The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-10
VINO is REsPONSTBLE9
cau.e of tho Disaster to he Investigated
and the Blame Fixed.

and the Blame tlheh'
WASHINGTON. d. c., June 9.-The
question Of the responsibility of the ac-
c,dent IS Of course already earnestly ois-
cussed Though officials connected with
the b,,lIding are not inclined to so state,
and declare that they cannot understand
the reason OF the fall. there seems Dut
little doubt that the primary cause was
tho eycavatinR which was being done
under the front wall. The fact that
the COLLAPSE occurred through the siruers
being pulled out of their places IN the
front wall towards the centre Is estaD-
lished I'm a remarkable manner by un-
,mpeachable though inarticulate testi-
mony Against the front wall or each
floor hung an office clock All these
clocks were uninjured and now remain
there keeping perfect time, though every
piece OF flooring Is In the bottom OF the
demolished structure.
From a view OF the interior OF the
building It would appear that the floors
between the joists were filed In with
about one foot Of brick and mortar. on
top of this was laid the tiling. Each
floor was supported by iron girders and
iron uprights II was the general
opinion Of those who came from the
building. and who were acquainted with
the work that was being done In the Gel
lar. that the front wall must nave SET
tied or sprung sufficiently to have loosen
ed the girders. This caused puiilhs
apart Of the iron work in the centre OK
the building, and the crash Followed
The position from the girders ana the
appearance of the walls would seem 10
indicate this cause.
The testimony Of the clerks who escaped
Is the same from each floor. There was
but one sound a great crash and all the
floors In the front part of the building
went down together.
There will be no loss of consequence 70
the pension records on account OF the
accident. None of the valuable papers
and records were kept In this building,
save those in use An the current business
Of the department. The records. when
completed were filed away I'm the depart
ment building proper, and the hles re-
moved to and from the Tenth-street
building as needed. Inasmuch as there
was no fire Colonel Ainsworth thinks
when the debris is cleared away all the
papers Of value will be recovered.
An examination Of official records shows
that the insecurity of the building was
brought TO the attention OF Congress In
a pointed manner as far back as 1873. At
tention was then directed simply TO the
safety OF the army medical library and
museum The protection Of human life
was not especially brought In question.
The result Of that action was the building
of the army medical museum near the
national musuem.
/ As soon as Secretary Lamont returns to
Washington steps will probably be taken
10 thoroughly investigate the cause Of the
disaster and to FIX the responsibility II
the coroner's jury does not anticipate the
department In that direction.
List Of the Dead. "a.
At a. NJ. the list OF the dead by to-
days disaster was twenty-four, latest
addition being "A man named Gage. of
Missouri. and Mulledy, Of Louisiana.
The Original Structure Intact.
BALTIMORE. June s-John T. Ford.
for whom the Washington building which
collaps ed to-day was constructed thirty
years ago, said tonight that no part OF
the original structure had fallaa. The
floors which gave way were put in the
building after its requirement by the
Government.
Two months after President Lincoln
was shot Mr.. Ford attempted to reopen
his theatre, but was prevented by the
Federal authorities. who seized the prop
erty. Four months .ater Thaddeus ste
vens. chairman of the House Ways and
Means Committee, reported In ,avor OF an
appropriatlon OF sl00.000 20 purchase the
building and grounds. This was agreed
TO. and the Government became the
owner. The building was subsequently
ramodelled. and IL was this work. Mr..
Ford saws. which failed, and caused
to-dav's awful loss OF life.