Evening Star Newspaper, June 9, 1893, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D. ©. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1893—TEN PAGES. FOR a FOR SALE—HOUSES. = SALE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO Begpatpe ta are cat rn nat 0, ORE A bet. Hand Tats 2. at 4 at $4.1 4at 94.250 and Sat 94.500. 1 honses ne to Poe eens des” or cas anes ‘mont 25 Don't miss the Srpaetanity. Be BH WARNer ae) 216 Fst ow. RA! ANDEST. AND jaw Jerse; avs. Sep sre: ‘orma easy. On TALE FINE LANGE HOUSE ON Mf SE Fe $22 sid 3h unvaualiy Law lot, Deine 200 FE er ide fronts Bot alleys aise ad Tears Ca Godlitnomat ety price S WIGHT, 14106 et. nw. BALES 8 ROOM BRICK HOUSE; 420 3D ST. bs vegrac x WitLinus & BYRNE, _ eae" Seal ta Fatate Agents, 220 4% st. Foie SALE WYIIE SST. XE. BRICK HOUR, j 91.550. FRANK L. HAN Cos, Tih and G si. marae yK SALE_A’ SACRIFICE-LINDEN ST. houre: a. m.1; 6x. ; 83,600 ANI JANGUCK & CO., pmetgh! ph Pe B.e., Rew brick my27-2w For setae up Avi TOW: R; 12 ROO! dot 20x10; near 3 PRASR E mniancecks i SALE—@2 M NW + ROOMS BESIDES furnace room. cellars, 4 rooma on each Ast and 24 floors; large panty rican cloneta : $7,500. ‘and “batewneut,. ® ‘bath: white tory re ‘SALE ‘We make a a eaaere ‘No irouble fo show property. Tacs" 's BATOHELDER, Goren aed Gwe, For, Sate k SiGe, © Roow ‘Pierce place near = stable Ty 8.000, Koos 52 151 FPO $4, SEAR 2157 AND STS. of 11 Fooms and bai, | Beavcttal'y apered tied jaantols and open fires | Automatic ens lighting Bacar ‘uo’ rooms on Ist and ors ce Lot i front by _ dite Satgrr bay-window rick. 1912 Bet se.: 9 = iy laewoyard: 1 aqare tots her cea states e BROABBENT U0? F st. FH ALE_TWO, BEAUTIFUL NEW HOUSES. am aycick aha, Hone (frente: t =| empire * BEALE Bowe £60 CO S| my1d-1m ~ LP st. DR NALE-THE Fc T SITE IN THE CT cure Od slot 1ox0s, wre tre my Soe for an aertw: Tat. Tigin: by 144 ft to SOR alley improved by turve 4xtory Pongamee Bed stable rear. N, Execu ouster id24 Pst. FOR SALE—LOTS. FE SALE-SEVEN SHORT LOTS, INCLUDING CORNER AT 10:11 AND E STS. LOOK- ING MARYLAND AVE. ,xas, water, tower, ldowalk: Wi eail ches, aaa tae JeO-3t_ HAS. A. SHIELDS. 1405 F st. n. w. Electric belin, crys a chandeliers; Foe SALE_ A BEAUTIFUL TRIANGULAR LOT ‘Brown scone w 2d story on the north sideut Md. ave.,_ fronting © govt Berrien « reservation, only api? WOR SATE To TADMEDIATE | PURCHASER a2. arate: wil Eaters opis to CHAS. ia lots jow its value. RUSHTELDS, 1405 Fst. teonie fous SALE oO EXCHANGE CHOICE. PROPERTY abt Waits steady on little "oom “30, be ake eievat. JOR SALE-FOR $6.500-102 € ST. Sa) ‘od baths; accion, * mane b.EBEtas Jest Ta03 F at. Sabe—FoR Lot 71113 S . aE | ‘wide : enter from Pith and | sade Fi SALE ct aree cight-roou and cvllar press-brick and stono- provements.” Apply to OR x basement brick arsine, contaluing © ed by turnace: 3 2 Fitba oF bf bee ® B ] ‘PoR SALE—Do You WANT a HOME: Here iss chance to hoe, deltehtfaity Jocated near the center of the city oa the aha fevorable ters. $0 ae eects = cash. Dalance $30 monthly from 24.000 to $9,000. mn JOUN F WAGGAMAN. Toe 14th ve naw R SALE-SOME BARGAINS—INVESTIGATE. Thave many chotce propartics, vacant . Dusitcas and residences. which cannot be adusrdsea, If you want to buy or sell. cal! on "Phone 78A_ Ged is i SALE—12TH BAUMGRA G21 Gat, main Aor. Xe SEA ED AVE. ‘800: $305 house : Ofek: an lots or ba ity. USS SOT Eee oes | 6) BA Port eats fine proat om | portanits Sine profit on | LOTS FoR SALE AT RossLrN, vinciNiA. | BUSINESS CHANCES FOR BUSINESS MEN TO Fase AST. YERSERE, ratte 3 et nie cat ot Sai) ‘earde ‘now improved bj food garde in Seay frame dwelling: of! Te JOHS oe With. 1410 Gat. nw. o auan—s SIRS 18h, IN TODD & ONE OF THE ory aah Brown rabaiivision. at on. Princeton st. be- tween 7t = cheapest lot in the subdivision, For price re oulars apply to EXsHEROAY a nee RY. mT the intersection of two ie reaervations in ‘is offered at. ES SALE FINE BUILDING. ar “ot ‘avenues: 3 im PrOW ‘Must be sold at once and Cor. st nei ORIG, ei sundiviae int fates beautiful lotecusting fase GFEEG A, €1.000 LOT, BEAUTT. uated ja Mt Trent, 25 teat front vw days: ouly $190 cash required; YHos. sen. ‘ee Pw pear Sarena rs LE Ty BUILD: on" Soat'at. ‘this price on! 77>" ould gabdivide foto ‘six lots ot aewrin rit fecciront cystine lots teria HICK BRENSAN. Public ‘Accountant er ae FINE BUILDING LOTS IN NORTH- ‘the cleanest section adjoining the ‘rom 8500 to 81.000: the best investinent indy {n real estate: gh i} for. map and price list. Fee Tes cance AND INV) 7 os ‘Thirty fing lots are now ‘or the first time offered le in Trinidad subdivision, inside fire I ington Loan and ‘Trust building. 