davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
DEATH CAME IN AN |NsTANT

cident was over. and before the reScuers
could get inside to their relief. there
were injured men who were caring for,
their worse injured brothers. There
were men who did not rush for the
street to save their own lives. Regard
less of the fact that more walls might
fall and bury them once more, they
stayed 10 Succor men who could not get
away by themselves. A man, whose arm
was crushed. used the other arm to drag
man from that place OF death. Men
stayed to struggle with beams and
rafters. that bore down upon their fell
lows. They spoke words f cheer when
their struggeS were in vain. o.
When the first of the relief corps
entered the building, they were
especially struck by the silence that
prevailed. There were no cries to be
heard from beneath the debris. II any
cries were made, they were stified by
dirt and mortar that made almost solid
floor on which one might walk. Men
did not walk upon it more than they
could help, however, for no one knew
but what he might be standing directly
above the bodies of the dead, or above a
man in whom life still existed. Nerv-
Ously aud excitedly they tore away
beams and rafters that made tomb.
1t was horrid task; it was dirty task.
Men worked like demons, with sweat
pouring down their faces. The dust
and the dirt lay thick upon their faces,
so that one could scarce tell the color OF
the men. The trim uniforms OF the
firemen were ruined and battered. but
never did they stop IN their noble Work.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
THE INJURED.
Forty-Five Men Escape Death,
but Suffer Wounds.

WASHINGTON, June 9.-The injured
are: A. l.. Ames, Iowa, skull frac-
tured. leg broken, and injured intern
ally; F. F. Calvert. Maryland. right leg
fractured; S. j. Dewey, New York !;
Louis Dusapy; George w. Davis, Mis-
souri,, scalp wound; II. Il. Esterling. Fit.
Scott, Kan, seriously injured; Wash
ington Fry, head badly cut; w. s.
Gustin, Ohio. left arm broken;
DR.. James q. Howard, Maryland,
(colored), scalp cut, internal injuries
c. F. Hathaway, Ohio; J. N. Hammer.
Tennessee, injured in the eye; George
Handy (colored), slight cuts on head 4;
Thomas Hynes. Missouri, skull frac-
tured; J. &. Johns. leg badly cut; W.
Kugler, New Jersey, scalp wound :
Clifton Lowe, Iowa, scalp wound ;
William w. Lecture, District of Column
bia; E. Leger, Mississippi. head cut and
injured internally; Frank Metcalf,
Massachusetts. dislocation OF hip; &. M.
Mclaughlin. Tennessee; j. ?. McCor-
mack, Wisconsin, depressed fracture of
ribs; NJ. McLachlan, leg broken; X. M.
Patrick. New York. cuts about head and
face; Pody, police officer, injured after
accident; G. T. Pruitt. Texas, scalp
lacerated; P. K. Pennington, Alabama,
skull fractured: Charles Robinson, Col
orado, lightjinjuries in head and back /;
j. A. Stewart. cut about head ;
f. F. Sims; C. d. Shadbolt, Mis-
souri, (colored), dangerously injured !;
f. b. Smith. Tennessee; X. A. Smith,
Connecticut, compound fracture of the
skull; F. f. Sans. Illinois. cut about the
head; William NJ. Smith; z. u. SOM
mers, Ohio. ribs broken and head badly
cut; John ii. Thomas. Sedalia, Mo-. arm
broken; F. w. Test, Illinois, confusion
OF scalp; e. r. Weller. scalp wound and
confusion of back; N. t. Worley,
Tennessee, back and legs injured !;
James A. White, Georgia, cut on head
and leg; A. q. Young, Pennsylvania,
head cut and injured internally. The
superintendent in charge Of the emer-
gency hospital says none Of the men at
the hospital will die. The following in
jured are at the hospital, their con-
dition at present being too bad to per-
nit of removal: F. w. Test, seriously
about face and arms aud fractured ribs /;
Frank Metcalf. seriously shocked from
fall: A. l.. Ames, seriously, neck,
face and ankles; Robert Smith. frac-
tured skull, operation necessary.
The following were also injured: A.
e. Black. Indiana, fractured cheek bone
and arm: Charles }. Moore. District of
Columbia, ribs broken and scalp wounds
b. +. Driscoll. New York, scalp wound.
leg injured and injured internally; j.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
NARROW ESCAPES.
Two Men Who Stood on the Brink
of Eternity.

