The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-05
MOURNING IN ONTARIO.
MONDAY NIGHTS DISASTER VAS
CAUSED BY a BEAN SWAPPING.
twenty-five Known to Have Been Killed
Graphic Descriptions of the Scenes at
the City Hall by Reporters.

LONDON. ONT, Jan. 1.-The Union
Jack to-day foaied at half-mast over the
City Hall. but It is not needed to remind
tho citizens OF the horror Of last night
The city Hall presents the appearance OF
a wreck and the streets In front OF II are
crowded with curious and sorrowing ci.i-
zens.
Tho list of dead numbers twenty-five.
but it is much to be feared that 1t is not
yet complete.
Many o. the injured are not expected 10
recover and others will be confined to
their beds. days. weeks and some FOR
months.
Tie list OF injured can never be made
complete in so far as the minor sufferers
are concerned. as many are able 10 be
about. though suffering bruises, aches aud
pains, a. result OF their terrible falls.
As one looks at the ruins to-day the
wonder is that there were so many es-
capes among the 600 persons who made
the fearful drop. Il was nothing short
Of miraculous that 20 many axe alive TO-
day.
THE CAUSE.
City Engineer Graydon states that the
cause Of the accident was the breaking
Of a heavy beam which ran beneath the
floor almost az the centre Of the space
which gave way. This beam was compos-
cd Of twelve 3Xf timbcrs securely Joined
together The beam broke I'm the centre
rolling an the people standing In this
space into one mass. Tho engineer says
that the supports OF this floor were not
taken away in making recent alterations.
The wall where this Joist ran was taken
out i'm lsSs The engineer did not consider
the hall dangerous. and says that the ire
mendous dead weight simply caufed the
beam TO snap
The inquest began this afternoon but
was purely formal
Two reporters who were hurled w
the deadly pit at the city hall disaster
have written their stories OF the tragedy.
CITY Editor Rosie of the Advertiser
says:
''The writer was hurled backwards into
the nj and underneath the falling TIM
hers When the air cleared OF the dust
and the bright chandelier immediately
overhead shone into the death pit,
ehastly sight met the eye. Faces CASH
ed and covered with blood were every
where to be seen. The drawn counter
anccs Of those who suffered internally
and were in the throes OF death were also
among the number Old men with grey
hair and boards matted with blood lay
mined in the heap along with small boys
distorted with main. Tie clothes and
faces of all were ashy with the dust OF
plaster and added TO the horror OF the
scene The greatest number OF fatal
ties occurred where the iron safe crash
ed through the hoor.'
Harry NJ. Passmore reporter of the
Advertiser. who was AZ work when the
crash came. was seriously hurt and he'd
10 be taken 10 his home. He said to-day:
VERY SUDDEN.
1.-The crowd was packed like herrings
in a barrel and the reporters found IL I'M
nossible 20 write. We implored Alderman
Carrothers not 10 call any more speak
ers. feeling I'm danger OF being injured
nv the contantly increasing jam. Alder
man Carrothers seemed 10 coincide with
this view. as the crowd continued 70
sway forward in front OF the platform.
But the previous speeches. In which
threats had been made OF how the new
Council would undertake to undo some
of the work Of their predecessors seemed
TO So please the crowd that they called
for other speakers.
"Suddenly there was an ominous crack
ling OF smashing timbers. Back slid the
reporters chairs. There was not time 10
move a limb. There was tremendous
crash. and the end OF US all seemed 10
have come. There were three OF the re-
porters writing at the table when the
crash came and carried the MOOR pat
FORM and hundreds Of citizens down with
I, cannot describe nv feelings when
7 found myself pinned DOWN beneath a
.ee,h,n. mass OF humanity. damned 10
gether amid tons Of tmbers. brick.
broken furniture and an once safe.
IT never heard more heartrsndlng cries