3 here is an op- ‘small amount of Jo7-3t* of sate ARGATs IN LOTS. FO SALE_SEVERA AL Fa ps AND PARTS (of squares no-theast ust SEMMES & ‘BROADBENT, 602 F at. _mhi33m are aie anata ROT Perk t ake ey, 610 11 Fok SALES BUILDERS AND SPECULATORS, attention —Fiity-eis! ie tote, 16 fo 1B-tt alley, on Morris st tote ¥ god's and @xt'and fh : sewers, : terms: Hnauits OWNEIC 210 Eat — PAYS FOR A Hi Lor {anding, the fine subir of Atlantic City mmmutation fare to Philadelphia nd; fine driving, fishing, ‘ailing; city and countey com sare ment: ted will Oring "as menths, 4 factories built aie Year; lots are ‘ora: SO for circular, MAY'S Pusbiwe ti fuPRoteMe st co, O55 Franklin at. Filladelobia, Washimeton office, 62 F at.n.¥. Ried CENTER AROUND THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD DEPOT AT ROSSLYN, VA. CONTRACT LET AND WORK ALREADY CoM. MENCED. ber I next the Pennayivanta Railroad 9 built from thelr main sca prin Va. south end of the ‘Aqueduct b Is thort line will connect Roxiyn. Va. "direct with orth and south, the east and west, with two veel rails. “"Tiis short line will enabie merchants in Georme- Say Ze hela woods bya very short Baal bat, esti, secure at onve corner lots for nd storage as 0 base of supplies in the town of ROSSLYN, VA. This sbort line, besides opening un splendid busl- ‘chances for active business men. de’ ing villa sites for homes. Tig wigws Ad scenery un ‘and residents in reat Sao Ree to ‘snd Pennsylvania ave. Washiagton, Br Osis Sidect ten minuton See ee PA RORAE YS, SYA. AND ITS IMMEDIATE VICINC FRANCIS HUFTY. Joli 1901 Fat n.w., Washington, D.C. FOR SALE—PIANOd. F UPRIGHT PIANO. PAYMENTS ONLY NTHLY.. yut delay; only $225; see this bareain wi ore. EG )SMITH, 1225 Pa ave. nw. Better ‘and worth a good deal 5 "GALE-QREGON. 2VE. NEARS. me ‘ave..9r.. bath and cel near Mind bath, im 8 a3 TF SALE-SSTORY. ear oor 7 hard-wood. trim ard. 6 000. to suit, Ay retin cornice : bas Ag rooms im bine is [ogee Bt cit tad dese gabe Ee | ins SS na aie ‘For furt ERs ae rveKrok SOK SALE-—THE CHEAP! AND BEST Pee tacreteaed oo fauioe bat "ms vay cay. Ar Owner and Basider. "218 bat. | cam secure mat CELEBRATED GILBERT PANO, Handsome’ natural rosewood pooldiines fal 7 octaves: ‘oversteanee rorth $400 new; ‘will sell for 8153; snd'és per month. — FQ SALE YOUR cHorce on REA have several very handsome apraeht plemons adoia, rare fon ‘are worth: 1 woos sothey are the nest ent tone and work ‘ever seen in new vianos. THE PIANO EXCHANGE WARE ROOMS, sell these to wiv: splendid piaus for mee, room.and you almost nothing’ by PFEIFFER & CONLIFF. 7 Lith st. nw. see Pier AND BI very : telephone o- inall ode: oe Mercagia Pazcet Delivery Gund Beeeguge Teaser "Phone 32, ice, O12 Pa: ave «ans Sae FRIGHTFUL DISASTER (Continued from First Page.) THE OLD FORD'S THEATER. earthed. In one little group there were three men lying close together. They were dead. Life bad been crushed out instantly. The sight was a horrible one. Some men turned sick. The first body was pulled out. It was that of an elderly man whose face was battered almost beyond recognition. His legs were pinioned down by rafters and bricks and it was necessary to use considerable foree in extricating the body from its Position. The body was limpasarag. 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 faco of the dead man and he was placed on astretcher and quickly hurried off toa hos- pital. Every few moments those outside would hear acry from within calling for a stretcher, and one would be hurried through » door or window, and ina fow moments would come out again with abody. In many cases it was impossible to tell whether death had come yet or not, but in hil cases every possible care was used and there was no surcease from Work until it was proved beyoud » doubt that there was no hope of life. OMASTLY WorK. Within the building one was especially struck by the silence that prevailed. There was but little shouting, and asarule men spoke in lowered tones as men instinctively speak in the igh. | presence of death or in the face of some awful | calamity. There were no cries to be heard from beneath the debri, If any eries were made they were stifled by dirt ai | and mortar that made almost» solid floor on CARRYING THEM OUT. which one might walk. Men did not walk upon it more than they could help, however, for no one knew but what he might be stand- ing directly above the bodies of the dead or above a man in whom life still existed. Nervously and excitedly they tore away beams and rafters that made a tomb. It was @ horrid task; it was « dirty task. 