Evening Star Newspaper, June 9, 1893, Page 15

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D. C. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1893—TEN PAGES, —— FOR. SALE—HOUSES._ FOR See ANT 2B. HO! AL BLES pend tee ras ie seameno ay Fas mE ‘eMenr aes tee Sand Spm SALE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO "SEF A home—ih new and houses on 4th st. MR SALE_ON ONE OF THE GRANDEST AND ost Bewuliful old squarcs in the capita city —M ‘bet. Ser and ieth: fine : stabtetn rene it Sas T20 9 Beal a= ‘street id at once. 9 7 under whole Louse: Drick-set range snd modera improvemeuts— ‘bets Wallach mon ele, and basement;s cheap agen Se. Le RU~E, O24 14th at. now. OB SALE-OST SEAR STH. GI aad lance ord 8 doe very cure. eee BADE Ste. a wena a i SALE~A SEVEN 200) 4% ot aw; mi; lot esta; sey =p O00: easy. ‘BOYE! By ahs. Fo. SALE—BRICK HOUS! a mod. imps. 313 Let. ave. oe # JOR SALE_8-ROOM Bi Fo Be 5 000 108 Pre TANS & BYRNE, 2-00 Real Estate Agents, 220 436 st. 5.w. Ft SALEI 1346 MD AVE | TOWER: 12 ROOMS: ace. x i. pansiot fe 500 cash «nd. vane 8 FRASk DE aNCROR Fes Sie oe ™ Forsate— Et “ spect BROOKLAND property, i pap goats calgon Speers foot that we can sel) on Taforabis forme and HOUSES OOSES "Yor full perticolare call cpor Ne McCACHLEN & BatouELDER, =a ‘or. 10th and G sts. n.w. Fee Ela SHON PE aca am. wa Mable :o-y $3,000. “Room 5, 1201 Pa ave. my3>t i SALY—NEAR 218T AND RB STS, Modera house of 11 rooms and beth, Beautifully papered, with tied mantels and open fires Atomic ee ight i bal sii s0d rooms on lat and Lot 258 tron Dy cced O90. ae ‘square from ber Valance torsuit. MMES & SE BROABSENT. 002 F at. FoR SATO, ag Oe, NEW HOUSES. ONLY 931.0% 1213 Bost. ae: 9 m snir: Br inregua Freee of lows ior terms, to BALL, BROWN £90, “aye SIL F at 7OR SALES Tay FINEST stre 18 7H oiry Frakin rire: 6 T2 HDs in pak Py o Soe pier: edb bes “OGDEN, ‘Kxecutor, Sree, FOR SALE_LOTS. SHORT LOTS, INCLUDIL RNER AT 10TH AND 8 OTA:, OVERLOOK peat MARXLAND AVE. ;gas, water, sewer, aldewalk. CHAS. A. SHIEUDS. 1405 F st. aw. _ Foe gates BEAUTIFUL TRIANGULAR LOT BES onting & '2 suort lot, ‘ave. bet, a tt for 91,380. sae aes is TREE 1s Fatnw. ST BET. N aD ew Apply to CHAS. 500-33 ine restaance, wile Below its value, RUsnTELDS, 1400 Pet, ‘window: 7 rooms end for the two, $10,500. Jeo Ser D FRO TO 9.000 Tiacgeiot to SOT paved, ales? i, Star ofice. 682m SEW JEMSET QVE, NEAR BST, Soatison i eres and busement brick: 6 Fessoyene BASEMERT EBESS-BRICE purcrmdowibowe: 6 rac ai; mice yard; alley Pees GaGa W. WHITE, 000 Fst. aw. R SALE SMALL BRICK ROUSE NEAR WHIT- er sve; Rt kalit: meody tenant: pays 11 for eee Bo ‘30, Warder Dotan, or uhana FP mE RR ‘SaLe_ FoR $6. 300-103_ © Fase se gellar press-brick Pear Tend Lye. nw. Ferret: APA ee "and reception halt” cctgoct manele ; handsomely ‘BALE—€7. egorts ‘see Ehand 14th, north side. lot ay mt ila oat and? couservater?; eae eee ‘West Ecitustou ; 2-atory tnd coiter: 4 deep ; lot 20290 to alley; sil mod. imp. ~ Price, sae 7. KAISER, vor further oo eaStEADad s 38 SALE-HOUSE 14]7 127TH ST, NE 6tk roomsand bath; ami $2,500. Key next door. at offic 85 of fait lst all ce for issued THOS. F. wacounan — BALE_DO YOU WANT & Hereiss chance to sce favorable terme: ee Some wWasgasAy "00 R SALE—SOME BARGAIN: ‘Thave many choice Dusinew and camino: "enieu cannot be advertised: If you want to buy of sell. ca call op C BAUMGRAS. Zhe Ger) iaztanes main f Fo! ALE Ete st Se NEAR up, a K bouts room: . fo vait Pyivk iiistock ‘and G st. a. 7 TALEon TRADE—A LARGE 12-k00M honse; ra junyroverente: Bw. section. it ‘trade for suParban lots or farin a By the ity. ‘Apply WILSON & CANL. 109 F st. awe Atlantic building, 990. st. aw. q are = Jeb-2t" | ycamaa: eatton, on round Be : 100 houses ia —— | ‘sige of ten minutes. ONE OF THE sa | Facet taal ST, ES SE. ONE OF THE ty Of xs Bowe eer in Aa Fe, SALE—FINE BUILDING aire cs is ‘avente nese coble caracet wide senses ing and public. reserv Rout; 1ot B27s00-now ‘trams, 7 reuted. Must be sold at once and is off low figure, Te JOHN B. WIGHT. 1410 Gst. n.w. IR SALES BARGAINS) ‘and Sth st. ne; ‘beautiful lote costing leas a vide into 7 = 61.500 ‘water, sewer, gas, for: ORS ALE— BARGAINS I ‘A corner, 9 fronting 4 Menw ee iy coke: =F — Sot. Fuwue aia Bot ad ca bet] I snd tats ste 200 wh Sen CROISOR: ete S10 Tith wt nw. FOR SALE 5 RUULDERS AND SPECULATORS. ton—Fitty-etebht to 15-ft Gis | ers oo Morne tet Fans ‘Fand Baba fina: Inquire OWNBL ho Bien e : myié S12 Pais FOE A HOME Lor Janding! the She ubar g¢ Alans Cty. ings the Snes ie City mS jasbington office, 625 F at. n.w. eon a | en YOR SALE AT ROSSLYN, VIRGINIA. BUSINESS CHANCES FOR BUSINESS MEN TO CENTER AROUND THE PENNSYLVAAIA RAILROAD DEPOT AT ROSSLYN, VA. CONTRACT LET AND WORK AZREADY com MENCED. Rati mad fromm a — FRIGHTFUL DISASTER aig py “Bestpes| earthed. In one, little group there were three men lying