Evening Star Newspaper, June 10, 1893, Page 2

THE EVENING ST! WASHINGTO D. C, SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1893-EIGHTEEN PAGES. IN THE RUINS. ___ (Continued from First Page.) F. W. Test, 223 E street, scalp wounds, con- tusiona and injury to hip. Robert A. Smith, 700 9th street, lacerated exe and compound fracture of the skull. ‘The operation aning was successfully per- formed ia this chee iol Fred. G. Calvert, 1010 New Hampshire ave-! nue, fracture of thigh and severe scalp wound. Mr. Calvert is in better shape than any of the G00D Wousk 18 THE HOSPITALS. sthers named, and his condition showed so | much improvement that the physicians con- sented to his removal to bis home. ‘The bodies of the three dead men taken to the Emergency Hospital have been claimed by their friqnds and removed to their homes, as foliows: J. B. Jones of Evans- ville, Wis., to 322 Pennsylvania avenue: H. &. Miller, to 1334 Emerson street_ northeast; Jeremiah Daily of Pennsyivania,to 902 F street | southeast, During yesterday evening the Star contin- ued to get reports from the homes of the iu- and this morning « number of others were heard from. Charles Moore of 1132 6th street had two ribs broken and received numer- ous scalp wounds. Mr. Kennedy, living on L between 5th and 6th ctreets, was only slightly hurt. John H. Harding is suffering from his wounds at 931 Maryland avenue southwest. Mr. Will- iam Ford reported this morning that he was without attention, except what bis wife, who is about to be condined, can give him. ¥. 8. Lowry had his head badly cut, and was much His injuries are not deemed se- Tious. He lies at 609 dd street. M. E. Rose of 1316 G street northwest had bis | ankle braised. | C. H. Blise was seated at the second desk from the railing, and when the crash came fell from the third floor to the basement. He sus- | tained two severe scalp wounds and was bruised | about the body. | John O'Netil of 902 Sd street northwest was injured about the head and ribs. His body was terribly bruised. Capt. J. B. Dowd, who was reported to be among the dead, is alive and doing nicely. Dr. Howard, who is at Freedman’s Hospital, Sustained a fracture of the skull. He is doing very well teday. A. G. Yount, who was re- Ported to be dead, is alive at hishome on G The Jury Chosen Bezins Its Investigations This Afiernoon. Coroner Patterson and Deputy Coroner Schaeffer were at the scene of the disaster of yesterday, and later on these officials paid Some attention to the dead bodies, as it was A LIST OF THE woUNpED. necessary to fill out certificates and give per misajon for the removal of the bodies to Various undertaking establishments and to the late homes of the victims. It was the in- tention of the corener to begin the inves tion Monday morning, but ax friends tives wanted to dispose of the bodi that time Dr. Patterson concluded to begin the imquest today and then adjourn the hearing until next week Instructions were given to the police of the first act to summon a Jury of inquest, aud Deputy - Coron: schaeffer, who has charge of the ine vestigation, was particularly anxious that the jury should be composed of thorough | business men as weil as to have some of the building trades represented in order that the Jary might lend the benefit of knowledge of buildings to the coroner and assist in finding an intelligent verdict. THE JURY CHOKES. The duty of selecting the jury devolved upon Sergeant Anthony Shilling, who summoned the following: Mr. B. H. Warner, real estate dealer. C. F. Schneider, iron foundry, 12th and Ohio avenue. William Ayre. lunch room, Charles I. Keliogg, grocer, Masonic ‘Temple. Frauk L. Haver, carpenter and builder. J. A. Sibley, architect, 13th street near P. Owing to a misunderstanding the members of the jury were notitied to be at the police station at 11 o'clock this morning, but those who appeared were informed to return at 2 o'clock, while the other members were notified by telephone that they were not wanted until the afternoon, The body of J. E. Chapin of No. 907 Florida avenue was selected for the jury to view and determine the cause of death. ‘& THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. Itis the intention of Dr. Schaeffer to make 8 complete mvestigation of the affair and place asonic Temple. the responsibility where it properly be- longs. The viewing of the body is @ mere matter of form, which wil street southwest. His injuries are mainly in- ut A PERILOUS DESCEXT. rrnal. He siept well last night, but his case is considered a serious one. Mr. Esterling has been removed from tho Emergency to the Providence Hospital His condition is very critical. Mr. J, F- Linden, 97 Massachusetts avenue, 4s