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, but never for a moment did they stop in their noble work. Occasionally one would hear a ery for water, and instantly » 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 beat and the dust of the place. The Horror of the Scene. ‘The scene within the wrecked structure was something that has never been paralelled in the history of all that is horrible in this city. As soon as it was possible for outside help to enter and commence operations upon the mass of brickwork and plaster and fallen tim- bers and detorted iron the work of rescue was commenced. Hudreds of willing bands tore away the incumbrances that prevented living, but badly injured beings 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 one of them revived sufficiently to arm-|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 the clear atmosphere and through the sorrowing crowd to the ambulances and patrol wagons that were in waiting. At first the endeavors to rescue were somewhat inefficient, but in a little while system prevailed and the work went ahead with the utmost rapidity. Weary res- cuers gave 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 scene was one of indescribable confusion. but the police did good work in keeping the crowds back from the front of the building. Buch looking objects as the men were who ji | were carried out from the building first it would be an impossibility to describe ‘They were covered with dust and blood, but up to 10 o'clock no dead boities had been recovered. Men were almost unrecoknizable as a result of their injuries. The ambulances were kept busy carrying the injured to hospitals and to other places where they could receive attention. Allarge force of pelice 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 front of the building presented a har- rowing sight’ The news of the disaster spread coe eee ee rapidly.and in amarvelously shortspace of time the front was crowded with agonizing wives, daughters and friends of the clerks. Asthe bleeding and mangled bodies were brought out groans and outcries arose on all hands. The surrounding houses, drug stores ‘and business places were filled ima short time by bleeding and groaning men. Asa mangled body was brought out in nine cases out of ten it would 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 drug store and did all that was possible. The building inside was a perfect wreck. ‘There was not a 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 firemen, who got to work clearing away the debris and and hunting for bodies. Many citizens did splendid work. The dying men, cut and crushed almost beyond recogni- tion, were carried out to the surrounding residences and every house was temporarily a hospital. Many were carried to the regular hospitals, ‘THE EXPERIENCE OF MB. BR. H. GILLIAM. One of the first to reach the outside of the demolished building was Mr. R. H. Gillam. He was on the top floor. He said to a Stan Feporter that the first intimation he had was the crash and the floor sank beneath his feet. r. Gillam was not seriously hurt. He was was taken to Evans’ drug store on F street just around the corner from 10th street, where aid was given him. SOME OF THE VIOgs, A moment later C. E. MoLaughlin and 0. W. Hathaway were brought to the same place. The latter was badly cut and apparently de- lirious. Mr. McLaughlin, though baving his face and neck gashed and his head bruised, was perfectly conscious. From the back of the building Mr. 0. A. Hooper was curried out by the spectators, His residence is 2082 I northwest. He was unable to walk, and apparently was hurt internally. His face was horribly disfigured. He was taken to 1008 E street temporarily. CAPT. KRAUSE’S EXPERIENCE, Capt C. A. Krause had his head badly cut. He was on the first floor. He heard a crash, looked up and it seemed as if the building was coming down. He started to leave and was struck. He found the door closed by debris and was con- fined there till the debris was cleared way. His head was quickly dressed and he started tor his hon.e. 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 stop off into the basement below. It was but a few 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 » 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 Pennsyl- vania avenue and 10th street. ‘The Number of Injured. One 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 swith the floors or wore immediately beneath the floors. He estimated at half-past 10 o'clock that just about half of this number escaped un- injured. Col. Arnold Killed. Col. Geo. Arnold, the G. A. 