WASHINGTON, June Give minutes
later and J. M. Imbrie, the Pennsyl-
vania chief in charge of the second
floor would have gone down with the
wreck. He had desk in the shattered
area and also in the rear Of the room.
He had been at the former place and
then came back to the other desk, and i'll
about five minutes the crash was heard.
Then silence followed aud Mr.. Imbrie
said he heard no sound. He rushed
toward the rear windows, and found
men jumping out. Several men made
the periIous leap. but he supposes that
they fell OIL the awning over the lower
door, thus breaking their fall.
Another narrow escape is found in
the experience of j. ID. Nevins, OF
Texas, whose desk was located in the
fallen section OIL the second floor. He
had gone to the third floor on some er-
rand and returned, and had entered the
door aud was about to go to his desk
when the crash came, and lie stepped
back. One minute more and ne would
have gone down with the rest.
S. S. Baker escaped with bad scalp
wound. He was at his desk OH the
third floor front. The crash came. he
said, without moments warning. Half
stunned and dazed, he found himself in
the cellar. pinned down with debris and
covered with plaster, furniture and
chairs. He eXtricated himself aS best
he could and crawled out one of the
windows. 1t was fully half an hour be-
fore he recovered himself, and even
now can hardly account for his escape.
His coat was torn to tatterS.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
FIXING THE RESPONSIBILITY.
A Thorough Investigation VIII Be
Made at Once.

WASHINGTON, June 9.-As soon as
Secretary Lamont returns TO Washing
ton steps will probably be taken to
thoroughly investigate the cause OF the
disaster and to fix the responsibility. II
the coroner's jury does not anticipate
the department in that direction. The
collapse of this building has directed
earnest attention to two other great
public buildings believed to be In an al
most equally unsafe condition -One the
government printing office, where l.oOO
people are employed; the other IS the
rickety shell known as the Wlnder
building, also belonging to the war de-
partment, and occupied by hundreds OF
clerks of that department and tue sec
ond auditors office. This place Is no
toriously dangerous, and the floors are
overloaded, all of the facts being known
to congress for years, but receiving no
attention.
Building Inspector Entwisle, who has
two assistants, was OH hand shortly after
the cavern occurred. He said that last
week application was made to him for
permit to underpin the building, but he
declined 10 give it, as it was a govern
ment building and came under the direct
supervision of the federal officers. In
fact, he had no jurisdiction over the
government buildings and was prohib-
tied by law from interfering The cause
OF the whole affair, he said. was I'M
doubtedly due to the underpinning. The
workmen dug under the heavy upright
column which supported the building
and the collapse followed. One of the
workmen, coored man. who was EN-
pioyed in excavating the cellar and who
escaped with only slight cuts. says:
81 told them yesterday that the arch
way would fall, for every time any one
walked over the floor it would bend"
William n. Funk, of the firm of Funk
IL Funk, contractors and builders. was
one of the first OH the scene. lie said he
thought the wreck was caused by the
faulty manner in which the work OF
underpinning seemed to have been con-
Quoted. He said he had noticed 1t sew
eral times during the last few days, and
no later than this morning had looked
at it. 1t did not seem to him that the
work was being carried OF in safe
manner. MIR. Baer said the building
had been VIGOROUSLY unsafe for long
time, and stated that it had been three
times condemned. He said the walls Of
the building had been bowed out for
long time. 1t is thought that when the
debris is cleared away all the papers OF
value will be recovered.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
AN AWFUL SCENE.
Many Crushed Out of All Sem
bIance to Humanity.

blance to Humanity.
WASHINGTON, June "a look into
the interior told sickening tale of how
some were taken and others left. Desks
were seen half topping over the brink
of the broken floor; others stood up
right, but the chair which stood beside
IL and its occupant went down with the
crash. Records ana papers were scat
tered everywhere, but as fast as pos
s,ble they were gathered up and saved.
Many.o of them were spotted with blood.
That anyone should have escaped with
his life seems the work of miracle. AS
they we're brought forth they presented
a spectacle that no one seeing it will
" r forget. In many cases the sem
blance to humanity was gone. 1t
seemed as though the helpers were car
rying out mere bags of matter smeared
AL over with blood, filthy with dirt, dirt
ground into them. blood on their faces.
A wife could not nave recognized her
husband in that condition. With such
,rrderness as rough and excited men
rould summon at such time, they were
laid out on stretchers and carried to tile
amUulances that filled the street from
l. to L streets. All the doctors could
90 for them there was to clear away
some of the dirt, the plaster and filth
from the faces Of the injured men. In
many cases the dirt was ground INTO the
ewes, noses and mouths SO that without
such attentisn men might have suffocat-
ed. Many were unconscious and could
rot have helped themselves. With a
clang of the bell the ambulances start
ed off for their hospitals. These were
soon overcrowded. Drug stores were
turned into temporary hospitals. Peo-
pie i'll the neighborho0d of the accident
opened their DOORS right gladly, and the
dead and the wounded were hurried in.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
CONDITION OF THE BUILDING
Made Known to Congress as Far
Back as 1885.