reported to be quite badly injure ‘Thomas Hynes! Lanham, Md, who was in- red about the chest. was said this morning to out of danger, though later contradictory reports were received. Charles D. Shadbolt, 2211 Washington circle, is reported to have passed a comfortable night, and it is thought he will recover. A. P. Whitney was seriously injured and was removed in the ambulance to his home, 1517 Columbia street. He was on the first floor near the center of the room and was buried under bricks and falling timbers, bat managed to pull himself out, although unable to stand. When lifted into the ambulance he was quite uncon- scious. His condition is precarious. Lewis W. Boody of New York, who was re- Ported as dead, is still living. He was only slightly injured about. the sido, and! leg. and was able to go about the tity last night and ‘this morning Visiting relatives and friends, a course he found necessary in order to contradict the report that he had been killed. He is a young unmarried manand lives in Langdon, Md. He has held the position of copyist since 1892. E.S. Thompson was on the third floor and went down with the crash. He is now at his home, 741 7th street southeast. His condition is a serious one and fears are entertained of his recovery. 217 H street northwest, is Mr. N.T. Wor seriously hurt, two large scalp wounds and sev- eral smaller ones, with severe internal iujuries in the lumbar region. It is thought that he will recover. He 1s being treated by Drs. T. F. Hance and W. MeM. Luttrell. Louis A. Rosafy, 502 2d street northeast, sus- tained a compound fracture of the skull, — \ SOME MARVELOUS ESCAPES. his ankle and was severely cut about and bedy. hannon was badly bart. C. G. Harris of 2613 16th street was injured on the shoulder. C. C. Parker. 1505 Marion street northwest, receiv ed a contusion of the right leg. Mr. James W. Webb, one of the chiefs of division. who was on the first floor, had a most miracuions escape. He received severe cuts on hie bead and arm and sprained bis ankle. He was removed tohis hom+,941 Ostreet northwest, at once and is now resting comforta bly. Geo. C. Bollinger of 2209 I street northwest, who was at work at his desk on the top tloor, went down with the crash and escaped wit! ised und cut face; be bad to crawl out of the excavation that caused the disaster. Among the escaped was Mr. Robert J. Walker of 222 I strect uorthwest. Mr. Walker said «oon after the disaster: “The first I knew was the crash. I looked Up and saw the ceiling coming down. I turned, and as I was going over the desk behind me I was buried in the debris. I had no Sion bow long ,, was there. I bad ven up all bope of getting out: the Corel fd crushing the life outo? me and jortar dust smothering me. At last I was rescued by Dr. Street, Mr! Ballard and another oue of the clerks whoxe name I do not remem- ber. Iwas taken out the back way and was | earried Lome in a buggy by some friends. I do| not think that I am seriously hurt, but am con- siderably bruised about the legs and ride. I Was on the first floor. ‘TmE PHYSICIAN. | ‘The physicians at the hospital were kept busy | teday answering inquiries in regard tothe, condition of their patients, and also as to the nossible whereabouts of emvloyes of the fated building who are still unaccounted for. Tt is unfortunately true that in a number of in- 4 were somewhat abrupt in | these visitors. They did | 2° work in their care and treatment of the injured, but were notax considerateas they might have been totheir anxious relatives and friends, whe naturally desired to know the extent of | their injuries. Several complaints were made | pf the uncivil manner of Dr. Kerr in partica- | Ber, who is accused of gros 1 i vibers a pr | | which were laid direct! ANXIOUS INQUIRIES. have to be complied with, but as the body it the undertaking establishment of J. W. Lee not much time was consumed by the jury in going to view it. The condition of the build- ing will be inquired intoas the investigation pro- ceeds end the jury will also be made acquainted with the manner in which the recent work of digging beneath the frail structure was con- ducted and the precautions taken to avoid ex- actly what happened. ‘WHO GAVE THE ORDER? Itbas been reported to Dr. Schaeffer that some of the clerks were cautioned to tread lightly over the floor during the past few daye, and he is seeking information on that subject. Dr. Schaeffer is anxious to know from where the order came, if such order was really given, as it may have cousiderable bear- ing on the case. Every available witness will be summoned to appear and give testimony. and Dr. Schaeffer proposes to leave no stone unturned in order to have all the facts clearly