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. An Ambulance Breaks Down. While a wagon which had been temporarily drought into use as an ambulance was carrying Mr. Amos to the hospital the wheel broke. He was quickly transferred and was taken to the Emergency. Attending the Injured. Miss Young of No. 1008 E street opened her doors and converted her house into a tempo- rary hospital Health Officer Hamihett 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 promptly, and a big force of regular workers were at’ once put to work. “It is a horrible thing,” said Commissioner Parker, “but we are doing everything possible under the circumstances. in an indefinite way that the building has been condemned several times.” Comintasioners Ross and Powell. Commissioner Ross came a 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 Boveo 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. Ress said that he had no knowledge of any inspection having been 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 hed been made. Early to the Resene. W. N. Morrison, a 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 met, who worked like trojans, a number of wounded were taken out and sent to the Emergency Hospital. Allin a Tangled Confusion. The tanglo of stuff inside of the building that had to be cleared away in getting at bodies was far worse than it was at the Metzerott acci- dent. Girders, bricks. beams, desks, furniture, all were inextricably piled together. Several hundred men were at work clearing away and careless of the danger that menaced them from the possibility of falling walla It was a difficult as weil as dangerous task, but there was far less confusion than one would have expected. Men turned pale and sick at the horrible spectacles presented by the injured. Forta- nately there were no women employed in the building, and it is thought that none were killed. Within an hour more than fifty people were carried off to the hospitals. How many more were buried none could tell. Medical Officers 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 at the navy yard has been ordered to render all as- sistance in his power. Gave » Warning Yesterday. One of the workmen, s 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 fall, 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 me. ‘Deed I don't know what became of them.” A Bullder's Comment. Mr. William F. Funk of the firm of Funk & Fank, contractors and builders, was one of the first on the scone, 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 conducted. He said he had noticed 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 bowed out for «long time. WHEN THE BUILDING COLLAPSED. A Graphic Story Told by One of the Clerks ‘Who Escaped. One of the most striking accounts of the disaster 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 building. He heard a 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—slow and wavering at first and then more swift in its progross— bearing to death its load of humanity. ‘ The floor started from the front wall, and wasatanangle as it 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 {t 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, and many was saved by their promptness 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. In the midst of the volumes of dust that arose he caw men orawling on their hands 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 been | hurriedly ran up from the outside. A thrilling story is told by Capt. Troutman, who occupied a 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 camo,” said Mr. Thos. Adams, who was in charge of the hall. “I heard what sounded like an explosion, and the door slammed 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 wore not injured were screaming for assistance. A Thrilling Scene. One of the most thrilling scenes of the whole affair was the sight of a dozen 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. Baier, who worked in the center of the third floor, The story can best be told in his own words. “Iwas at my desk,” he said, “when I heard @ great roar. There was no premduitory trembling or any kind of warning; just a roar and crash, and the desksand tables seemed to raise up in the center af the floor and then disappear in a blinding cloud of white dust. “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 were completely isolated, however, with no way toget 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 a 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 bose.” 