close together. They were dead. Life had been crushed out instantly. The sight was _s horrible one, Some. men turned sick. The first body was pulled out. It was that of an elderly man whove face ‘was battered almost beyond recognition. His lege were pinioned down by ratters afid bricks and it was necessary to use considerable force in extricating the body from its position. The body was limp ssarag. Many of the bones in the body were broken. It bent and sagged on being lifted like nothing human. A grimy fireman laid a soiled towel over the face of the dead man and he was placed on stretcher and quickly hurried off to s hos- pital. : Every few moments those qutside would hears cry from within calling for a stretcher, apd one would be hurried through door or window, and ins few moments would come out again with e body. In many cases it was impossible to tell whether desth had come yet or not, but in all cases every posmble care was used and there was no surcease from work until it was proved beyond a doubt thet there was no hope of life. _ GHASTLY Wonk. Within ihe building one was especially struck by the silence that prevailed. There was but little shouting, and gasrule men spoke in lowered tones aa men instinctively speak in the Presence of death or in the face of some awful calamity. There were no ries to be heard from beneath the debris. If any, Gir | cries were made they were stifled by dirt Thtsahort line wilt commect the north and south, the east at on re will enable hort fag will gnabte, merch merchants hants tp Georss- better ‘stil, Srcure a oure corcer iota for ‘sere Te rae eee eeethes aces ROSSLYN, VA. short tine, Desides opeutog un splendid bust- ‘chances for acti ess chances fur ac re bsiges men Serelope cree: Sears eerie Man eas eRe short story is that Thave ALE THE PLOPERTY TN OSSEYS) YA. AND IS IMMEDIATE VICING aa FRANCIS BUFTY, Jet-im 2901 F st. mw:. Washinatos, D.C. FOR SALE—PIANOS. ‘FoR sae VPRIGHT Pr PAYMENTS ONLY. EON RELE, and worth s good deel mores" MEME — ae SMITE, Qos, Malte | Tonge" aecemiple yard, 80 O00 oon 5 “STORY AND B. stone: copper ew = hot. ws as EE EWOpENS EisiRERCE OS [eam Foss ape rose ans ars foe east poxp. 157 Fe g | for tbe usual run of i 1225 Pa ave. aw, Fe ALE— CELEBRATED GILBERT PIANO. ‘Tosewood case. jndsome natu: moldings: fat otavess oversttone sna rere to ‘vi fone, works ill ell and $5 yer mont mos = cs icone x ‘for cash onl renee 8 sacrifice for ae Bem. | Can bo seen at TH MANO" EXCuAS} Pennsylvania ave. work- t ip elevance and durability. Wowant to « “tose tbat out: Shey are a little too fine choice of them at our Sctual. cont, and cath or monthly peviuonte to" suite ey Wil Go quick—be on early. ‘The greatest rains ever veen fn new vianos. THE PIANO EXCHANGE WARE ROOMS, cad 913 Pa ave, Fou S22 A BALLET & Davis PIANO; #100. ‘Also, a'superb sq’ Bhoroti, Ppa ou nen eee Rasceb a Wisic's Te =m ‘521.12th st. AME PLAN. Fags Me Fras ‘08, rood a8 new. standard makes, —- 2S STORE F prick doing, Usui loth st. aw. thirteen ros Sts ested) caretuly bas een our penta sicee ‘vision and first-class in every. s house open for Fret for tbe Sau eg nad Sh st ke: Prono ad sione Seod'wors pralvedit sat: na encepe oa ser. sae comm bait “ =a ES Tertt ‘im the rae Be Sa ON. foot and Busider, 133 AA. ee as ash or ou ‘easy mowthly pay-d meats We MUST eel! th ve can secure’s aplendia piano Gear coustne im at ouce. . PFEIPYER & CONLIFY, 02 Lith at aw. _.. _. EXPRESSAGE_ ROMPY ANY RELIABLE 250. BAGGAGE DE- very Bertrand faranch fies "Phos WW. Main ole, as” @nd mortar that made almost a solid floor on upon it more than they conld help, however, for no one knew but what he might be stand- Bt | ing directly above the bodies of the dead or ‘ebove « man in whom life still existed. Nervously and_excitedly they tore sway beams and rafters that made » tomb. It.was a horrid task; {t was a dirty teak. Men worked like demons, with, sweat Pouring down their faces. The dust and the dirt lay thick upon their faces, so that one could ‘scarce tell the color of the man. The trim uni- forms-of the firemen were ruined and battered, Dut never for a moment did they stop in their noble work. Occasionally one would hear « ery for water, and instantly a bucket would be, passed through to the work- ers inside, Sometimes the water was wanted for the relief of the injured. . Sometimes it was needed, by the workers themselves, who were almost exhausted by the hest and the Gust of the place, ‘The Horror of the Scene. The scone within the wrecked structure was vomething that hss. never been paralelled in the history of all that is horrible in this city. As soon ag it was possible for outside help to enter and commence operations upon the mass of brickwork and plaster and fallen tim- ders and detorted iron the work pf rescue was commenced. Hudreds of willing hands tore away ‘he incumbrences that prevented