presented, so that there will be no ground for complaint when the verdict is rendered. SWORN IN THE PRESENCE OF DEATH. At 2 o'clock this afternoon the jury re- ported at the 12th street station, and from there they went with Dr. Schaeffer to Mr. J. William Lee’s undertaking establishment, where the body of Mr. Chapin rested in the morgue at- tached to the establishment. tomoving the white shect that covered the body Dr. Schaeffer directed the atteation of the jurors to the bruises and cuts about the head and face. ‘The body had been cleaned and partly dressed for burial, but had not been placed in a casket. In the same room were the bodies of Messrs. Jones and Nelson, also victims of the theater building accident. Mr. Chapin's features were recognizable. There in the presence of the body the jurors put thefr right hands on a Bible and listened attentively fn the presence of death, while the depaty coroncr administered the oath ae fol- ao “You do solemnly swear that you will well and truly inquire when, where and after what manner the deceased, John E. Chapin, whose body lies before you, came to his death and a just verdict render on the eridence,so help you God." INSPECTING THE BUILDING. The oath was properly acknowledged and the Jury then went to the old theater building and made a thorough inspection of what was left of it. From the wrecked building the jury re- turned to the police station, where they were given seats in Lieut. Amiss’ room, and pro- ceeded to hear the testimony. . TO MEET AGAIN _ ‘Tha jury will mect at 11 o'clock morning at Willard Hall to take testimony, EXAMINING THE BUILDING. Investigations Today Into the Cause of the Disaster. With most of the debris of the demolished structure carried away a careful examination of the ruins was possible this morning and some of the architectural fault of construc- IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. tion was apparent. From the position in which the girders and iron work lay there was hardly room left for a’ doubt that though the fall began on the third floor the primary cause was the caving in or settlement of the brick column which was being under- pined. ‘Ihe work was said to have been about completed. but from the scene this morning it would look as though the most dangerous point had just been reached. Before the work of excavation for the in- tended electric light plant was begun the first floor of the building rested on small timbers. on the ground. Under the center was the arch which was being dug beneath, and as the earth was removed the brick work would be put in place. It was this space which bad been resting on the | ground and was being excavated that was roped off. Beneath it there was no support. HOW THE FLOORS WEEE SUSTAINED. The manner of sustaining the floors was by iron girders resting on iron columns, The | columns were directly over one another and | necessarily the final support was |the brick work underneath the first | floor. From the north to the south wall there | Were four rows of these supports. The brick | columns upon which the work was being done were those which sustained the first and the second iron south wal first column had been completed und is in substantial form today, but when the other foundation is examined which supported of the disaster is evidently apparent. The brick work has ecrumbied ‘to. eurth and the torn places disclose that instead of being asolid brick column it was but a Under this the underpining was being done. On the brick work which was being braced there de- Ps the strength of all the floors, for on this foundation was the iron ‘col umn of the first floor. Directly it was the column which supported the third floor and on these coluians rev t weight which da rested on the brick foure ton which was being underpinned was enor- mous. It is said that nc matter how care- fully underpinning may be doue there is bound to be some settlement. With the work jon this brick column in the cellar, | which really supported two iron columns, eight iron girders. upon which the strength of the flooring depended in progress any settlement cifected the en- tire structure with which the columns above it were connected. ‘The undermining went so far that the strain became too great. The nink- of the brick foundation was as though there were but one columu, which extended to the top of the building. he top the settlement was sa te drag the girders from the top of the columns upon which they rested, and with one girder gone the whole portion gf the building which was supported by the under- miued brick fell to the ground. There was in the buiding bat one staireaso, about six feet wide, and that had to be utilized by all the