Made known to Congress as Far
Back as 1885.
WASHINGTON, June 9.-An examina-
ton of the officials shows that the inse-
curty of the building was brought to
the attention of congress in pointed
manner as far back as 1885. Attention
was then directed simply TO the safety
of the army medical library and mu-
scum. The protection of human life
was not especially brought in question.
s. M. Stockslager, of Indiana, who was
chairman OF the committee on public
buildings and grounds in the Forty
eighth congress, made report In favor
OF the construction Of new building
for the museum and library, in which
he said of Ford's theater, then used for
that purpose:
1.-The building now used by the medi-
cal department for a library and
museum is not only too small to contain
the records of the library and museum,
but is unsubstantial and disposed to de-
stluction by fire."
When the bill was before the house
for it's consideration Feb. 16. 1855. Mr..
Stockslager said:
There is a medical museum, the
most complete in the world, the result
of the great war. which is now kept in
the old Ford theater building, build
ing totally inadequate to its safe-keep-
ing, mere finder box. surrounded by
wooden buildings, and liable to be de-
strOyed by fire at any time. visited it
short time ago in company with the
surgeon general, and the building Is in
an absolutely dangerous condition.. The
building was originally put up under
a. contract in ninety days, and was very
badly constructed. The east wall is
more than twelve inches out of plumb.
The southwest corner of the building
has given away until there is great
crack III the building. and tbs officers in
charge have been prohibiting from put
ting heavy articles in the upper story
for fear of pressing out the west wall.
1t is indeed in tumble-doWn condi-
ton"
Gen. Slocum, who also visited the
building, in the course of the same de-
bate said:
MY attention was directed to the
Importance Of this proposed building by
visits to the building where the manu-
scripts and books and specimens are
now kept; and l do not believe there is
a gentleman on this floor who would
hesitate to vote for this bill after going
there and seeing for himself the value
of the contents of that building and the
danger to which they are now eX-
posed"
Congress acted upon these statements
to the extent of reSiOving the tnanimate
contents of th9%huseum to new and
safe building. But congress and the
war department thought proper to ex-
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
and ministered to the dying and Injured.
Ministers of all creeds were present.
SLID DOWN THE HOSE.
Novel Means of Escape From the
Third Floor.

WASHINGTON, June 9. The hairs
breadth escapes related by survivors
were numberless. One of the most
thrilling scenes of the whole affair was
the sight of dozen men who were lert
in corner of the third story, Chamber
ing down q hose pipe to the ground.
One of these men, and the first to get
down. was E. Baier, who worded in the
center of the third floor. The story can
best be told Ill his own words:
II was at my desk" he said, "when
l heard a great roar. There was no
premonitory trembling, or any kind of
warning; just roar and crash, and the
desk and tables seemed to raise up in
the center of the floor and then disap-
pear in a binding cloud of white dust.
[ sprang for the rear window and
called to my companions to follow.
Those who were right near me did so,
and we gained safe place at the rear
of the building near the windows. We
were completely isolated, however. with
no way to get down. The floor had
sunk beneath us in front, and the build
ing was still trembling from the shock.
We did not know what minute the rear
of the structure would 20 down, and
stood there almost frantic. Then L
thought of a reel of fire hose that L
knew was near by. We groped through
the binding dust and quickly unw0und
it until the end touched the ground.
Then caught hold of the hose and slid
down it,alighting safely on the ground
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
HEARD THE CRASH.
An Account Of the Scene Detailed
NV an Eve Witness

