The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-10

pieces OF cloth, old coats. newspapete. OF
Whatever else could be had. Some Of the
faces exposed 10 the gaze OF the great
thYonR surrounding tho building. All
during tho long hou ., while tho workmen
were working with all their strength to
rescue such ~ were not past help rnothsrs.
sists.s and daughters lowered around IN
eyes inquired Of all whom they met OF
some tidings OF their dear ones. Some
could hardly be restrained from pushing
their way into the building.
A look into the interior told sickeninR
tale of how some wcro takon. Desks we're
broken floor, others stood upright. but she
chair which stood beside IL and its ocou-
pnnt went down with the crash. Records
and papers were scattered everywhere, but
- fast - possible they were gathered up
and saved. Many of them W spotted
with bis life seems miracle. Az they
were brought forth they presented spec
taole that no one seeing II will ever forget.
In many cases all semblsnce TO humanity
WAS gone. IL seemed 40 though tho helpers
wore carrying out nero bags Of matter.
smeared all over with blood. filthy with
dirt dirt ground into them, blood on their
faces.
Tho hospitals were ksoon overcrowdsd.
Drug stores were turnod into temporary
hospitals. People in the ncighborhood OF tho
accident opened their doors gladly and the
dead and wounded were hurried In.
When the accident was over and before
the rescuers could get inside to their relief.
theye were injured men who were caring
for their worse injured brothers; there were
men who did not rush for the strest to Save
their own lives, regardless Of tho fact that
more walls might fall ana bury them once
more. They stsid to succ0r men who could
|
whose ann was crushed used tho other TO
drag man from that place of death.
Every moments throwing aside of wreck
| age exposed the bloody and often mutt
lated form Of some victim. Occasionally
one OF them revived sufficiently to need
little assistance 10 the outer air. but the
majority of them. dusty, bruised with cloth
ing tom almost In tatters, were ca ried
into the clear atmosphere and through the
sorrowinR crowd TO ambulances and patrol
| wagons.
At first the efforts to rescue were most in
efficient. but in a little while system pre-
vailed and work went ahead with the ut
most rapidity. Weary rsscuers gave place
every few minutes to fresh and willing sue
cessors who worked with terrific energy in
| every endeavor 10 save some OF the buried
one8. Az the bleeding and manQled bodies
were brought out. groans and outcries Al ose
on all hands. One man was found sticking
AoU0 uE6b AL b0o OCDIles LIB Ieot WcEb k6OU
first. soon his legs were uncovered aud
seen to move feebly. showing be was still
alive. As fast as human hands could work
those Tescusrs did. and soon they had the
nfo,tunate man out. He was alive whom
brought into the air. but died before reach
ing an ambulance in the street. This Ia
but one of many shocking acenes attending
the most horrible and inexcusable accident
shat ever OCCUR ed in the city Of Washing
ton.
General opinion is that the accident wal
caused directly by the weakening of the
already weak structure by reason of exca.
vations made beneath it for an elect IL
lighting system. II was stated this after
noon that several days ago clerks In thu
building circulated petition protesting
against this work being continued. as they
considered it imper;led the lives Of svsrJ
man working in the building.
At the morgue the sight was horrible Il
behold. Blood from the bedies formed 8
large pool on the floor. and crushed skulls
broken arms and legs made the scene in
describabls. There were somo of the vic
tins who had been crushed. Ihev had
been smothered, and discolorations Of facei
and neoks gave visible evidence of the
cause of death.
President Cleveland was informed Of the
sad event just as he reached the entrance &c
| the White house by one of the clerks. and
at once interested himself In relief meas
ures. learning with satisfaction what had
been done by Assistant Secretary Of Wa,
Grant.