clerks in the bureau. Not one single fire escape was there, though Congress receuily passed a law compelling all baildings im this city but government ones to be thus guarded. THE conTRacr, able talk among contractors privately concerning the contract for the work. Thoxe who should be iuformed tay that between the lowest bid of $950, which was that of Mr. George W. Dant, ‘who had the con- tract and had’ sublet the digging to Mr. Pullman, and the next lowest bid there was quite a difference in the amounts. A ( siraetes contractor said that be did not which should be used in the work, and it is said that four other contractors re- fused to work in the building on account of its condition. Mr. ‘Thorpe, who has the bids and terms of the contract at the War Depart- ment. refused to allow them to be seen, and, in fact, was very non-communicative re garding the whole affair. Those of the War Department who must at the end bear the responsibility for the horror are unwilling to talktand «ay that an investigation has becu ordered, and under these circumstances they must not talk. MB. BROWN'S STATEMENT. Mr. Brown, the chiet clerk of the records and pensions bureau, was the only official who was about the building this morning. Col. Aimsworth had not been there, and it was ssid that no one bad made any ex- amination, with a view to ascertaining where the cause lay. He said that the work which was being done in the collar was inspected every day by Mr. © superintendent of the building, Col Ainsworth and Mr. Dant. They declared that the work was being done ia the most careful manner and that there was ne danger. This is in direct opposition to the statement of Mr. Pullman, the subeo: tractor, who evidently believed that there was some danger, for he said to a Stan reporter yesterday: “T was just congratulating myself ‘that the danger wat past. ASKS AN INVE: ‘There is consi ‘TIGATION, Col. Ainsworth Wants the Responsibility for the Wreck Properly Placed. Col. Ainsworth, chief of the office of records and pens which occupied the wrecked theater building, has requested an official in- vestigation of the accident with a view to fixing the responsibility. Acting Secretary Grant has acceded to the to designate a court of inquiry. The selections have not yet been made, but Gen, Grant says that the board will be made up of three members, an engineer officer. a quartermaster who has had experience in buildingarmy posts, and some officer beiong- ing to another branch of the service. Grant was desirous of choosing as this third member an expert civilian architect or builder. but he was unable to do so because the department has no jurisdiction over civilians, However, it is believed that the govern- class of men by calling them before the board as expert witnesses. Secretary Lamont is ex- pected to arrive in Washington from Chicago early this afternoon and Acting Secretgry Grant will submit the names of the board to him for approval before they are made public. ARMY OFFICER PRESENT. Attention has been directed to the fact that the work of excavation was being prosecuted without the supervisory attention of any army officer who was qualified to judge of the char- acter of the work. Dr. Ainsworth is an army officer, a colonel, but he is a member of the medical corps, and ix not supposed to be acquainted with the technicalities of building and architecture. But itis said by Acting Secretary Grant that this fact is not unusual, and on the contrary nearly all of the government construction is arranged for by the quartermasters, who, of course, exercise a supervision over the construction of army post buildings, but really gre obliged to trust largely to the integrity and experience of the practical builders who contract to do the work. Bitfer criticism is passed at the War Department upon the statutory law which requires all contracts to be let to the lowest bidder, resulting often in low-grade work, though rarely in such catastrophes as that of yesterday. Capt. Thorpe’s Statement. Capt. M.'T. Thorpe, chief of the supply di- ion of the War Department, has charge of the records relating to the contract for the ex- eavation of the building. He refuses to allow the schedule of bids for the work to be seen, and said toa Srap reporter this morning: “I don't know any- thing about the condition of the building or the cause of the accident. ‘The building fell and lots of people were killed. That's all I know about it.” His attention was called to a report that there ‘was a great disparity in the bids, and that the one accepted was so much Jess than the next lowest that it was not believed that it could be properly executed. Mr. Thorpe said that this was not so. There