The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-13
The Colonel Threatened With Per-
sonal Injury During the
Inquest
Excitement Ran So High That
the Investigation Was Ad-
journed Over.
The Clerks Knew the Building Was Ua-
safe. but Fsar Of Dismissal Kept
Them All silent,

WAsHIN0TON June lA.-IDO i0Queoo Oyol
the bodies Of the victims Of the Ford's the
aser accident hogan here to-day. Col. Aims.
worth. chief Of the record and pension d.
vision. against whom there 10 an implied
accusation Of responsibility for the disaster,
was present. and his being there was tha
causs Of some vefy exciting incidents. Az
sornsy General Olney asnt letter tsadsYiue
the services Of an assistant In conducting
the inquiry Yhs offer was declined. An
other letter. which WAS from SEQ stary Of
War Lamont sEeatsd . sensation. The
lsttsr was to the stfses that the war depart
meat Was informed apprehension exiatsd
among the department. employees that they
might jsorardizs their positions by testify
ing before the Jury. Col. Lamont wrote;
1T seems hardly necessary for me TO Say
such IN apprehension 10 entirely Rroundlsss.
but to allay any sach fears % may exist
beg to inform yen that NO snploys Of The
department will sndangsr his position In
any way on account Of any sueh testi.
mony."
The hzss witness, benjamin. Reiss. tssti-
hsd he had mot seen the area roped of a
dangerous inside the building. For several
years hs heard rumors that The old build.
ing. particularly the rear wall (Which did
not fall), was snssfe. Col. Ainswo,th
was there during the time Of The exonva-
tion. Charles Troutnan. . clerk, testified
that he had besn warned by ]. W. Webb.
In charge Of the hrst floor, not to approach
the area ON the floor ropsd off while the OK
oavation was going on. No other warning
ar p{k a.. ~A H.
given. The day before the accident, Col.
Ainsworth examined the repsd off space
minutely. and witness thought he went
down stairs TO SEQ the excavation. Old en-
ployea told Col. Ainswo1th the building
Wa she'll and dtath trap. Smith Thonp.
1on. . clerk, testified that mssssnRsrs Of
Col. Ainaworth. stationed on the stairway.
frequently notified clerks with bnted
breath 1t was the eolonel's orders that
employees should walk ON tptOs up and
down the stairwav. Witness was an sngi-
nssr and examined the building. There were
no props whore the excavation was going
on. He declared the feelings of the clerks
towards Col. Ainaworth was one of abiect
fear. A bust Of handolnpping from the
assembled clerks followed this declaration.
The witness was asked If there was such q
fee ing of fear shat the clerks were afraid
to make suggestions rs to tbs dangerous
condition of the building. 1T was" en-
phatioa.ly answered Thompson, and he
added that the feeling extended TO Jacob
French, Ainsworth's right bower. and to o.
Is. Brown, chief clerk of the building. JEFF
fsrson w. Carter. q clerk in the wrecked
building. testified there had been a COM
mon rumor among the clerks that the
building was unsafe.
The hrst witness Of ths afternoon session
h> Il
been inst acted to 60 carefully up and down
the stairway in tho building. Brown was
asked II there Was any fear on tho part of
the clerks that they would be disturbed II
they protested against remaining in the
building. "Yss. sir" he answered. and
then dsmarred, but finally said: Il do NOT
two favors. but do fear Ar. French"
Brown said further shat there was much
feeling about the insecurity of the
building, and great many clerks.
himself among them, would have protested
il they had had the courage 10 do 10.
against being kept IN tho old thester.
what had the clerks to spprehendT" was
asked. "DisoharRs," said Brown.
j. 8. Smith, a clerk, testified the feeling
Was mot directed to Col. Ainsworth. but 10
other officials. particularly jacob French.
TIE sAlk against Col. Ainsworth was con-
fined to . few old sorcheads. James 4,
Long. q olerk, said he felt insecure during
The work OF excavation. and secured leave
Of absence while the excavation was going
On and applied for life insutance.
While Albert N. Crosby was being exam
med man walked slowly to place behind
Col. Ainsworth's chair and said something
in such loud voice, it brought warning
''sh-sh." But the man was mot to bs
tinshed. He stepped forward and standing
directly over Col. Ainsworth, cried in voice
trembling with passion: you mu dsred my
brother and I'd like to know what
right you have to cit here and intimidats
witnesses" There was moment Of silence
after this passionate outburst and thon a
wild shout of approval. Col. Ainsworth sat
ralmly In his chair Lieut.. Smiss pushed
Tho distu beY toward the doorway. His
name il Charles G. Ba mes. whose brother
was killed. The shouts of the government
clerks present continued. and IL looked for
4 minnie AZ II Col. Ainsworth was in dan
yer, but sharp words from police lioutsn-
INT brought quiet. Before tho witness WAS
allowed TO proceed B. H. Warner. one of the
urors, suRaestsd TO the coroner that the
episode showed the existence Of feeling
hat would best bs silenced by the with
directed. Loud appls use followed Warmers
and DIR. Sehaeffcr whisrered re-
luest to Col. Ainsworth TO withdt raw. He
.efussd to do so, however, and The coroner
laid he had NO right 10 exclude him. juror
Harvey said hs had been told BY dozen |
,lerks that they were afraid TO testify and |
would have refused to do 10 but for the |
otter of the sect etary of war.
Ross Perry. representative OF Col. Aims
worth. arose and his first words was the |
ianRl for the most exciting incident of the |
lay. Butler Fitch. on old white-haired |
,lsrk, started the trouble. ''sit down." he |
houted. you are an outsider and have NO |
light here. Iprotsst aRaiust an outsider
psakinR hare" 'sit down. sit down."
echoed his fellow clerks. Fitch cried olt |
omsthing about murderer" and the words |
70 echoed from part Of the hall. Clerks
vere on their feet trying TO make speeches
q shoueh pablo meeting was being held.
6organ Spencer Of Bridgeport. Ala, gov
rnmsns clsrk, called out to Col. Ainsworsh.
'You should be arrested for murder aAd
Iot released on bail" Here tAe tempest
'roks In full fury. ''Hang him." was
houtsd from dozen throatA Every man
n the spectators sssts rose Al ths CRY OF
Hang him, hang him." s.d ths suraoil
rev londsr; Col. Ainswsrsh sat cool snd
ollsesed. homsbody said after tAs aproar
oat pocket and remained there. His
satures seemed absolutely immsvabls. Per
' remained standing but made NO attempt
o Quell the mob. Lieut.. Smiss was utterly
ows.less 10 ssill ths tumals. nad rush
ad jsst begun In the direction OF Col.
inswerth when in or Warner rose and
eRUed for order. The sight OF hin standing
~ must bs suppresssd," DO said. mot BY
hs strong hand Of eAs law. but by The