The Washington herald., 1907-11-16

number of incidents combined to
make the installation ceremonies of Will
bur Patterson Thirkield. d. D.. IL. D..
as president Of Howard University. an
! event not soon to be forgotten by those
who were present yesterday afternoon at
Rankin Memorial Chapel. on the univer-
sity campus, where the installation was
held
First and foremost among these inci-
dents was the Providential escape OF
! President Roosevelt from being precipi-
tated, with about forty other persons. who
were awaiting his arrival in the vestibule,
. 10 the basement The wooden beams upon
which rested the mosaic and cement
/ floor suddenly gave way under the heavy
lead. and men. women, and children went
down with the debris. No one was Sc
/ riously hurt There were a few bruises
and scratches, broken hats, torn coats,
and considerable confusion. until the
police, under command Of Capt. Elliott,
promptly restored order.
tatlcd an Am buiuuce.
Some one, evidently with a view to
have medical and other assistance at
hand, had sent in call for an ambu-
/ lance and the fire engines, which arrived
in short order Their services were not
required
The police at once set TO work and
rendered assistance TO those who took the
unexpected descent 10 daylight.
There were many anxious faces among
the people on the outside until it became
known that no one had suffered seriously
Had the President arrived a little ear
lier. he would probably have gone down
also. An investigation showed that the
wooden beams upon which the floor
rested were decayed throughout
| Prof ]. J. Chickering, DR.. Ada r
Thomas. and Rev. John Van schaick. jr..
were among those carried down in the
collapse Of the floor. Prof. Chick4siug,
= Oldest man In the party. WIS unin-
l jured and remained throughout the ex-
/ crcises- Or. Thomas was bruised and
the Rev. DR.. Van Schaick was caught by
masses Of tiling and timber and pinioned
down until released His LEFT leg was
twisted and right ankle slightly sprained
/ Speaking OF the accident he said last
night;
Il cannot speak too highly or the cool
ness and courage those forty persons
showed that were dumped into a ten or
twelve-foot hole Any excitement or
trampling would have resulted in serious
injury. No cracking warned us. It was
instantaneous. a policeman fell on me-.
but got to his feet and rendered valuable
service. am only slightly hurt, and if
1 can walk shall preach Sunday as usual. 90
Carnegie Wants More Negroes.
4 Another incident was Andrew Carnerie-s
short address on the negro question. Re
ferrins 10 the so-caIled negro problem.
the great ironmaster and philanthropist.
said:
THE real problem confronting Us now
is how can we get more Of them
| (negroes)"
Tremendous applause greeted this sig
nitcant utterance Of the distinguished
| ScOtch-American and muItimillionaire
And still another incident was the
statement made by Dr. ThirldeId. Of the
university that more than 5000 alumni
of the institution, preachers, doctors, lit
erary men, artisans, nurses. and me-
chanics had gone forth among their own
people in all parts of the world to help
them raise their mental. physical. and
material status.
The police. with the assistance of the
firemen. had thrown heavy planks across
the collapsed portion Of the entrance.
and the visitors and students and in
vited guests in single file crossed the
| impTUvised gangway and entered the
| chapel. occupying every available seat.
Waved Their Handkerchiefs.
/ Loud applause and waving of hand
kerehiefs greeted the academic process
sion, consisting of the faculty or the uni
versity in cap and gown and the trustees
I Of the Institution. as they filed into the
| chapel and took their seats on the plat
/ form. Hon. Job Barnard, Ii. D., Jus
tice Of the Supreme Court Of the Dis
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