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 dropped on the floor and crawled under a table. Then the crash came, the debris just grazing him. Leaving his canes behind, which he is accustomed touse in walking, he crawled toward the back alley, where a friend found and took him home. Mr. Hammond Smiled. ‘When at 10:45 o'clock the workmen came to Mz. Hammond, « clerk, rosiding on 13th street, he was found alive, but hurt about the head and face. Ashe was borne to the ambulance his face ‘was wreathed with smiles, so glad was he to escape before being suffocated, for he had been almost an hour hemmed in a narrow compass. Under a Heavy Beam. The rescuing party heard a faint cry for help under a heavy:iron beam and they turned to it, After some work the well-known features of Douglas R. Miller came to view. Ho was lifted out almost lifeless and Dr. Nevitt pressed a whisky flask to his lips and administered drugs to him hypodermically. ‘He was sent to the Emergency Hospital. (Clerk Meliac’s Account. A young man named Mellac claims to have been the first to leave the building. He was in the second story when he looked up and saw the ceiling giving away. For two years he had plotted out a route of escape. ‘He always knew the building would fall some day. He got through by the side building. Another man saved himself by jumping from the window into the awning of a tobacco store next door. ‘Mr. Arthur Schats’s Story. Arthur Schatz, » clerk on the third floor, in Chief Clerk Yont's division, told a Stan re- porter the story of the catastrophe. He was sitting in the front portion writing, when without » moment's warning he saw the front floor cave in, carrying with it Messrs, Yont, Drew, Patrick, Taylor and the entire sec- tion under Mr. Patrick. There were at least sixty men precipitated. ‘The cave-in took piace about a foot from where he was sitting and it was like an earth- quake. There was absolutely no warning whatever. The floor fell in and carried with tt a score of human beings. The clerks who remained in the building stood speechless and with blanched cheeks, It was only a moment, however, and then, like one man, the remaining clerks, numbering about seventy-five, rushed for their lives to the ‘rear of the building and escaped over the ad- Joming roof. 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. Outside 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 to call s 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 who can 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 families so suddenly and terribly bereaved by the Ford's Theater catastrophe is urgent. The number of these destitute ones is great, their employer, the United States government, who bas permitted them to be needlessly slaughtered, is unable to furnish the immediate and effective relief which the occasion requires, and as in other cases of pub- lie calamity the sympathetic and publie-spirited among the people of Washington will gladly and quickly respond to the cry of distress from afflicted and destitute neighbors and fellow beings. Those 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 Tue Stan. They will receive Proper credit and the money will be turned over to the citizens’ relief fund. ‘Tux Evexrxo Stan has started the citizens’ fand with contribution of $200. ‘Tax Stan requests that all who were in the building and escaped alive furnish their names laid the tiling, Each floor was supported by iron girders and: & pulling apart of the'iron work in the center of the building and the crash followed. The Position of the girders and the appearance of the 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 a question he told a reporter of ‘Tae Stan that the District was in mo way re- sponsible. Last week application was made to him for a permit to underpin the building, but he declined to give it, as it was government building and came under the direct supervision of the federal officers, In fact, he had no Jurisdiction of government buildings and was Prohibited by law from interfering. ‘The cause of the whole affair, he said, 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 awful affair,” he said, “but I thank God the District had nothing to do with it” Many Offers of Aid. Offers of aid came from all sources. Nearly all the physicians and nurses in the city proffered their services at one place or anther. All that came to Emergency Hospital found plenty to do assisting the regular force of phy- sicians and nurses there. Woodward & Lothrop sent « large supply of cotton and the Ebbitt House sent linen and towels, ‘Taken Out Dead. Jacob Jordan, 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 his shirt. — Loftus, deed; found in the cellar. —— Gerault, dead. Found in the cellar. F. A. Hall, dead. He was found im 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: C. & McLaughlin, who was on the second floor, cut around the head. Winfred Beck, clerk on second floor, ext badly. He received no warning. H.C. Thomas, 3319 N street, rear part of building. Severely out. — Leger, 1003 E street, probably fatally. P. H. Pennington, cut severely. 