The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-06-15
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FoRD's OPERA HOUSE

The building has been condemned as
unsafe and unsuitable for the purpose
for which it was occupied for some
time, but sentiment has kept 1t un-
changed. The floors were heavily
loaded with the records of the records
and pensions division Of the war de-
partmrnt. The clerks employed there
were al n.en.
Twenty-eight persons had been taken
out of the ruins up to 1915. The emer-
gency hospital is crowded with dead
and injured.
The injuries, from the very nature of
the accident, are of the severest charac-
ter, crushed and broken limbs and in
ternal injuries prevailing. The excite
ment of the relatives and friends is in
tense, thousands surrounding the scene.
The excitement has spread all over the
city.
The excavations which were the i'm
mediate cause of the collapse were be-
ing made at the instance of the war de-
partment for the purpose of putting in
an electric light plant.
The insecurity of the building has
been repeatedly reported. For long
time past, whenever heavily loaded
wagon has gone by, the building
seemed to sway backward and forward,
as the clerks described the sensation.
When the first rumbling warning of
the approaching collapse came Friday
morning, the clerks on the third floor,
to the number Of 80 or 100, rushed for
the windows and jump for the roof of q
small building adjoining on the north
west side. Many Of them escaped in
this way.
Assistant Secretary Grant was one Of
the first officials to visit the scene of
the disaster, and Immediately gave
orders by telephone and mounted mes
senger to the officers Of the department
to render all possible aid.
Secretary Grant told reporter,
speaking under pressure of great emo
tion: 81 am appalled, at the magnitude
of the disaster. 1t is impossible for me
to say anything as to the cause Of the
accident, for know nothing of the con-
dition of the building"
At 10;45 eight dead bodies, unidenti-
fed, were taken from the ruins. Gen.
Schofield has ordered two troops of cav
airy from Fort Myer, just across the
river, and two companies of infantry
from the arsenal to the scene of the
disaster.
The secretary of the navy has ordered
out all the naval medical officers sta
toned here and has also opened the
naval hospital to receive the injured
The commandant at the navy yard has
been ordered to render all assistance in
his power.
1t is feared there are still go bodies
under the ruins. Another man has Just
been taken ont dead.
George NJ Arnold, a colored clerk ap-
pointed from Virginia, was seen at a
third-story window He was warned
not to jump, but despite the protesta-
tions of numbers of people he climbed
out and, lowering himself from the sill,
let go. He fell upon covering at a
lower door and slid off into the cobble-
stoned alley, struck on his head and
was instantly killed His head was
mashed to jelly, and the cobbles for a
distance of several yards were bespat-
tered with blood.
One of the bravest and most daring
incidents connected with the calamity
was performed by a colored boy, 10 or
20 years of age, named Basil Lockwood.
As soon as the floors collapsed and the
dust cleared away, realizing the dan
ger of those at the rear windows who
were wildly climbing out and calling
for aid, he climbed up large telegraph
pole as high as the third story and lashed
a ladder to the pole, putting the other
end in the window. By this means ten
or fifteen were assisted down the ladder
in safety. There were 47B clerks in the
bureau. A portion of them were EN-.
ployed in the annex and In the printing
Office. These escaped.
1:3o p. MP TO 1880 p. m. sixteer
l!dead bodies have reached the morgue