The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-06-12
Latest Reports Place the Fatalities
From the Ford Theatre Accident
at Twenty-Five.
One Supposed to Have Been Killed
Was Not I'm the Building ut
the Time.
surviving Employees Tell Of Those
who Died and Rehearse Their
Narrow Escapes.

WASHINGTON, June 12.-Untll late 6s
night workmen had been employed in
removing the tons of loose bricks and
broken tiinbers from Ford's theatre
building and the old house looks less
hideous than when the scores of dead
and broken bodies were being carried
from it. A hundred or more broken
desks and tables were piled in the rear
on each floor and the papers and books
had been gathered up and such as were
Of any value. taken to place OF safe
keeking. Broken and twisted gas pipes
protruded from every part OF the
wrecked section of the building.
Talked Over Escapes.
BY 8 o'clock. an hour earlier than
usual, the old clerks began to arrive at
the building, and every new conner was
greeted with ELUSIVE welcomes by his
comrades, and they told tales of the
marvellous escapes, and each was again
and again questioned as to where he
was at the time. Tears filled many eyes
as each told of his experiences, and
how he had seen one whom they all
knew and loved dashed down to death.
Many of the clerks. with view to
not losing any time, knocked on the
door OF the annex building adjoining
the ruined theatre and the officials
within reported for duty. But no
suitable building has been secured yet
and 1t will probably be some days be.
fore the force is again put to work.
The coroner's inquiry win commences
Monday. The jury empanelled con.
sists of practical business men .oi
high character. Investigation by the
war department will also be had. The
stories of suffering and distress grow.
ing out of this calomity are heart-rend
ing.
One More Death.
The death roll received another acces
sion early in the morning. when A. d
Gerault, clerk from New Jersey, gave
up the struggle which he had main
tanned against awful odds for nearly q
hours. He went down in the midst o
the wreck and sustained injuries from
| which he never recovered conscious
ness. His head was cut and this pro
duced conclusion of the brain. He wa
taken to Mertz's drug store, the tenn
porary resting place of many of the in
| jured, but his injuries were of such
serious nature that he could no
be moved and he died, maxim:
the 23d name on the list.
Mr. Gerault left wife and marrie'
daughter The former was at his sid
throughout the night, and was witt
him when he died. The body will b
taken to his old home in New Jerse'
for burial.
A report gained circulation that al
bert G.. Yount of Pennsylvania, chief O
division in Ford's theatre, died from
his injuries during the night. The re
port is incorrect. Mr.. Yount is still
alive, but in very critical condition
| Ask For a Court Of Inquiry.
| Colonel Ainsworth has asked for
court of inquiry to determine the caus
of the calamity, and if possible fix tn
responsibility where it properly belongs
+ The request for court of inquiry t
determine his connection with the re
sponsibility as chief Of the record an
pension division of the war department
for the old theatre catastrophe, wa
laid before General Lewis Grant, tn
acting secretary Of war.
About the same time telegram wa
received from the secretary of wa,
Colonel Lamont, now in Chicago, SAY
ing that he was due in Washington a
1890 o'clock and in view of this infor
nation General Grant did not give cor
sideration to the request but decided I
refer it to Colonel Lamont for action.
An Encouraging Report.
| The report made by the superintent
ent of the Emergency hospital concern
ing the injured at the hospital is er
couraging. Most of the patients sho,
improvement in their condition.
| Reduces the List by One.
/ WASHINGTON. June 12.-Louis "
Boody of New York, reported in the lii
of dead, escaped uninjured. This +,
duces the total number Of deaths to q.
There is also doubt about the death {
NJ. A. Jarvis of Michigan.
Freight Meeting Called.
| CHICAGO. June IL. Chairman Mid,
ley of the Western Freight associate
has issued call for general meetir
| of the Western freight lines, and mee
ings OF the Western and Northwester
lines, and of the Southwestern line
All the meetings are to be held on JIM
IS, and will be devoted mainly to fec
nical matters.
Linemen'aN Strike Settled.