3.1L. Taylor, third floor, burt badly in arm and leg. 8. & Baker, 91 H street northeast, third floor. Badly burt in head, arm and leg. : Thomas Jones, third floor, clerk, badly cut, — Stewart, cut about head. Maj. B. J. O'Driscoll, second floor, cut on head and leg and probable internal injury. Capt. RH. Gillian, third floor, cut, —— Galager, first floor, badly cat, —— Yout, third floor. Internal. Robert Linden, No. 937 Massachusetts ave- nue, arm broken and injuries to head and arms. Rescued by Mr. Goodacre. ‘ W. 8 Gustin, 506K street northwest. Home, Blanchester, Ohio. Compound fracture of leg and internal injuries. C. A. Harper, 2032 I strest, injuries to head and internal injuries, Chas. P. Miller, 537 Florida avenue, severe and perhaps fatal injuries to legs, arms, head cute and bruises about head and body, and legs probably broken. George McLaughlin, twenty-five years, broken arm, carried to Mertz's drug store. J. F, Denton, twenty-five years old, Cobb's Hotel; shoulder hurt W. R. King, forty years old, badly eut about to Tux Stam for publication in order that the | head. fall extent of the disaster may be speedily known. THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER, The Excavation Under the Walls—How the ‘Were Constracted. During the morning, while the heroic 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 far as could be learned the building, thongh a very old one, had never been condemned, norhad 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 subcellar was being dug to give more room and at the came 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. Pall- man. ‘MR. PULLMAN'S STATEMENT. The latter appeared at the scene shortly after the accident and said to a Star reporter that he could not explain why the floors should have caved in. “The work in the cellar,” 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 erash 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 a time. COL, AINSWORTH CANNOT EXPLAIN IT. From Col. Ainsworth, chief of the record ‘and pension division, it was learned that there ‘was no storage on the floors and that 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 had an opportunity to make even a superficial examination of the building, and said that from aglance he would say that the girders which supported the floors must have weakened. HOW THE FLOORS WERE COXsTRUCTED. From a view of the interior of the building Esterday, $8 years old, arm broken. Mertz’s drug store. RM. Patrick, 1904 Riggs street, cuts about head and face. J. A. Stewart, 1814 7th strest, cuts and bruisos. F. F. Sands, 29 years old. Newton Hammer, 1232 H street northeast, severely injured about the head and below the waist. Will probably lose one eye. Mr. Black, No. 317 East Capitol street, dislo- cation of the jaw and right arm broken. —— Girard, s middle-aged man, was taken from the cellar, his head badly crushed, 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 a carriage. James E. White, badly cut about the head. Charles J. Moore, residing at No. 1182 6th street, injured about the head, although not seriously. Removed to his home in a cab aftor being removed from the ruins, 8. 8 Baker, severely cut on head and hands scratched. He was on the third floor and fell through to the bottom. At Emergency Hospital. The following injured were taken to Emer- gency Hospital: J. B, Jones, cut and bruised. K. M. Paluck, bruised about body. H. B. Harland, severely out. P. K. Pennington, cut face and head. Charles Sims, cut and bruised. Fred Calvert, bruised. —— Metcalf, badly out P. J. Dewey, bruised. C. 8, McLaughlin, badly bruised. Wm. Lecture of Virginia, badly cut about head. 8. W. Tess, cut and bruised. Dr. MoCornack, head eut and body bruised. Jas. E, White, badly cut about the head. R.A. Smith, badly bruised. At 10:90 the ambulance drew up and two bodies, frightfully mangled, were lifted in. They were deed beyond all question and were taken at once to the morgue, making three bodies there. Mr. Miller was the only one eo far identified at the hospital. The physicians and nurses were too busy with it would appear that the floors between the | the injured to devote time just then to an iden- Joists were filled in with about one foot of | tification of the two unknown. brick and mortar. On top of this was’ Later an attempt was made to identify the two unknown men in the morgue, but with only partial success, ‘One isa young man with a 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 biack beard and hair. In his Pocket was anew memorandum book, with an entry: “Money order sent to Carl A. Jones, Evans- Ville, Wis., No. 15110, issued from station K.” ‘He was subsequently identified by means of ‘this memoranditm as