The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-13
A YeRIrAnLE pEATn TnAP.

coroner.
vERITADLE DEATH TRAP,
Frequently, frequently" said the
witness "servants or messengers OF
Colonel Ainsworth who were stationed
on the stairway notified us with bated
breath that 1t was Colonel Ainsworth's
order that employees should go easily on
tip toe up and down the stairs. The
building was known to all the clerks as
the death trap; but when ones bread
and butter depended on working there,
what could we do? Only this morning
received aletter from friend, lady,
IN which she said she recollected dis.
tinctly that said two years ago that l
was going into death trap"
The witness said that he had been q
civil engineer. Every day he went be-
low stairs aud watched the progress OF
the excavation. He saw no pillars or
props used in holding up tho first floor
while the excavation was going on,
Concerning the one stairway in the
theatre building Mr.. Thompson said II
was not sufficient for the rapid exit Of
one-half OF the clerks with safety, In
going down the stairs are unsafe"
LITTLE SCENE
Just at this stage in Mr.. Thompson's
testimony there was strange scene
illustrating a bitter feeling against Col.
Ainsworth. A majority of the specta.
tors present at the inquest we're clerks
employed in the old theatre building.
Mr.. Warner, ono OF the Jurors, asked
what was the feeling OF the clerks in the
building towards their superior officer,
Col. Ainsworth.
"That of abject fear" answered Mr..
Thompson impresaiyely. A slight buzz
and shifting OF chairs followed; then q
slight clapping OF hands.
A lieutenant OF police present bold up
his hand to stop the applause, but he
was too late. A burst Of handclapping
followed that lasted quarter OF a
minute from a portion OF the room
where most OF the clerks were sitting.
DR.. ShaelEer then arose and delivered
lecture to the offenders, after which the
hearing proceeded.
A letter from Secretary Lamont was
read giving assurance that no clerk need
fear dismissal on account OF his testi-
mony.
Mr.. Warner said he had asked the
question because there seemed to be
belief that the feeling existing between
Colonel Ainsworth and every man in
the Office was such that if they had
made suggestion as to the safety OF
the building it would have jeopardized
their positions.
Mr.. Warner asked II there was such a
feeling OF fear that the clerks were
afraid to make suggestions as to the
dangerous condition Of the building.
at was, Mr. Warner, emphatically 1t
was, was the answer.
Mr.. Thompson was questioned further
about this feeling and he said it OK.
tended to Jacob Frech, Colonel Aims.
worths right hand bower and the
chronic pessimist OF Washington" and
to Mr.. o. P. Brown, the chief clerk OF
the building.
DIGGING THEIR GRAVE"
Jefferson Carter, a clerk, was then
called, and said in answer to ques-
ton that there had been common ru.
NOR among tho clerks that the building
was insecure. He had heard casual
comments about the insecurity OF the
building while the excavation was be.
ing made, and only the other day, June
8 or A, William Schroeder, who was
killed in the disaster, said to him,
pointing to the excavation, Garter l
sec they're digging your grave" Both
Schreibor and Nulledy, who were
killed, had frequently spoken to him
about the dangerous condition Of the
building. At this point recess was
taken.
The first witness at the afternoon Sos
sion was David II. P. Brown, q third.
floor clerk, who said that since January
Q. 1883, he had heard the building was
unsafe. He had been instructed to go
carefully up and down the stairway in
the theatre building nearly every after.
noon by messenger called Sergeant"
Mr. Brown was asked II there was
any fear on the part OF tho clerks that
they would be disturbed If thoy pro.
tested against remaining in the build
ing. eyes, sir" no answered; and then
quickly added. II decline to answer
that question"
"0n what grounds do you decline 10
answorP" asked Dr. SChaeflor.
ION the ground OF my own position"
"Did you hear tho letter Of tho secre-
t0ry Of war read, promising protection
" clerks who testified"
"Yes, sir" was the answer. II do
not fear Colonel Ainsworth, for he has
done me two favors, but | do fear Mr..
French" (whom Mr.. Thompson called
"Colonel Ainsworth's right bower.")
Mr.. Brown finally decided to answer
tho original question. He said there
was much feeling about tho insecurity
OF the building, and great many
Clorks, himself among them, would
havo protested II thoy had had the
courage to do 30, against being kept in
tho old theatre.
"What had tho clerks TO Opprohond%
was asked.
discharge" said Mr.. Brown.
iNrIMiDArlNG WITNESSES.
Albert N. Crosby, third floor clerk,
was not allowed to finish his testimony.
Whlc ho was being examined man
walked slowly to II place behind Col.
Ainsworlh's chair and snid something
in such loud voice that II brought out
warning "sh.h" from some OF thom
present. But tho man was not to be
hushud Ho stopped forward and stand.
ing directly over Col. Alusworth cried
In n vniTc trpnblinp with nnsaion.