The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-06-15

- aaIR lN-.Ll
FoRD's THEATER-sCENE OF THE DISASTER.
mentally kept intact, as it was that fatal
night looked down upon a scene of agony,
excitement and grief which even the great
crime of 1865 could not parallel.
And the horrors of the scene were by no
means lessened by the knowledge that a
blunder surely in this case almost worse
than a crime had caused the death of
from 20 to 30 persons at the least and in
f1icted maimings and injuries upon so or 60
more.
Declared by Congress Unsafe.
The evidence as found in official records
appear conclusive that as long ago as 1885
this building which the government pur-
chased after the assassination and used as
IN army museum, was officially proclaimed
by congress an unsafe depository for even
the inanimate skeletons, mummies and
books Of the army medical museum, for
which safer place of storage was provided
by act of congress.
But Notwithstanding the fact that in the
public press and in congress also continued
attention was called to the bullying walls
of the building, and it's darkness and gen.
eral unsuitability and unsafety, it con-
tinued to be used for the daily employment
of nearly 500 government clerks of the
pension record division of the war office
With q refinement of discrimination,
however, between what could be replaced
and what could not be so easily supplied,
while the clerks ware firm tp6 in ba fo
building, the original records were retained
in the substantial fireproof war depart
ment building proper So the comforting
official assurance is given that while 30
clerks may have been killed the pension
records are all saved and uninjured
Other Government Death Traps.
The building collapsed in the midst of
an illjudged effort to remedy some of it's
defects. The moral of the disaster, if
there is any, is emphasized by the fact
that there are known to be at least two
government buildings-the printing office
and the Winder building annex of the war
department-each containing many more
employees than were Gagged in the Ford's
theater deathtrap, which are in an equally
dangerous condition.
The hour of the disaster was very shortly
after the departments had settled down
for the days work. The workmen whose
operations under the building were the
immediate cause of the catastrophe had
been tinkering upon it for two hours or
more. Half an hour earlier and few lives
would have been lost.
How One Clerk Saw 1t.
One Of the most striking accounts of the
disaster is given by Mr.. ], L. Exnicios, who
was on the second floor and stood on the
very edge of the horrible crater that so
suddenly opened in the center of the build
ing.
de heard noise, he said. as if something
heavy had fallen on the floor above. He
glanced up and was almost petrified to see
the entire floor coming down-sIow and
wayering at first and then more swift in
It's Erpgress-bearing to death it's load of
humanity.
The floor started from the front wall, and
was at an angle as it went down. When
he first saw it the angle was not sharp
snolgh to disturb the desks. and the star
tied occupants in some cases sat on their
chairs not knowing what had happened
AS the floor came on in its awful progress
ne saw 1t bend and wave and then it crashed
oo"R on the occupants of the floor beneath.
lie called Oh the clerks about him to RIM
TO the rear, and many was saved by their
promptness In getting away from the peril.
Excitement at the CorOner's Inquest.
WASHINGTON, June 13-The responsible.
lty Tor the great catastrophe of last Friday |
Ia the old Ford theater building on Tenth |
street Is to be determined by military |
court and a judicial tribunal
The coroner and six men, representino |
the people of the United States. entered |
upon this stern duty at Willard's hall |
! he saaly court of inquiry took up SINH |
lar investigation later. The interest of |
the people, however, seemed TO be conferred |
III the coroners inquest, and there was a |
somewhat remarkable scene at Wizards |
San: now that the ruins have been CLEARED |
away and thoroughly explored and tbat |
the full extent Of the disaster IS known
the inquiry most heard Is as to what * sro'
Ing to be done about it.
Bold Utteranee by a Clerk
~ was nQf exactly ia the line of inquiry |
that waa expected, but a rather sin1,,Iar
state of affairs was broush. a,,t b,:',cna
witness. and that is that the CLERKS W.,
Nsie hnddled together in the old theater
.t.tsas .igeq Fle9r official lives in a state
u . ie''f OIL the head of the division. Colonel
-. oi'h. MS was the statement OF
"tT'o, bib bIlaU his somewhat |
'oid ut0erances met with hearty resnonse
tta.n Is Clerks was shown by the ann,anss
=. men broke esat from the crowd of CLERKS
'hat thronged the hall. fhe witness rs.,-
resented that the fear of Colonel
worth was 50 great that it would even No
vent clerks from reporting their snsn;-
1aeas concerning the safety of the buildina
.ba rs sno"h Also ny previous testimony
snat there had been apprehension of dan.
ger on the part of some one in autbarri..,a
.or 1he space on the ground floor over tb.
excavation had been roped off and s;n on
.ne excavation was made clerks had baen
cautioned = to tread lightly in eo,na 49,
The stairway. e'As ae~f
Accusation of Murder L.
Ainert N: Crosby, third floor CLERK w.s
aot allowed to finish his testimony Wh;,s
IS was being examined man wa,LaS :
'Iowiy 70 place behind Colonel 49,
SorGn chalr and said something In 800
.e loue VOICE that it brought a warnina
,sh-a- from some of those present m
rs nan was not 70 be hushsd. He gtennaa
si'sard and standing behind and d;rapa,it l
'ver Colonel Ainsworth, cried In > ..s:s |
trembling with passion: VOICE /
You murdered my brother and ia IN,
Know what right you have tn 81, 10.