living, but badly injured belngs from helping them- selves, and eager sympathizers were careless as to their own exertions or exposure to danger that the bodies which were covered by the vast quantity of debris might be brought out to where succor was possible for those not fa- tally injured. Every moment the throwing aside of wreck- age exposed the bloody, and often mutilated, form of some one of the victims, Occasionally ne of them revived sufficiently to need but little assistance to the outer air, but the majority of them—dusty, bruised, with clothing torn almost in tatters—were car- ried into theclear atmosphere and through the sorrowing crowd to the ambulances and patrol wagons that were in waiting. At first the endeavors to rescue were somewhat ‘{neficient, but in a little wwhfle system prevailed and the work went ahead-with the utmost rapidity. Weary res- *| euersgave place every few minutes to fresh and willing successors, who worked with terrific energy in their endeavor to save some of the buried ones. Such a scene has never before been beheld in this region, and no catastrophe in the city’s century of ex- istence ever promised so much of all that is horrible. as the one which has.stopped all busi- ness in this part of the city, and which crowded every thoroughfare in the neighbor- hood of the old theater. The seetie was one of indescribable confusion, Dut the police did good work in keeping the crowds back from the front of'the building. Such looking objects a3 the mon were who were carried out from the building first it would be an {mpossibility to-describe ‘They were covered with dust and blood, but up to 10 o'clock no dead bodies had been recqvered. Men were almost unrecognizable asa result-of their injuries. The ambulances were kept busy carrying the injured to hospitals and to other places where they could receive attention. A large force of police were soon on hand and Maj. Moore at once took command of them. Chief Parris took command of the fire department A Horrified Crowd, The fromteg the building presented » har- rapidly, and in amarvelously shortspace of time front was crowded with agonizing 4 daughters and friends ses Sane ee an As the Dleedinne oat =~) brought out counts a Ee bands, The surrogudl 4 and pusiness ate ima ¥ bleeding and gfoan! eg , Aza mangled =at out in nine ‘cases out of ten it be surrounded by |.weeping friends. The persons who were evi-| ‘dently dead were laid aside while those who | Possessed life were brought out __ Hundreds of volunteers worked with feverish anxiety, dragging over the piles of timbers. According to the best information, from 400 to 500 men were on the three floors, Volunteer surgeons and doctors were on hand at once. — Dr. Hammett took his station at the corner rng store and did all that was possible. The building inside was « perfect wreck ‘There was not « single floor left standing be- tween the roof and the basement, . Dust filled the air almost to the suffocating Point, This did not interfere with the Sremen, who got to work clearing away the debris and and huntiig for bodies. Many citizens did splendid work. ‘The dying men, cut and crashed almost beyond recogai- tion, were carried out to the surrounding residences and every house was temporarily a hospital, Many were carried to the regular hospitals, ‘THE EXPERIENGE OF UR. B. BL GILLIAN. | One of the first to reach the outside of the demolished building was Mr. R. H. Gillam. He was on the top floor. He ssid toa Stan reporter that the first intimation he had was the crash and the floor sank beneath his feet, Mr. Gillam was net seriously hurt, He was was taken to Evans’ drug store on F street just around the corner from 10th street, whére aid was given him, SOME OF THE VicTIER, 4 moment later C. E. MoLanghlin and 0. W. Hathaway were brought to the same place, The Istter was badly out and apparently de- Hirious. Mr. MoLaughlin, though having his face and neck gashed and his head bruised, was perfectly conscious. From the back of thé building Mr. 0. A: ‘Hooper was carried out by the spectators. His residence is 2082 I northwest. He was unable to walk, and apparently was hurt internally. His ‘faco was horribly disfigured. He was taken to 1008 E strest temporarily. CAPT. KRAUSE’s EXPERIENCE. Capt ©. A. Krause had his head badly ent. He was on the first floor. He heard a crash, looked up and it seemed as if the building was coming down, ‘He atartea to leave and was struck, He found the door closed by debris and was ¢on- fined there till the debris was cleared way. ‘His head was quickly dressed and he started for his home. From the staircases the doors that led into the center building now looked direct into ‘the seene of the catastrophe. From any floor ‘one might step off into the basement below. It was but a fow moments before willing hands were at work rescuing those who were Deneath