St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
CAUSE OF THE COLLAPSE.
Workmen Excavating for an
Electric Light Foundation.

Workmen Excavating for an
Electric Light Foundation.
WASHINGTON, June 9.-Ford's old
theater, the building in which Abraham
Lincoln was assassinated, and used by
the government for many years as part
of the Office of the surgeon general of
the army. collapsed this morning,
shortly after $3.50 O'Clock, with terri
bic result in loss OF life and injury. The
building stood on Tenth street north
west, between E and f streets, and not
far from Pennsylvania avenue. 1t had
been condemned years ago-some claim
as many as fifteen or twenty-and had
been repaired, propped up and reno
waited from year to year. There were
457 persons, mostly government clerks,
employed in the building, and
nearly all of them were at
work when the building fell. An
excavation for all electric plant was be-
ing made in the cellar OF the structure
"a three-story affair-and according to
the best information obtainable, the
workmen this morning had dug below
the foundation supports in the front Of
the building, weakening them to such
an extent that the walls gave way be-
fore they could be lacked. This ex-
planation of the cause of the accident
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. Those on the
top floor were suddenly precipitated to
the floor below, whose weight and fur
niture carried the floors below with it.
Fortunately, only half the floors gave
way. The rear part OF the structure
remained intact. The walls did not fall.
The news that the building had fallen
spread with ligiltning-like rapidity, and
soon Tenth street and adjacent thor
oughfares were crowded with people.
Within an hour the news was known
over Washington, and hundreds Of
anxious relatives and friends swarmed
to the vicinity of the old theater. Women
appealed anXiously to every bystander
for information about some particular
person, while men came with tears in
their eyes and imploringly beSought the
policemen to let through the lines that
they might obtain some knowledge
of their friends and relatives. A
general fire alarm was turned in
few minutes after the crash,
and then all the ambulances III
/ the city we're summoned. AS
quickly as possible, the police and fire.
men formed reserve brigade and ready
hands assisted them to take out the
| killed and wounded. In less than an
| hour about twenty-five people had been
| taken out. ana every few minutes there
! after some still form would be borne on
| a stretcher from the building. Police
and army ambulances, cabs, carriages
! and vehicles of every description were
! pressed into service for carrying away
the dead and injured. All the hospitals
| in the city we're utilized in caring fol-
the injured. and scores of physicians
volunteered their services for this work.
! The commissioners for the District OF
! Columbia took possession of the build
ing and vicinity in person and helped
the reScuerS.
Col. Corbin, assistant adjutant gen.
eral of the army, was sent by Mai. Gen,
Schoheld to represent the war depart
ment. and to decide if it were necessary
to call out troops. Owing to excellent
police regulations the rescuers were moi
hlndered in their work by the anxious
crowds, and it was not long before the
debris mad been cleared away to such
an extent that the work of rescue could
be carried On without hindrance. Both
the naval and military authorities took
prompt action. Gen. Scho6eld ordered
two troops of cavalry from Fort Myer
Just across the river, and TWO companies
of infantry from the arsenal to the
scene Of tie disaster. The secretary o.
the navy ordered ont all the haeal med
ical officers stationed here, and alsC
opened the naval hospital to receive the
injured. The commandant at the navy
bish, but tbs work nevertheless prog.
ressed rapidly. An incident of the day
was the number of clergy who, OH hear
ing of the disaster, fiocked to the scene
Utterly regardless of their own safety
Il ~ - /.