Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-06-16
The Disaster a, Washington.

stained the walls oil tne Olu rOIu IneatIef
where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated
by j. Wilkes Booth in April, 1865. 1t is q
coincidence also which will not escape at
tention, that this second tragedy occurred
on the very day when the remains of the
great tragedian whose life was so darkened
BIZ his brothers crime that he never visited
Washington afterwards, were being laid to
rest in Mount Auburn Cemetry.
The house in which Lincoln died, on the
other side of the street from the theatre
where he was shot, and which is still SEN
timentally kept intact as it was that fatal
night, looked down last Friday upon a
scene of agony, excitement and grief,
which even the great crime of 1860 could
not parallel, and the horrors of the scene
we're by no means lessened by the knowl-
edge that blunder, surely in this case
almost "worse than crime" had caused
the death of from twenty to thirty persons
at least and inflicted maimings and injuries
upon fifty or sixty more. ,
The evidence as found in official records
annears conclusive that as long ago as 1880
this building. which the government .pur-
obased after the assassination and used as
nm army museum, was officially proclaim
ed by Congress an unsafe depository lor
even the inanimate skeletons, munlmles
and books of the army medical museum,
for which safer place of storage was pro
yided by act of Congress Bnt notwlth-
standing the fact that IN the p9ohc press
and in Congress also continued attention
was called to the bulging walls OF the
building and its darkness and and general
unsuitability and insecurity, 1t continued
To be used tor the offices of 900 govern
ment clerks of the pension record DIVISION
of the War Office.
with a refinement Of discrimination,
hoxever. between what could be replaced
and what coald not be so easily supplied,
while the clerks were trusted IN the unsale
building the original records were retained
in the substantial fire. proof ar Depart
ment building proper. so the coihior.lng
official assurance is given that Whlie tnlr'y
clerks may have been killed the pension
records are all saved and unlnJured;
The building collapsed in the midst OF an
ill-indeed effort to remedy some OF its de-
fects. The moral of the disaster, If there
il anv. is emphasized by the fact that there
are known to be at least two great govern
ment buildings-the printing office and the
Winder building annex of the War De
nartment-eaeh containing more employees
Than were Gagged in Ford's Theatre death
tran. which are in an equally dangerous
condition.
The hour of the disaster was very short
" after the departments had settled down
| for business. The workmen whose opera
tions under the building were the immedl-
ate cause of tbs catastrophe had been tlnk-
ering upon it for two hours or more han
| an hour earlier and few lives would nave
| been lost.
crash came without warning. Inose on
the ton floor were suddenly precipitated to
the door below and the weight of falling
timbers and furniture carried the second
and first floors with it. Fortunately only
| the forward half of the floors gave way.
The outer edges of the floors and the rear
mart of the structure remained intact. The
walls did not fall.
The news that the building had fallen
snread with lightning-like rapidity and
soon Tenth street and adjacent thorough
fares were crowded with people. Within
an hour the news was knowE all over
Washington, and hundreds of anxious re-
latiyes and friends swarmed to the vicinity
of the old theatre.
A general fire alarm Was turned IN
few minutes after the crash, and then all
the ambulances in the city were summon
ed. AS ouickley as possible the police ana
firemen formed a rescne brigade, and ready
hands assisted them to take out the Killed
and wounded. In less than an hour abont
TWENTY-FIVE people had been taken out, and
every few minutes thereafter some still
form would be borne on stretcher from
the building. Police and army ambulan-
ces cabs, carriages and vehicles OF every
pesc1iption were pressed into service Tor
taking away the dead and injured. All
the hospitals in the city were utilized III
caring for the injured, and scores of phys
icians volunteered their services for this
work.
The beginning Of the inquiry OF the Cor
iner's Jury Monday into the causes which
led to the disaster at the old Ford theatre
last Friday was sensational enough TO
promise exciting scenes before the END Is
reached. Just bit more intensity addeu
to the excitement, Just little more nerve
on the part OF those who led in the shouts
against Colonel Ainsworth, Chief OF the
Pension and Records Office OF the war
Department, and lynchiDg IN ancient
Wizards Hall, where the Coroner and bis
iury were sitting, would have occurred
without doubt.
There was startling and sensational
scene in the inquest in the Ford's Theatre
disaster after the recess. Charles b. Banes
denounced Colonel Ainsworth as lntlml-
dating witnesses, and Immediately there
was most threatening demonstrations
against the Colonel. Mr.. Banes walked
forward, and, when close TO Colonel AIMS
worth, shook his fist in his face and in q
voice trembling with passion, cried out.
l.v
have no right to sit here and lntlmidate
witnesses"
There was dead pause. Then Mr..
Warner, one of the jurors, said that, owing
to the evident feeling displayed he thought
it only right that anyone who might be
implicated in this matter should be asked
to withdraw. Intense excitement follow
ed. Mr.. Perry, counsel for Colonel Aims
worth, got on his feet, but howls and
shouts from all sides drowned his voice.
In vain he appealed to be heard.
Excited men were shaking their fists, and
cries of murderer arose. Mr.. Warner
sprang upon a chair and appealed for
quiet and peace One man yelled "Kill
him. another Hang him" and general
movement was made toward Colonel Aims
worth. Finally Mr.. Warner succeeded in
quietlng tie storm, and the Coroner i'm
mediately adjourned the hearing.
The inquest began at IL O'Clock in vii
lard & Hall.
Colonel Ainsworth, of the Record and
Pension Division, had been placed ON the
defensive by implying ACQUISITIONS that he
was responsible for the presence of clerks
in the old building.
DR.. Shaeffer, Deputy Coroner conducted
the inquest.
After the hearing of several witnesses,
who testified that the clerks stood in fear
of the Colonel, mad rush was made in
the direction of Colonel Ainsworth, when
Mr. Warner arose, and, standing OIL his
chair, begged for order. The sight OF him
standing stopped the rush. DR. Shaeffer
directed Mr.. Warner to take his seat, ont
the latter refused, and, raising his voice,
managed to make himself heard. His
first words brought quiet.
"This outbreak of feeling must be sup
pressed" be said, mot by the strong hand
of the law, but by the hand of fraternity
TApplause ] / appeal to you to have lair
play as American citizens, and not To stain
the fair name of the glorious Capitol OF
this Republic. I appeal to you in the
name OF the Master who reigns above"
The crowd fell into Mr.. Warmers wa OF
thinking and cried "Yes," "Yes" He saw
his ad vantage and made an appeal to let
the uu eslion of allowing Colonel AIMS
worth to remain he settled hS cool heads.
When he took his seat, however, there was
more threatening muttcrings, and DR..
Shaeffer quick ly adjourned the inquest M
til the next day.
The proceedings in the Coroner's inquest
in the Ford's Theater disaster, Tuesday,