the fallen walls, Soldiers Ordered Out, ‘The Secretary of War telephoned Maj. Moore that he would send a company of artillery from the Washington barracks to lend aid in case they were needed. The message stated that ‘the company would report for duty at Pennayl- vania avenue and 10th streot. The Nember of Injured. Qne of the clerks who was saved states that in round numbers there were 475 persons em- ployed in the building and about 125 went down with the floors or were immediately beneath the floors. He estimated at half-past 10 o'clock that just about half of this number escaped un- ipjured. Col. Arnold Killed. Col Geo. Arnold, the GA R man, was killed by jumping froma window. He struck on his head and was killed instantly. At 10:90 the body ofan elderly man was car- ried out His face was horribly crushed, but the doctors said he was still alive, His re- covery is impossible, di An Ambulance Breaks Down. ‘While « wagon which had been temporarily Drought into use as an ambulance was carrying Mr. Ames to the hospital the wheel broke. He was quickly transferred snd was taken to the Emergency. Attending the Injured. Miss Young of No. 1008 F street opened ber doors and converted her house into « tempo- rary hospital Health Officor Hammott took charge of the patients brought there. Commissioner Parker on the Ground. Commissioner Parker was on the ground early, and immediately ordered every laborer connected with the District government on the grounds. The men responded promptiy, and a big force of regular workers were at once put to work. : “Tt is a horrible thing,” said Commissioner Parker, “but we are doing everything possible under the circumstances. Yes, Ihave heard in an indefinite way that the building has been condemned several times.” Cominisstoners Ross and Powell. Commissioner Ross came s moment later in company with Engineer Commissioner Powell. Captain Powell went at once into the building and stationed police at every entrance, He then proceeded to direct the movements of the rescuing party and his engineering ability served him well. All of the physicians to the poor were sent for as well as the police surgeons, and Dr. J. Wesley Bovee and Dr. J. Ramsay Nevitt of the Washington Asylum Hospital were also present and rendered valuable aid, ‘The District Officials. Every fireman in the city is on the grounds, and with few exceptions every District official who would be of the slightest use. Commis sioner Ross said that the affair was too horrible- to talk about, In regard to the building Mr. Ross sald that he bad no knowledge of any inspection having deen made of the building. Buildings of this character, owned by the federal government, he said, were inspected or looked over by the Commissioners only on request, and to his knowledge no such request had been made. Early to the Rescue. W. N. Morrison, » stone mason, was among the first on the scene. He jumped into the building and assumed command of a party of rescuers, With the aid of the men, who worked like trojans, a number of wounded were taken out and sent to the Emergency Hospital. All in a Tangled Confusion. ‘The tangle of stuff inside of the building that had to be cleared away in getting at bodies was far worse than it was at the Metrerott acci- dent Girders, bricks, beams, desks, farnitare, all were inextricably piled together. Several hundred men were at work clearing ‘rowing agkt. Therew let ti @ientw spread away and careless of the danger that menaced them from the possibility of was s difficult as weil as there was far less vt nd a Fr ie ae Within an hour more than fifty people wets [carried off to the hospitals, How many more F were buried one could tell. Medical OMcers Ordered Out. ‘The Secretary of the Navy has ordered out all the naval medical officers stationed here, and has also opened the Naval Hospital to receive the injured. The commandant st the se he cae _| navy yard has been ordered to render all as- sistance in his power. : Gave = Warning Yesterday. Oiie of the workmen, # colored man, who ‘was employed in excavating the cellar, and who escaped with only slight cuts, says: “I told them yesterday that the archway would fail, for every time any one walked over the floor it would bend. I tell you, I was scared, and got out just as quick as I could. There were twenty men at work with nié. "Deed I Me, Wiest Ftmk of the firm of Funk & Fink, contractors and builders, was ane of the first on the scene. Toa Stan reporter he said that he thought the wreck was caused by the . faulty manner in which the work of _Underpinning seemed to have been condtioted. He asid he had notloed it several times during the last few days and no later than this morning had looked at it It did not seem to him that the work was being carried on in = safe manner. Notoriously Unsafe. Mr, Baier said the building has been notoriously unsafe for a long time and he stated that it had three times been condemned. He said the rear wall of the building has been bowea out for a long time, WHEN THE BUILDING COLLAPSED. A Graphic Story Told by ‘One of the Clerks ‘Who Escaped. One of the most striking accopnts of the isaster is given by Mr. J. T. 