Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-06-14

UINoCuN W AAnN 49, - 49,
Friday morning the three floors of the
old Ford's Theatre building in Washing
ton. which was occupied by the record and
pension division Of the office of the Surgeon
general of the United States army, gave
way, carrying down with them and burying
in the wreck one third of the five hundred
clerks who we're at work there. The imme-
date cause Of the catastrophe was the re-
moyal of the pier supporting one of the
iron columns upon which the floors rested.
This was done in course Of excavation un-
der the building for an electric light plant,
and the supports substituted were not SUI
6cient 10 sustain the weight upon them
The crash came almost without warning,
though some of the employees had time to
escape by running to the rear Of the build
ing where the floors did not fall, or by
jumping or climbing from the windows
The walls stood firm. Immediately after
the accident volunteers set to work to rescue
the unfortunate men imprisoned in the
mass Of debris. and these were soon supple
mented or replaced by fremen, police and
soldiers. Gen Schofeld promptly ordered
two troops of cavalry and two companies Of
infantry to the spot, and Secretary Herbert
ordered out all the naval medical officers sta
toned there and also opened the Naval Hos
pital to receive the injured. Every hOspi-
tai in the city was called into requisition.-
The death list contains twenty-one names,
and about fifty person were more or less Sc
riously iniured-all men. The only West
Vircinian was DR.. Burroughs Nelson Of
Wheeling, whose body was among the last
taken out. Some thrilling stories are told
bv those who escaped. The following Sun
dav in Washington IS described as a Sab
bath of the dead Sunday Of funerals, and
one minister appropriately chose as the
text of his sermon, "The mOurners go about
the streets"
The building which was the theatre Of
the awful tragedy is the same in which
President Lincoln was assassinated in 1865.
1t is said that it has been regarded as I'M
safe for several years. Ii was under control
Of Col. Ainsworth, chief of the records and
pension division, who had personal super
vision Of the work in the cellar, and exam
ined it the evening before the accident with
reference to the safety Of the building. A
coroner's inquest is in progress, at the con-
clusion of which the causes of the accident
will be Investigated by a court Of inquiry
appointed BY the Secretary of War. There
is great indignation against Col. AinswOrth,
and the first session of the cOroner's jury
was attended by an excited and turbulent
crowd.
Gov. MacCorkle last week made the fol-
lowing appointments J. NJ. Sydenstricker,
Of Greenbrier county. to be commissioner
Of labor for the term of four years, COM
mencing on the first day of June, 1898
DR.. G.. I. Daley, of Tucker county, a men,
Der of the State Board of Health from the
second congressional district. Also regents
Of the University as follows: J. B. Somer-
vile, of the first senatorial district, for the
unexpired term commencing July l, 1891
G.. L. Smith, of the second senatorial dis
trict for the unexpired term commencing
July /, 1892; John Basel, Of the third
senatorial district, for the unexpired term
commencing July 1, 1892; J. S. Withers,
of the fourth senatorial district, for the I'M
expired term commencing July l, 1892
These appointments Of the regents are made
on account Of the failure of the Senate to |
confirm those previously made.
Fortune Would you like glimpse /
into the future?
Patriot who has not been appointed to
oficel-No; what want is a glimpse into
the past would like to know if voted /
for Grover Cleveland for my heslth.-Lve. |