The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-06-14

the rickety she'll known as the winter
building, also belonging TO the war de-
partment. and occupied by hundreds OF
clerks of that department and the second
auditors office. This place is VIGOROUSLY
dangerous. and the floors are overloaded,
ali OF the facts being known 10 congress
for years, but receiving no attention.
Building Inspector Talks.
Building Inspector Entwisle, with his
two assistants was on hand shortly after
the cavern occurred. He said that last
week application was made to him for q
permit 10 undeTpin the building.
but ne declined 10 give it, 10
was q government bnilding and came
under the direct supervision OF the federal
officers. In fact be had no Jurisdiction OF
government buildings ana was prohibited
10y law from interfering. The cause OF
the whole affair be said was undoubtedly
due To the underpiunIng. The workmen
dug under the heavy upright columns
which support the building and the col
lapse followed.
One Of the workmen. a colored man.
who was employed in excavating the cell
lar and who escaped with only sight cuts
says: Il told them yesterday that the
archway would fall, for every time any
one walked over the floor il would bend"
Mr.. William +. Funk OF the firm OF
Funk x Funk. contractors and builders.
was one of the iirst on the scene. He
said he thought the wreck was caused by
the faulty manner in which the work Of
undeTplnning seemed 10 have been con-
Quoted. lie said he had noticed 10
several times during the last few
days and no later than this
morning had locked at H. IL did not seem
/ to him that the work was being carried on
/ in a safe manner. Mr.. Baier said the
| building had been VIGOROUSLY unsafe for
| a long time and he stated that il had been
/ three times condemned. lie said the rear
wall OF the building had been bowed out
for long time. IL is thought that when
the debris is cleared away all the papers
Of value will be recovered.
The Last Body.
The last body to be discovered Was that
OF DR.. Nelson lie was buried beneath
| the timbers in the extreme 'front.' Of the
/ building, and wss removed shortly aitsB
! o clock The laboreTs did not cease their
/ efforts until about : o'clock BY this
time they had reached the bottom of
| the excavation in the basement. and
| further search seemed useless as the
| debris in al parts OF the building had been
entirely cleared away. some held that
two laDoTers who were 40 work ia the
basement at the time o. the accident were
still missing, but as the search had been
| 30 thorough nothing 10 warrant its con-
tinuance could be shown. But one body.
| that OF DR.. Nelson, ~ as found during the last
| eeven hours of the search and these
| in charge OF the work think it impossible
that more remain In the ruins The
work was therefore stopped. the streets
roped close to he bui ding and the police
guard stationed there for the night.
The Star speaks edIyoriaily OF the disas-
ter as follows:
There is innocent blood on the head of that
intangible power known as the government Of
the United States. The miserly congressional
fingers are red with the fluid which but few
hours since oOursed through tue veins OF active
manhood. Official garments are sBeared with
accusing crimson aud official feet stand par
alyzed IN pools OF oOnGemnatory gore. The
widows and orphans weep for the hus bands
and fathers sacrifced on the altar OF legislative
/ economy and administrative disregard. For
several years there has practically been but
one opinion IS 20 the floors that collapsed, aud
yet men and desks aud fle cabinets were
crowded IN upon them until every available
foot OF space wes utilized. Again and again
has the note OF warning been sounded. time
aud time again has congress Rp-
Dsaled 70 Tor the relief which
few wisely expended dollars
would bring and the petitions have never
celVed moments attention from those 10
whom they we're addressed. Condemned by
every person who knows anything 20 con-
struction the building was nevertheless
used TO the extent of its capacity, not
because the authorities deemed il safe.
because there was other place in which she
great clerical lofoe couli be aacomm odsted. IL
was a VIGOROUSLY unhealthy aud rotten shell,
utterly unfit Tor habiJation. and had IL been
even reasonably strong. was nc place IN which
TO oonfne human einRs whom necessity COM
PEELED to work Tor their daily bread.
The calamity or today may be repeated to-
morrow In the government printing ONCE with
fnghtiul multiplication OF horrors Inc past
is siekenilg and neart-rendinr. the future is
! laden with dark pTobabdities. May innocent
blood he shed with Impunity?
Various plans fOT the relief OF the sui
ferers are on loot. II meeting Of clti-
zens this afternoon s.. 800 was subscribed.
President Cleveland who had been asked
TO preside over the meeting, but was unable
TO do SO because of = pressing official BUSH
ness engagement, sent his check Tor 500.
and Secretary Thurber his for So. The
newspapers of the city are actively en-
gagged IN the good work and the CLERKS In
the departments are contributing nDeT-
allv.
The total number dead is now known to
be twenty-four, and tho injured 50 far as
ascertained aggregate ifty-two.