The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-06-10


mind this warning
The list Of the dead now numbers
twenty, and it is probable that few
more bodies will be found.
THE DEAD.
GEORGE ARNOLD, colored, Virginia.
b. +. MILLER, New York.
JOHN BUssTUs, District of Columbia.
GEORGE 0. ALLEN, Pennsylvania
F. E. LoFTUs, New York.
DAVID Q. JORDAN, Missouri
SAMUEL p BANEs, Pennsylvania.
WILLIAM SCBBIEvER, Maryland.
W. B. GAGE, Michigan. 81
j. R. FAGAN, Kansas. -sF
J. H. MCFALL Wisconsin.
L. w. BooDY, New York ~
+. H. WILLIAMS. Wisconsin.
Also three bodies said to be those of r
w. Masder, R. S Dieterich, and - Young
These three however, cannot be identified
by the official roster Of the division
There were 415 persons, mostly govern
ment clerks, employed in the building and
nearly all of these were at work when the
building fell An excavation for AN cleo
trio light plant was being made in the
cellar of the structure three story
affair-and, according to the best informa
tion obtainable, the workmen had dug be-
meath the foundation supports in the front
of the buildings, weakening them to such
an extent that the walls gave way before
they could be jacked.
This explanation of the cause for the ac-
cident is the only one advanced, but it
seems somewhat strange in view of the
fact that the top floor gave way first.
Men who were in the building say the
crash came without warning. These on
the top floor were suddenly precipitated to
the floor below, ana the weight of falling
timbers and furniture carried the second
and first floors with it.
Fortunately only the forward half Of
the floors gave way. The outer edges of
the floors and the rear part of the struc-
ture remained intact. The walls did not
fall.
The news that the building had fallen
spread with lightning-like rapidity, and
soon Tenth street and adjacent thorough
fares were crowded with people Within
an hour the news was known all over
Washington, and hundreds of anxious rel
atives and friends swarmed to the vicinity
of che old theatre
Women appealed anXiously to every by
stander for information about some par,
ticular person, while men came with tears
in their eyes aud imploringly sought the
c
lines that they might obtain some knowl-
edge of their friends and relatives
A general fire alarm was turned in few
minutes after the crash and then all the
ambulances in the city were summoned
As quickly as possible the police and fire.
men formed reserve brigade and read y
hands assisted them to take out the killed
and wounded.
In less than an hour about 25 people had
been taken out and every few minutes
thereafter some still form would be born
n stretcher from the building.
Police and army ambulances, cabs carri-
ges and vehicles of every description were
pressed into service for carrying away the
dead and injured. All the hospitals in the
city were utilized in caring for the injured
and scores of physicians volunteered their
services for this work.
The Commissioners Of the District Of Col
umbia took possession of the building and
vicinity, in person, and helped direct the
police and the reserves.
Col Corbin, Assistant Adjutant General
of the Army was sent by Major General
Schofield TO represent the War Depart
ment and decide if it were necessary 70
call out troops.
Owing to excellent police regulations
the rescuers were not hindered in their
work by the anxious crowds and it was
not long before the debris had been cleared
away to such an extent that the work Of
rescue could be carried on without him
drance. Both the military and naval au-
thorities took prompt action.
General Schofield ordered two troops of
cavalry from Fort Meyer, just across the
river, and two companies of infantry from
the arsenal to the scene Of the di saster
afagfV f ka M1r ftal
all the naval medical officers stationed
here, and also opened the naval hospital
TO receive the injured The commandant
at the navy yard was ordered to render all
assistance in his power
Every hospital in the city was called into
requisition, and ambulances, carriages and
Othsr vehicles filed with the wounded,
were quickly traversing the city in every
direction.
Those who were early on the scene found
the body Of a colored man in the alley in
the rear of the building where John
Wilkes Booth had his horse tetherel the
night he killed Lincoln. This was GeOrge
M. Arnold, a well-known colored clerk
He had been seen at third story window
He was warned not TO jump, but, despite
the protestations OF numbers of people, be
climbed out, AMI lowering himself from
Tie Sill, let Bh re lttl Nf0u covering
at lower door and slid ou INTO the cobblc
stoned alley striking on his head, instantly
killing him His head was mashed 70
Jelly, and the cobbles for distance Of sew
eral yards were bespattSed with blood.
One Of the bravest and most daring in.
cidents 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 danger of those at the
rear windows who were wildly climbing
oub and calling for aid, he climbed up E
arge telegraph pole as high as the third |
tory and dashed q ladder 20 the pole put |
ing the other end in the window. BY |
bis means ten or fifteen were assisted
own the ladder in safety.
None of those who escaped injury could
IN which Of the floors first gave way. To
10 occupants Of each floor there was but
ne crash heard, and instantly the whole
uilding was filled with binding lime
ust.
Running directly through all the floors
nd ia the middle Of the building was
ght wall. ten feet or more long and
early a. many wide The fatal area WAS