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 bi He heard noise, he said,as if something heavy bad fallen on the floor above. He glanced up and was almost petrified to see the entire floor coming down—slow and wavering at ret and then more swift in its progress— bearing to death its load of humanity. The floor started from the front wall, and wasatanonglé a@ ft went down, When he first saw it the angle was not sharp enough to disturb the desks, and the startled occupants in some cases sat on their chairs not knowing what had happened, As the floor came on in its awful progress he saw it bend and wave and then it crashed down onthe occupants of the floor beneath. He called to the clerks about him to run to the rear, aud many was saved by their prompiness in getting away from the peril. STORIES OF SURVIVORS. The Horrible Scene Presented When the Building Collapsed. Mr. M. E. Sabin was one of those who es- caped from the third floor. Fortunately for him he was seated in the rear part of the build- ing, but when the crash came he looked to the front of the building and witnessed a sickening sight. =e In the midst of the volumes of dust that arose he saw men crawling on their bands and knees up the steep incline of the tilting floor to the blessed region of safety. How many escaped he did not know, but he thinks not more than ten went down with the floor, He with the others escaped from, the windows by means of ladders which had beech hurriedly run up from the outside. A thrilling story is told by Capt. Troutman, who occupied » desk near the south wall on the first floor in the wrecked area. He was, he says, engaged in looking at the case of John Castile | of the one hundred and fortieth Indiana, when he heard a noise, and the next minute he was enveloped “I was on the lower floor in the hallway when the crash came,” sfid Mr. Thos, Adams, who wae in. charge of the ball, “I heard what sounded like an explosion, and the door siemmed together and was so tightly closed that I could not open it, Then came the bricks, timbers and mortar. When the noise was fin- ished I could hear the groans of the injured, and those who were not injured were screaming for assistance. A Thrilling Scone. ‘One of the most thrilling scenes of the whole affair was the sight of adozen men who were left in acorner of the third story clambering down a hose pipe to the ground. One of these men and the first to get down was Mr. E. Baior, who worked in the center of the third floor. The story'can best be told in his own words. «Twas at my desk,” he said, “when I heard & great roar. There was no premonitory trembling or any kind of warning; just = roar and crash, and the desks and tables seemed to raise up in the center of the floor and then disappear in a blinding cloud of white dust, “I sprang for the rear window and called to my companions to follow, Those who were right near me did so, and we gained a safe place at the rear of the building near the win- dows. “We wore completely isolated, however, with no way to get down. The floor had sunk be- neath us infront and the building was still trembling from the shock. “We did not know what minute the rear of the structure would go down, and stood there almost frantic. Then I thought of # reel of fire hose that I knew was near by. We groped through the blinding dust to this and quickly unwound it until the end touched the ground. ‘Then I caught hold of the hose and slid down it, alighting safely on the ground. “It was a terrible slide down that hose from the third story, and I thought I would never get to the bottom. ‘(When my companionssaw that I was all right they started down also, and every man in that corner came down on the hose.” How a Crippled Clerk Escaped. Capt. Griffith of 427 10th street, « crippled clerk, was at work at his desk when he heard the crash, Looking up quickly, heat once @ropped om the floor and crawled under a table. Then the crash came, the debris just grazing him. Leaving his canes bebind, which he is acoustomed touse in walking, he crawled toward the back alley, where « friend found and took him home, Mr. Hammond Smiled. When at 10:45 o'clock the workmen came to Mr. Hammond, « clerk, residing on 13th street, he was found alive, but hurt about the Mead’ laid the tiling. put’) and face, Ashe was — to pana ee cecape vetakehe e Ose oe Almost an hour hémuiéd in a narrdw obipaal! of Douglas R, Miller came to view. Ho was lifted out almost lifeless and. Dr. Nevitt pressed a whisky flask to bis lips and administered drugs to him hypodermically. ‘He was sent to the