Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-16


legs, left shoulder. head and body. So
much noise was made by the breaking of
the glass and the striking against the floor
that a number OF persons occupying apart
ments on the twelfth floor rushed from
their rooms to ascertain the cause. Mrs. E.
X. Moore was passing through the hall and
was almost directly Beneath the skylight
when Col. Lester fell She telephoned to
her husband. who was on lower floor, and
the latter responded with two of the bell
boys.
could not be removed and it was not until
morning that he could be carried to his
apartments.
Mrs. Lester knew nothing of the affair
apartment. She was there with the two
grandchildren, Lester and Martha Ran
dolph. The sight of her husband, in
jured, affected her greatly 1t was thought
last night that Col. Lester would certainly
die. but this morning, it was stated the
patient had rallied, and those who were in
attendance nursing him entertained a ray
of hope. Physicians who saw the patient
however did not give his relatives much
encouragement.
Climbed a Ladder.
Why Col. Lester climbed the almost per-
pendicular ladder and tried to get to the
roof is matter Of conjecture. While 1t is
know that he had been looking for his two
grandchildren shortly before the accident
occurred. and that he walked up the stair
way instead of riding in the elevator, some
of his friends are inclined to believe that he
wanted to go there to see the airship at
Luna Park when 1t made its ascension 1t
Is stated that Col. Lester did not see the
ship when 1t visited the Capitol Thursday.
go was particularly anxious to view 1t.
After dinner last evening he was in the best
Of spirits and chatted pleasantly with a
number of friends before he made inquiries
about the children Having failed to find
them on the lower floor, Col. Lester as
cended the stairway and went to the top OF
the building. 1t Is thought he made mis-
take when he attempted to reach the roof
and went up the ladder instead of by the
stairway usually used for that purpose:
Reaching the cupola, 1t is thought the
elevator ropes and wheels confused him,
and in his effort to return he stepped upon
the glass skylight and crashed through. az
stated. Before going up stairs Col. Lester
appeared on the portico of the building and
asked IL any of the persons there had seen
his grandchildren. The little ones had lived
with their grandparents since the death Of
their mother, and Col. Lester was very
fond of them. He also referred to them as
his pets and much of his time was devoted
to them.
At the Capitol Yesterday.
About five years ago Col. Lester suffered
d stIohe oi paralysis, winch ieit MIN with
an impeachment In his speech. Despite his
affection. he attended to his duties in Con-
gress and participated in the work OF the
committees on expenditure In the State
Department and on rivers and harbors He
was at the Capitol all day yesterday, re-
turning to the Cairo at the close of the
days session.
No time was lost In summoning medical
aid for the injured man, DIR. T. j. Kent,
the house physician at the Cairo, being
called to attend him. DIR. Kent realized at
once that Col. Testers condition was criti-
cal, 30 he called DR.. Charles w. Brown
in consultation The physicians maze an
examination of the patient and reached
the conclusion that the injuries would
probably prove fatal.
II was stated at the Cairo late this after
noon that Col Lester was resting comfort
ably and that he appeared to be little
better than he was earlier in the day.