the contract was being complied
with, and the engineer OF the building
made reports Of its progress. but It does
not appear that any really competent
expert stood between the Government
and the contractors. Ainsworth is a sur
geon In the army. but he never made
any pretension 10 being an engineer.
Neither Captain Thorpe or the engineer
OF the building have any knowledge of
construction. The dangerous condition
OF their place OF business was matter
Of common knowledge and discussion
among the clerks employed in the theatre
The records OF the War Department
show that the collapsed theatre building
was for many years known officially to
be unfit for human occupancy. by reason
not only OF structural weakness, but also
because OF It's defective sanitary condi-
tion. This is on record in q report made
I'm February. 1881. by Lieutenant-Colonel
II. Jones, assistant napector-general. TO
Alexander Ramsey, then Secretary or
War.
Architect Clark. Of the capitol, who
supervised the reconstruction OF Fords
theatre Wheh tHe OONSi hihSAAe Pat SHoSco
II in 1866. said this morning that he con-
stdered the building safe. The fact that
the four walls remain in their proper
places demonstrates. he says that they
we're stable, but the alteration being
made was the cause OF the catastrophe
has been found as yet who can
describe the catastrophe as anything ex-
cept a sudden and overwhelming crash
that was over as quick as II was begun
There was not a moments warning Tor
anybody, even 10 rise from their chairs.
Many bodies were found crushed win
their desks and chairs. The disaster
would have been two or three times more
fatal but for the circumstance that that
portion of the building Immediately over
the excavation had been vacated pending
the completion OF the cellar extension.
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DIR. Graham Clayton. of Bedford. u