J. Bradley Jones of Wis consin, ‘Those who were discharged from the hospital after having their injuries attended to were: 8. G. Ford. C.F. McLaughlin, Wm. Lecture, 1710 I street. George McLaughlin. J. A. White, 608 E street. Dr. Jones of Seabrooke, Ma. Demands on the Emergency Hospital. ‘The Emergency Hospital force was severely taxed and did well under the circumstances. At first the injured were brought in im such numbers that it was impossible to place them on cots, and they were sid on the floor in the corridors and corners until proper provision could be made for them in more comfortable quarters ‘They were pitiable objects, covered with blood and dirt and sighing or moaning with pain. ‘The Doctors at Work. The young doctors from the Emergency and the other hospitals did God's own work in their line of duty this morning. With coats off they were here, there and everywhere, and were indefatigable im their efforts. There was little they could do before reach- ing the hospitals but clear the plaster and dirt from the mouths and nostrils of the injured 00 that they could breathe. The like of this accident bas probably never ‘been seen in the capital. It was most awfal in ite results; most shocking in ite details, There will be horrible work for the coroner. ‘The staff of Garfield Hospital, with the ambu- lance, came on the scene carly and did good duty. An Improvised Ambulance. An express wagon with the floor covered with straw was utilized as an ambulance. Getting the Doctors. Yorick W. Smith, a colored cantractor, wat at the corner of 10th and F streets at the time of the collapse and jumped out of his buggy and ran down to the building. Finding bun- dreds of men screaming and jumping from the windows be started to run into the building to render assistance, but tiinking that doctors would be needed be ran to the nearest telephone and begrn to call up all of the physi- cians he could call to mind. He then got in his buggy and drove around looking for physicians, succceding in finding about fifteen, whom he sent ¢o 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 and Deputy Surgeon Generals Merrill and Shannon went to the scene of the accident as soon as they heard of it and rendered sid in caring for the wounded. ‘The surgeon general also ordered to the scene the hospital corps at Washington bar- racks and Fort Myer, with all the ambulances at their disposal. He also detailed Surgeon Smart to duty at the Emergency Hospital, and other members of One striking feature of the scene was the presence of four Catholic clergy- men at the wreck, ready to give spiritual assistance to the dying and comfort the wounded. Father Kervick and Father Dolan were in the How the Troops Were Ordered Out. Col. Moore replied that the police bed the crowd well in hand 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 on Duty. In compliance with the orders of the Seore- tary of War for troops from the arsenal to go to the scene, Maj. Rawies brought companies I Five minutes later and J. R. Imbrie,. the chief in charge of the second floor, would have gone down with the wreck. He bad « desk in former piace 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 he heard no sound. He rushed toward the rear windows and found men jump- ing out Several bad made the perii- ous Jeap, but be supposes that they fell on the awning over the lower door, thus breaking their fall, A colored man named George M. Arnold, he said, killed himself by the jump. He held some back, and, as the dust clouds were dispersed, those on the floor were able to get some air. He said that there were 154 clerks on this floor and about 40 in the wrecked area, ‘Mr. Joseph Fought and a fellow clerk oc w= pied desks on the first floor near the north well. ‘The ceiling immediately over their heads ad not fall, as it wes supported by a row of posts that were in s short distance from the side wall. They were, however, covered with dust and buried in the debris. Dropping on ‘their knees they crawled along the floor to the front windows, These windows have casement sashes,which were shut by the force of the con- eussion, and breaking the glass the men escaped. Several of the clerks were extricated from beneath desks and beams and conducted to safety. One of the clerks on the first floor described ‘the scene as made stili more terrible by the groans and cries and shrieks that arose from the imprisoned men. Another narrow escape is found in the ex- perience of J. D. Nevins, whose desk was lo- cated in the fallon section on the second floor. He bad gone to the third floor on some errand and returned and bad entered the door and was about to acne wees when the crash came (Continued om Sit, Page.)