Emergency Hospital. Clerk Mellac’s Account. A young man named Mellac claims to have been the first to leave the building. He was in the sécond story when he looked up and saw the ceiling giving away. For two years he had plotted out s route of escape. He always knew the building would fall some day. He got thfough by the side building: Another man saved himself by jumping from the window into the awhing of a tobacco store next door. = Artbur Schatz, s clerk on the third floor, in Chief Clerk Yont's division, told a Gram ré- Porter the story of the catastrophe. He was sitting in the front portion’ writing, when without s moment's warning he saw the front floor cave in, carrying with it Messrs Yont, Drew, Patrick, Taylor and the entire seo- tion under Mr. Patrick. ‘There were at least sixty men precipitated. ‘The cave-in took place about a foot from where he was sitting and it wes like an earth- quake. There was absolutely no warning whatever. a The floor fell in and carried with tt a score of human beings, ‘The clerks who remsined in the building stood spoechless and with blanched cheeks, Tk was only amioment, however, and then, like one man, the remaining cleriis, numbering about seventy-five, rushed for their Hives to the rear of the building and escaped over the ad- Joming roof. Marvelous Recapes. Some of the escapes have been marvelous. Men have been taken out from under piles of heavy timbers who have seemingly received only external cuts, some heavy girder saving them from worse injury. A RELIEF MEETING. Citizens Called to Assemble at Four O'clock Today. Gutside of the building Just before noon the Commissioners held an informal meeting. A number of prominent citizens were present, including 8 W. Woodward, John Joy Edson and other members of the board of trade. At the suggestion of Mr. Woodward the Com missioners decided te call a public relief meet- ing. The meeting will be held at Willard Hall at 4 o'clock today. Action looking to the relief of those who suffered from the catastrophe will then be taken. It is earnestly urged that all citizens whocan do anything toward the object for which the meeting is called be present. . The necessity for relief among the many needy and distressed among the familiss so suddenly and terribly bereaved by the Ford's Theater catastrophe is urgent The namber of these destitute ones fs great, their employer, the United States government, who has permitted them to be needlessly slaughtered, is unable to furnish 'the immediate and effective relief which the cocasion requires, and as in other cases of pub- lie calamity the sympathetic and public-spirited ainong the people of Washington will gladly and quickly respond to the cry of distress from afflicted and destitute neighbors and fellow beings. ‘Thowe who wish to contribute to the fund | that is to be raised and who may be unable to attend the public meeting can send their con- tributions to Tux Sram. They will receive proper credit and the money will be turned over to the citizens’ relief fund. Tax Evexrve Star has started the citizens’ fund with a contribution of $200. ‘Tux Stan requests that all who were in the building and escaped slive furnish their names to Tax Stan for publication in order that the full extent of the disaster may be speedily known. THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER. The Excavation Under the Walle—How the Floors Were Constracted. tracted. During the morning, while the berolo work. of rescue was going on, the officials paid little attention to the causes which led to the horrible disaster. No one could say exactly at that time where the blame lay or the fault rested. So fer as could be learned the building, though a very old one, bad neyer been condemned, nor had any orders been issued to have it strengthened. Though officials connected with the building are not inclined »to so state, and declare that they cannot understand the reason for the fall, there seems but little doubt that the primary cause was some excavating which was being done under the front wall. A cubcellar was being dug to give more room ‘and at the same time afford a means of ventila- tion. In order that this should be accomplished there was considerable under- pinning. The contractor for this work was Mr. George Dant, while the digging in connection with the job was being done by Mr. P. R. Pull- man. ‘MR. PULLMAN’S STATEMENT. The latter appeared at the scene shortly after the aceident end said to a Stan reporter that he could not explain why the floors should have caved in. “The work in the odllar,” he said, “was about completed, and it was only yesterday that I was looking at it I was congratulating myself that the work was almost at an end and that the danger was passed. The crash commenced on the third floor, so that the underpining could not have been the cause, The work was most carefully