The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-06-17
THE OLD FORD COLLAPSEs
Awful Accident in Washington Fri
day Morning.
There Were Over Four Hundred Govern,
mens Clerks in thu euilding..Many
Killed and Injured Sc. Hardly
a Man Unscathed.

WASHINGTON. June 10.-Ford's old
theater, the building in which Abra,
ham Lincoln was ass~assihated, and
used by the government for many years
as part of the offices of the surgeon
general of the army, collapsed Friday
shortly after $50 q. M, with
a terrible result in loss of life and in.
jury. The building stood on Tenth
street, northwest, between E and L
streets, and not far from Pennsyl.
vania avenue 1t had been condemned
years ago-some claim as many as
fifteen or twenty, and had been re.
paired, propped up and renovated from
year to year. There We're AIS persons,
mostly government clerks employed in
the building, and nearly all of these
were at work when the building fell.
An excavation for an electric light
plant was being made in the cellar
of the structure, a three-story affair,
and according to tho best infor-
nation ~obtainable, the workmen this
morning had dug beneath the founda-
ton supports in the front of the build
ing, weakening them to such an extent
hat the walls gave way before they
could be lacked. This explanation OF
the cause for the accident is the only
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. Those on the top
floor were suddenly prccipitated
to the floor below, and the
weight of falling timbers and furni-
ture 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 rcar,parto OF
the structure remained intact. Agen-
eral fire alarm was turned in a few
minutes after the crash and then all
the ambulances in the city were sum-
moned. AS quickly as possible the
police and tiremen foYmed a rescue bri-
gade and ready hands assisted them to
take out the killed and wounded. Police
and army ambulances, cabs, carriage $
and vehicles of every description were
pressed into service for taking away
the dead and injured. All the hospitals
in the city are utilized in taking care
of the injured and scores of physic ians
volunteered their services for this
work. Tho commissioners of tho Dis
trict of Columbia took possession OF the
building and vicinity in person and
helped direct the police and the res
cuers. Colonel Corbin, assis-
tant adjutant general of the
army, was sent by Major
General Schotield to represent the war
department and to decide if it were
necessary to cali out the troops. Ow-
ing to excellent police regulations the
rescucrs were not Murdered in their
work by the anxious crowds, and it
was not long before the debris had been
cleared away to such an extent the
work of rescue could be carried on
without hindri,ncc. Both the military
aud naval authorities took prompt ac-
ton. General Schofield ordered two
troops of cavalry from Fort Myer, just
across the river, and two companies of
infantry from the arsenal to the scene
of the disaster.
Rushed to the Windows.
When the first ruinbling warning of
the approaching collapse came the
clerks OF the third floor to the number
of eighty or one hundred rushed to the
window and jumped for the roof of u
small building adjoining on the north
side. Many of them escaped in this
way. George NJ. Arnold, a coiored
clerk appointed from Virginia, was
seen at a third story window. He was
warned not TO jump, but despite the
protestations of numbers of people he
climbed out and lowering himself from
the sill let go. lie fell to the cobble-
stoned alley. striking on his head, in
stantly killing him. His head was
mashed to q jelly and the cobblestones
for a distance of several yards were be-
spattcred with blood.
The Question of Responsibility.
The question of the responsibility for
the accident is OF course already car
nestly discussed. Assistant Secretary
Grant was one OF the first officials to
visit the scene of the disaster and i'm
mcdiatcly gave orders by telephone and
mounted messengers to the officers ofthe
department to render all possible aid.
Mr.. Grant said to a reporter, speaking
under pressure of great emotion: 81
am appalled, at the magnitude of the
disaster. 1t is impossible for me to say
anything as to the cause of the acct
dent, for ] know nothing of the condi-
ton of the building"
A Bra1e CoIored BOZ.
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 Lock-
wood. AS soon as the floors collapsed
and the dust cleared away, he realized
the danger of those at the rear VIM
dows, who We're wildly climbing
out and, calling for aid. he
climbed up a large telegraph pole as
high as the third story and dashed n
n 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 AIS clerks
in the bureau. A portion of them were
employed in the annex and in the
printing office. They escaped.
From all sources the number
of the dead is reported at "a, of
which Is are at the morgue, 4 at the
Emergency hospital and 4 not located.
-Four other persons are reported dead.
but their bodies are not at the ,morgue
or the hospitals. The names of Is in.
jured have been secured, but this is
probably not correct, as many of the
clerks were sent direct to their homes.
Tho correct number will doubtless eX.
coed so.
BUSINESS TROUBLES.
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