An Account Of the Scene Detailed
by an Eye Witness.
WASHINGTON, June 9.-S. Dana Lin
coin. who occupies room of the At
lantic building. facing the rear of the
theater building, gives this account of
the scene. He was sitting at his desk
at the time of the giving way OF the
floors. He says he heard noise as
though of dumping of bricks in the
alley. He looked out of his Office will
dow and saw clouds of dust arising
to the top of the building. Immediately
at every window dozens of heads pro-
truded, wildly calling for assistance. 1t
seemed ten or fifteen minutes before
the tiremen appeared with ladders
which were Immediately run up to the
windows. In reality the time was only
few moments. The firemen rescued
all those who had not escaped by jump
Jog from the windows. The last man
taken out of the building alive was Capt.
Dowd, of Indiana. He was found near
the southwest corner of the building
covered to depth Of two or three feet
with brick and mortar. He had lain
there for three hours, but falling beam
had lodged near him i'll such a position
as to break the fall of the brick and TIM
bers, and when lifted up he raised his
hand, showing that ne was conscious.
When he was lifted into the Garfield
hospital ambulance the crowd saw that
he was alive and cheered again and
again.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
RELIEF FOR THE SUFFERERS
Over $4,000 Subscribed at
Citizens Meeting.

WASHINGTON, June 9.-Various plans
for the relief of the sufferers are on
foot. At a meeting OF citizens this
afternoon $4,000 was subscribed. Presi-
dent Cleveland, who had been asked 10
preside over the meeting, but was un-
able to do so because of pressing official
business engagement, sent his check
for 500. and Secretary Thurber his for
S25. The newspapers OF the city are
actively engaged in the good work, and
the clerks in the departments are con-
tributing literally.
The meeting was called to order by
Commissioner Rose, and Commissioner
Parker was chosen TO preside. With
but little preliminary the purpose Of
the gathering was achieved i'm the APP
pointment of five canvasSers for sub
scriptlOns III the meeting. While this
was being done brief addresses were
made by G.. b. Warner, Rev. William
Thompson, CLERK employed in the
collapsed building, and Bishop j. f.
Hurst. DR.. Bartietts ringing arraign-
ment of the government for its
NOR al responsibility for the calam-
ity met with the warm commenda-
ton of the gathering. lie said
the chief officers ought In some way
to get together and provide means which
SHdIl SCCulC W oNAiN"'h6
ones that care and support which mig
gardly policy has made necessary and
not added ''silv dollar upon this long
suffering humanity" ThOmpsOn'o
speech was largely devoted to- abuse OF
Col. Ainsworth. chief of the record and
pension division. whom he charged with
being the direct, active cause OF the
casualty. He said large, fine. safe rooms
in the war departments building were
kept sacred for the stOrageo I state rolls
and documents, while for the employees a
building utterly unit for clerical uses,
was crowded with clerks. many of
whose lives had been sacrlhced by this
one mans dictum. The theater had
been regular ''hell on earth" he said.
No earthly prison or Jail was to com
pare with 1t in disagreeable features,
while the insecurity OF the structure
was notorious. having been condemned
no less than three times. Mr.. Inomp-
son stated that, although siXty-two
years old, he had principally been en-
abled to make successful escape from
the second-story of the building by
means of ladder.
1t was stated at the meeting that tho
families of those who had been killed
had all been left practically unprovided
for in financial way. A subscription
was started this morning in the war de-
partment for the relief of the sufferers
and this will be followed by like meas
ures in the other departments.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10

pose government clerks to risks from
which they shielded skeletons and med
ical books. From responsible gentle
man, who yesterday took look at Inc
work going on under the doomed ouiic-
ing, this statement is obtained:
''As passed the building, Capt. Nj.
r. Thorp. chief of the bureau or sup
plies of the war department, seemed to
be directing some work, and stopped
to see what it was. There was brick
wall running from the back of the
building to the middle OF the lower
floor. which it supported. A number OF
workmen were eXcavating under this
wall for the purpose, as was told,
of putting in an independent electric
light plant, and they were preparing 10
support it by underpInning. IL now
seems very evident to me that as they
undermined this brick wall, the first
floor gave away; the second floor, being
supported by columns which rested on
the first floor. collapsed also. and the
third floor collapsed in like manner"
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
Mark BaldWin'S Curves Too
Much for His Old Com
radeS.
Several Crack Amateur Cy-
clists Having Their Rec
ords Investigated.
Results Of the Races at Nor
ris Park, st. Louis and
Other Tracks.