done, and only a few bricks were taken out at s time. COL. AINSWORTH CANNOT EXPLAIN TP. From Col. Ainsworth, chief of the record and pension division, it was learned that there ‘was no storage on the floors and thst the only weight was the desks and the clerks employed there. He said that the underpinning was not being done in order to strengthen the build- ing, as it had never been intimated that it was in any way insecure, He was unable to sug- gest any reason for the disaster. CHIEF PARRIS’ SUGGESTIONS. Chief Parris of the fire department had not hag an opportanity to make even s superficial examination of the building, and ssid that from glance he would say that the girders which supported the floors must have weakened. BOW THE FLOORS WERE CONSTRUCTED, From s view of the interior of the building Joists were filled in with about one foot ef brick and mortar, On top of this was Each Pupported by iron girders uprights, It was the general who came from the build wore acquainted with the work done in the cellar thet thé walls would seem to indicate this cause. What Building Inspector Entwisle Said. Building Inspector Entwisle, with his two assistants, was on hand shortly after the cave- in occurred. In reply to « question he told s reporter of Tue Sas that thé Disttiot was in wo way re- him for a permit to inderpia the building, but he declined to give it, as it wass government building and came under the direct supervision of thé federal officers, In fact, he bad’ no Jurisdiction of government buildifigy and was prohibited by law from interfering: ‘The cause of the whole affair, he sald, was undoubtedly due to the ‘underpinning. The workmen dug under the heavy upright columns which support the building and the collapse followed. “It is an awfal affair,” be said, “but Ttbank God the’ District nef nothing to do with 14” Many Offers of Aid. Offers of aid caine from ali sources, Nearly all the physiclatis and nurses in the city Proffered their services at one place or another. All that came to Emergency Hospi foand Plenty to do assisting the regular force of phy- sicians and nurees there, Woodward & Lothrop sent « large supply of towel, ‘Taken Out Desa.” Jabob Jorden, a middle-aged man, dead. His body was found in the cellar under the debris. No one identified him, but “Jordan” was writ- ten on hid shirt. — Loftus, dead; found in thé caller. —— Geranlt, dead. Found is the cellar. F. A. Hall, dead, He was found m the cellar. T. B. Loftus, 1781 9th street; taken out dead. His son was in the crowd when the body was brought out and fainted at the sight of it Some of the Injured. Every few minutes some mangled victim was borne tenderly out’ Among those already brought out are: ©. & MeLangblin, who was on the second floor, cut around the head. Winfred Beck, clerk on second floor, out badly. He received no warning. H.C. Thomss, $319N street, rear part of J. L. Taylor, third floor, burt badly in arm ana leg. 8. & Baker, 91 H street northeast, third floor. Badly hart in head,'arm and leg. Thome Jones, third floor, elerk, badly out, — Stewart, cut about bead. ‘Maj. B. J. O’Dristoll, second” floor, ead on head and leg and probable internal injury. Capt R. H. Gillian, third floor, cute, —— Galager, first floor, badly ent! —— Yout, third floor. Internal. Robert Linden, No. $37 Massachusttts ave- nue, arm broken and injuries to head and arms. Rescued by Mr. Goodscre. W. & Gustin, 506 K street northwest, Home, Blanchester, Ohio. Compound fracture of leg and fnternal injuries. C, A. Harper, 2082 I street, inurles to head and internal injuries, Chas. P. Miller, 537 Florida avenue, severe and perbaps fatal injuries to legs, arma, head and body. ©. D. Shadbolt, Pennsylvania aveque near Georgetown, probably fatally injured. Severe cuts and bruises abous bead and body, and legs probably broken. George McLaughlin, twenty-five years, broken arm, carried to Merts's drag store. J, F. Denton, twenty-five years old, Cobb's Hotel; shoulder hurt, W, B. King, forty years old, badly ext cbout head. —— Exsterday, $8 years old, arm broken. > two unknown men in the morgue, but with only partial success. One iss young man with « dark mustache and with nothing in his clothes totell who he is. ‘The other body is that of a man about forty years old, with black beard and hair. In his Pocket was anew mémorandam bodk, with ‘en entry: “Money ordér sent to Carl A. Jones, Evans- ville, Wis., No. 15110, issued from station K” He was subsequently identified by means of ‘this memorandum as J. Bradley Jones of Wie consin. ‘Those who were discharged from the hospital after baving their injuries attended to were: 8. G. Ford. C. F. MeLeughlin. Wm, Lecture, 1710 I street. George McLaughlin. J. A. White, 608 E street. ing the hospitals but clear the plaster and dirt from the mouths and nostrils of the injured ee that they could breathe, The like