Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-16

IDTI tHcttltE uIS3SIcI WAS Dt9u1 To-
day at IL o'clock Just at that hour
COl. AjHsworth, chief Of the record AMI
pension division, who had been placed
III the defensive BY implied accusations
that he was responsible for the presence
Of the clerks in the building, entered
the nail ana engaged in !; short conycr-
sation with his attorney, Miss Ross
perry Of this city.
Dr. SchaeiIcr, the deputy coroner Of
I'll" district, conducted the inquest,
called the jury and stated the inquest
was to be held over the rcInlins of
Chaplin, whose body had been selected
Tor that purpose.
Benjamin RcisS, u clerk, was first
called. lie had been excused he said.
ut O'Clock on the morning Ut the dis
asfer Oh account Of cuisines and was
not present when the building fell. He
had not seen any area roprl off as
dangerous inside the old thcater He
had heard no complaint abOul the build
ing for Il month.
Charles TrOutnlan Il clerk in he Old
thcatcr whose desk was on the first
his escape The witness knew Of no
protest having been sent by employees
in the building 10 authorities rs TO the
dangerous condition Of the building
lie had been warmed by Gage IN charge
Of the floor, not to approIch IN area
on that floor which had been roprI off,
While the excavation was going on.
s Thompson said no hail been Il civil
engineer. Every day he went below
stairs and watched the progress OF the
excavation. He saw no pillars or props
used in holding up the first floor while
the excavation was going on 1t was Il
matter of common talk that this work
was dangerous. and Il fellow clerk had
heard that Mr.. Gage was one of the vic
Tins, had applied for leave Of absence
during the progress of the work in the
basement, but that it had been refused
Mr.. Gage. Il" understood, was apnrG-
hcnsive Of danger. Concerning the one
stairway in the theatcr building. Mr.
Thompson said it was not sufficient
for the rapid exit Of onc-half the clerks
with safety.
L
testimony their was Il scene illustrating
a bitter feeling against Col Ainsworth
maio1ity of the spectators present
ut the inquest were clerks who were
employed in the old thcator building
Mr. Warner, one Of the jurors. asked
the witness what was the feeling Of
clerks i'll the theatrr building toward
their superior officer. Col. AnSwerth.
THAT Of abicct fear" answered Mr..
Thompson mpr"sSively.
4 slight buzz ana shifting Of chairs
followed; then Il clapping of hands
lasting quarter of a minute.
Dir. SGllacfcr looked aStoniShcd: Col
AinSWorth grew rel DR. Schacfel then
arose and delivered 4 lecture to the
offenders, after which the hearing pro-
ccctlcd
Mr.. Warner said he had asked the
question because there seemed to he n
belief that the feeling existing between
Col Ainsworth and every man in the
office was such that had they made Il
suggestion rs to the safety of the build
Ing, il would have ieoparlizcd their po-
S;liOnS.
Alr. Warner asked if there was such
4 feeling of fear that the clerks were
afraid 10 make suggestions as to the
dangerous condition Of the building.
1t was, Mr.. Warner; emphatically
it was.' was the answer Mr. Thomp-
son WAS questioned further about this
feeling, and said it extended to Jacob
French, Col AnSworth'S right bower.
and the chronic pesSimist of Washing
ton and to Mr.. O. Brown chief clerk
of the building
At the afternoon session of the in
quest a well dressed man walked for
ward and in a voice trembling with
passion. shaking his fist in Col Aims
worth's face, shouted:
You murdered my brother and YOU
shan't sit there intimidating these wit
neSSeS. The man was Charles BaneS.
whose brother was 4 victim of the disaS-
ter. After the uDroar this had occa-
stoned had quieted Mr. Davis. repre-
Senting Col. AinSworth. started to speak
when Il dozen excited department clerks
rose to their feet and shouted for him
TO sit down The lieutenant of police
present endeayored to quiet the out
break, but his voice was rs ineffectual
AZ it would have been in i cyclone.
The excitement grew i'll intensity. Near
~ every department clerk present who
WAS employed in the old theater build
inc was on his feet shouting.
Il first they only called sit down"
shut Your mouth" but finally some
frenzied individual cried hang him.
hang him.. Men We're springing for
ward by this time md mere spectators
present sought cover. 1t looked as if
harm would com to Col Ainsworth. for
some clerks We're shaking their fists over
his head I'D others We're posing for
pushing Onward as if they wished to
tear hi1l to pieces. Mr.. Warner. one
of the jurors. finally managed to quiet
the mob and the deputy coroner ad-
io.fned the inquest.
The department clerks stood about
the hall talking eNcitedly over the in
cident Col. Ainsworth sat in his chair
for minute and then walked out of
the building. and was quickly driven
away amid angry expressions from the
crowd.
When the hall was emptied the ex-
cited language of the clerks continued
and finally Old Butler Fitch mounted
the entrance steps and proposed indig-
nation Immediately
Smith Thompson was elected chairman
of the meeting and denunciations of
Col. Ainsworth and those who justified