Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-06
M A K E S HIS REPORT,
Col. Ainsworth Refers to the Ford's Thea
ter Disaster.
HIS Annual Statement-HOw the Acct.
dent Came to Happen-Widows
and Orphans spoken of.

Col. F. c. Ainsworth chief of the record
and pension Office, in his annual report to
the Secretary of War says that during
the past year 203, 704 pension cases were
disposed of. A comparison with previous
years operations shows that there has
been steady reduction in the number
of cases received during the past four
years. The reduction is due largely, Col
Afnsworth says, to the fact that the bulk
OF pension claims arising under the act of
June, 1880, have been filed and reports of
military service furnished regarding them.
During the past year S,421,478 index record
cards were made and placed on file. This
number added to those previously filed
makes total of S5,O99,755 index record
cards. All SO filed cards relating to indi-
Vfdual soldiers can be readily found
Refers to the Disaster.
Referring to the disaster at Ford's Thea
Ter building Col. Ainsworth says:
reference has been made In this report
TO serious calamity that has befallen the
clerical force of the office during the mast
year, and by reason of which the work
OF carding the military records was tenn
porarily interrupted. On the 9Th of June.
1885, at about 10 o'clock am, while the
clerks In the building on 10th street known
as t'ord's Theater building were engages,
in their work. portions of the noors a. ,ha
second and third stories of the buildin o
,tell, carrying with them many of the cIerk 3
ana resulting In the death Immediately
OF within few days thereafter) of twentv.
TWO persons and the more or less serIonc
manning of many others.
inls terrible disaster was the more ap-
ticira because danger had not been an
mad been repeatedly examined by experts
ana pronounced entirely safe 1t was pur-
.naseo py the government in 1866, was en-
ureiy remodeled, and has since been used
py the War Department for various pur-
poses, principally for the storage of the
Army Medical Museum the library OF the
surgeon generals office the medical records
OF the army and the accommodation of the
ofncers and clerks employed in connection
herewith. Some time after the building
came into the possession of the government
a considerable expenditure was made upon
i in the way Of thoroughly Strengthening
Its, walls. and for many years subsequently
Its floors bore with perfect safety the i'm
mense weight of the museum, library and
hospital records but all Of these had been
removed from the building several years be-
fore the catastrophe occurred.
widows and Orphans.
AS the weight Of the clerks employed in
the building was many times less than that
removed therefrom, there was no ground
for apprehension that the building was not
q safe one for the purpose for which 1t was
latterly used, viz: for office purposes for the
use Of clerks and the storage Of the few
records upon which they were at the time
being engaged in copying.
'UlFor the comfort and convenience of the
clerks 50 employed it became desirable 10
supply the building with electric lights and
yentiiating fans, and for this purpose an
excavation was made under the building by
a contractor to whom this necessary part Of
the work had been intrusted. This work
included the underpinning of certain piers
upon which the floors, In part rested, and
1t was during the progress of this work, and
probably in consequence of it. that the dis
aster occurred. In a substantial euiidir g,
as this was known to be, and under the
superintendence of a competent builder,
there was no reason to believe that the
work was not entirely safe and free from
danger to the persons occupying the build
ing at the time. That the confidence felt
In the safety of the building during the
progress of this work was not well founded
s,ishown by the unfortunate results that
followed.
The families of some of the killed in this
most deplorable accident are understood to
be in a destitute condition. ana the widows
and orphans Of those whose lives we're thus
sacrificed In the public service, and those
who were seriously injured, are earnestly
commended to the generosity Of the govern
ment.