of this accident bas probably never been seen in thé capital. It was most awful ie its results; most shocking in ite details, There will be horrible work for the coroner. ‘The sthff of Garfield Hospital, with the amba- lance, came on the scene early and id good duty. 6 An Improvised Ambalance. An express wagon with the floor covered wilt straw was utilized as an ambulance. Getting the Doctors. Yorick W. Siiith, a colored contractor, was at theeorner of 10th and F streets at the time of the collapse and jumped out of bis bugsy and ran down to the building. Finding bun- @reds of men screaming and jumping from the windows be started to run into the building to render assistance, but thinking that doctors would be needed he ran to the nearest telephone and begrn to call up all of the physi- cians he could call to mind. He then got in bis buggy and drove around lookiug for physicians, succeeding in finding about fifteen, whom he sent to the scene of the disaster. He says the sight was enough to unnerve the strongest, and several people in his vicinity fainted. Surgeon General Sternberg’s Action. Surgeon General Sternberg snd Deputy Surgeon Generals Merrill and Shannon went te the scene of the accident as soon as they heard of it and rendered aid in caring for the keep the crowd back. Mertz’s drug store, R. M. Patrick, 1306 Riggs street, cute about head and face. _ J. A, Btowart, 1814 7th street, outs and bruises. F.F. Sends, 29 yearsold, J. G. Johns, thirty years old, injuries to shoulder, arm and leg. Ciifford Lord, hesd and arm out, Newton Hammer, 1288 H street northeast, severely injured about the head and below the waist, Will probably love one eye. Mr. Black, No, $17 East Capitol street, dislo- cation of the jaw and right arm broken. —— Girard, a middle-aged man, was taken from the cellsr, his heed badly crashed, but still alive, He wascarried to the Emergency Hospital, George W. Roby of 1716 Q street, leg broken and otherwise bruised. He was taken home in carriage, James E. White, badly cut about the bead. Charles J. Moore, residing at No. 1182 6th street, injured about the heed, althongh not seriously. Removed to his home in » cab after being removed from the ruins. 8. 8. Baker, severely cut on head and hands scratched. Hoe was on the third floor and fell through to the bottom. At Emergency Hospital. ‘The following injured were taken te Emer- gency Hospital: J.B. Jones, eut and bruised. RM. Paluck, bruised about bedy. H, B Harland, severely out, P. K. Pennington, cut face and head. ‘Charles Sims, cut end braised. ‘Fred Calvert, bruised. —— Moetoalf, badly cut, P. J. Dewey, braised. C. 8. McLaughlin, badly braised. Wm. Lecture of Virginia, badly out about head. &. W. Tess, out and brulsed. Chas. B. Miller, injured head and loge, —— Ames, bruised, & D. Dewey, cut and bruised, ——— Kagier, badly crnshed. G. F. Hathaway, shoulder crushed, Dr. MoCornack, head cut and bedy bruised. Jas. E. White, badly cut about the head. B.A. Smith, badly bruised. tifleation of the two unknewn. ‘Later an effemp) wes made Col. Corvin stated that cavalry from Fort Myer and troops from the barrecks hed bess placed under waiting orders to move one mo- ment's notice. Col. Moore replied that the police had the crowd well in band but that assistance might be needed when the departments let out and added their crowds, Col. Corbin thereupon stated that the troops would be sent to the scene subject to call. ‘The Troops om Duty. In compliance with the orders of the Secre- tary of War for troops from the arsensl to go to the scene, Maj. Rawles brought companies I and G of the fourth artillery, commanded re spectively by Capts. Chaseand Ennis, ‘Mr. Imbrie's Narrow Escape. Five minutes later and J.B. Imbrie, the chief in charge of the second floor, would bave gone down with the wreck. He bed « desk in the shattered area and slso one in the rear of the room. He had been st the former place and then came back to the other desk, and in about five minutes the crash was heard. Then a silence followed and Mr. Imbrie said be beard nosound. He rushed toward the rear windows and found men jump- ing out Several had made the peril- ous leap, but he supposes that they fe on the awning over the Jower door, thus breaking their fall. A colored man named George M. Arnold, he said, Killed bimeclf by the jump. He held some back, and, ss the dust clouds were dispersed, those on the floor were able to get some air. He said that there were 154.clerks on thie floor and about 40 in the wrecked area. Mr. Joseph Fought anda fellow clerk of & pied desks on the first floor near the north: 6B ‘The ceiling immediately over their heads ai ‘not fall, as it was supported by «row of posts that were in a short distance from the tide wall. They were, however, covered with One of the clerks on the first floor described the scone as made still more terrible by the