Boston, June 9-Jack Stivetts re-
deemed himself today by pitching a re-
markably steady game, and so effective
was he that "Bug" Holiday alone did
any batting for Cincinnati. The cham
pions played with confidence. and,
though Mullane held them down well,
their hits were opportune. The feature
of the game was the batting of Holiday
and the fielding of Long, Mccarthy,
Nash, Duffy, Comiskey and Smith. At
tendance, 1854. Score:
Boston. ......3 0 2 0 0 So /
Cincinnati. 30 0 0 0 OIL 6 3
Batteries, SWEETS and Merritt, Mullane and
Murphy; umpire. Emslie; earned runs, Bos-
ton z, Cincinnati !.
LOUISVILLE PLAYS A DULL GAME.
PHILADELPHIA, June 9.-Philadel
phia won its third successive game from
Louisville this afternoon. The visitors
played dull game, failing to take adj
vantage OF opportunities on the bases.
Weather clear and cool. Attendance,
2,100. Score:
Philadelphia 4 Q Ola i6 |
Batteries. Carsey and Clements Rhines,
Hemming and Grim: umpire. snyder; earned
runs Philadelphia :, Louisville 3.
SENATORS FIELD MIsERABLY.
WASHINGTON, June Washington
played miserable game in the field to-
day and Cleveland won easily. Cuppy
did good work and received splendid
support, especially from Tebeau and
Mexican. Weather clear Attendance
1000. Score:
r.. H. E.
washington,.o l 0 Q o Q Is II s
Batteries, Esder and Mcclure, Cuppy and
O'Connor; umpire, McQuald; time, 2;O5;
earned runs Washington 3, Cleveland2.
ANSON WAS SAD.
BALTIMORE, June 9.-Anson growled
less today than yesterday, but he was
not happy. In fact, he was miserable
because the Orioles again defeated Ills
Colts. Baltimore took the lead in the
first inning by scoring three runs.
Score:
r.. H. E.
Baltimore 8 1Os 0 Oil Is /
Chicago 80 0 0 0 1 q o. Il 1
Batteries, Hawks and Robinson, MeGill
and Schriever; umpire, Lynch; earned runs
Baltimore q Chicago :.
DIDN'T HOLD OUT.
BROOKLYN, June 9.-The st. Louis
team started off this afternoon with the
prospects of victory before them. Brett
enstein was not once safely hit in the
first three innings, and the Brooklyns
got only one man on bases. On the
other hand, Kennedy was hit for a sim
gle and triple by st. Louis in the
initial inning. Attendance, 2,200
Score:
Brooklyn 20 o o IL o 20 ~ : s
st. Louis IL 0 1 0 0 0 0-3 2
Batteries Kennedy and Kinslow, Breiten-
stein and Gunson; umpire, hurst earned
runs, Brooklyn !, 81. Louis l.
PUZZLED HIS OLD COMRADES.
NEW YORK, June 9.-Mark Baldwin
pitched cleverly for New York today,
and his old comrades were consequently
defeated. Attendance, 1000. Score:
II. H. E.
New York 3 3 0 o o 0 2 0 SIS II .
Pittsburg. =. 2 0 0 0 0 0 0-5 1
Batteries, Baldwin and Doyle: Killen.
Ehret and Miller; umpire, Gaffney; earned
runs, New York Z, Pittsburg 5.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
AT THE MoRGUE.
Horrible Scenes Witnessed in the
Little Building.

WASHINGTON, June 9.-Atthe morgue
the sight was one horrible to behold.
The little building. in which was one
ice chest and dissecting table, was
not near large enough to hold the dead
bodies brought from the wrecked build
ing. When the mOrgue was filled the
stable was turned into reception room
for the bodies. Blankets were spread
on the floor, and the remains were laid
out as respectfully as possible under the
circumstances. Blood from the bodies
formed large pool OH the floor. and
the crushed skulls, broken arms and
legs made the scene lndeScribable.
Then there were some Of the victims
VINO had not been crushed. They had
been smothered, and the discoloratlon
of their faces and necks gave visible
evidence of the cause Of their death.
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-10
s.: PAUL SCHUNEMAN & EVANS s.. PAUL
GLOBE


seemed useless. as the debris in all parts
OF the building had been entirely cleared
away. Some held that two labor
ers who were at work in the basement
at the time of the accident were still
missing, but. as the search had been so
thorough, nothing to warrant its con-
tinuance could be shown. But one
body, that of DR.. Nelson. was found
during the last seven hours of the
search. and those in charge of the work
think it Impossible that more remain in
the ruins. The work was therefore
stopped, the streets roDed close to the
building and police guard stationed
there for the night