were fourteen bidders for the work and the bids ranged gradually from $950 to $2,200. The lowest bid was that of George W. Dant and the contract was awarded to him. “Dant.” raid Mr. Thorpe, “is an Xpert in his line and was well known to us as askilflul and reliable man. ‘Therefore, as his bid was the lowest, we had no hesitation in awarding him the contract.” Mr. Thorpe was persistently urged to make a statement in regard to his connection with the work on the building, but refused to do so on the ground that his official position pro- hibited it, A Suggestion About the Building. To the Fditor of The Evening Star Possibiy the utilitarians may object, but I suggest that the walls of the old Ford's Theater building be now taken down, the foundations and other masonry, if there is any, removed, the excavation be filled up with clean fresh earth brought in from the country, the lot properly graded and sodded, a simple fountain erected in the center, trees planted on the rear and sides of the lot,and tho whole named “Lincoln Place,” J. A. Jupsox. Congress Should Do Much, To the Editor of The Evening Star: In response to your appeal of yesterday for help for the suffering occasioned by yesterday's catastrophe I herewith indorse my check for | @25. Really, the United States should give all | the relief necessary, buf the dead cannot bury | themselves, the crippled and little children can- | not earn their support and the widows must not |have occasion to beg. Therefore all who can should render some assistance without dela Congress should do much for the unfortunate | ones as soon as it convenes. Wat. Marsz, Church Offerings. ‘To the EAitor of The Evenine Star: Will you kindly call the attention of your readers to the fact that the offering at Epiph- any Church on Sunday morning will be de- voted to the sufferers by Friday's disaster? Very truly yours, i Rayvoirs H. McKim. | columns from the | The brick foundation under the | the second iron column from the wall the cause | t sustained the flooring of the section | which fe ach of these columns sup- ported four heavy steel girders, so that the ‘lieve that $800 would pay for the bricks | request and has directed Adjt. Gen. Williams | ment can profit by the experience of this | RELIEF MEASURE A Prompt tains tlh Call for Funds. THE MEETING YESTERDAY. | ——— | | Much Interest Manifested in a Good Canse | and « Good Start Made—The Subscriptions Received — Steps Taken by Various C zens to Help the Distressed. Sete In answer to a call issued by the District | Commissioners yesterday, directly after cident, a relief mecting was held at 4 o’cla at Willard Hallto r ance of the families of the dead and injured. It was a prompt gathering, and notwith- Standing the necessarily brief notice that had 100 25 10 mes Kerr, Elis Chappel J. Lee eee yee" P. Dame 5] . Wilson 3 25 Columbia Fire Inew: of the é District of Columbia. + 100 A 3 5 20! Ry Co Loeb & Hi Henry 100) The Norris Pe 100 W. J. Whelpley 10 | Louis Fahnstock.. sy been given there was a good sized crowd pres- ent and $5,000 was raised in a few minutes, | A co | with promises of more to com | was appointed to canvass scriptions und then to take funds that might be secured thro | dium of the local papers. | Commissioner Ross called the mecti order and briefly stated its objec a | | it was not to talk, but to raise money. At his suggestion Comunssioner Parker was called to | the chair, Mr. John B. Larner was made secretary. MN. WARNER'S ViGonoUS sPrEeH. Mr. Warner made a brief speech, in which he referred to the needs of the widows and ! orphans of the made such through a 8) | tem of false economy on the part of the goy- ernment. | He said that while the government was mor- ally responsible it still iay with the audience to | | put their bands into their pockets and draw out money for the help of the impoverished. The secretary read a letter from the Emer- | geney Hospital showing the work done by tha | institution yester: ‘Thirty-seven 1 persons were treated there, of whom thr | diea. other me- REY. DR. BARTLETT'S REMARKS. Rev. Dr. Bartlett was called on to speak. He said that the accident was not one that could be | placed upon God. It was a preventable ac- cideut. If the building had been owned by a millionaire the public would feel bound to in- flict personal damage tothat man. The gov- | ernment is the employer in this case, and is morally responsible for the harm done. It dle the expenses upon a long. suffering commun: Stili this was a charit- able gathering, and they should tide over any immediate necessities. ‘They should be samari- | tans. iment should also be a good samaritan, but it act slowly, and this meeting should take some action. WHERE A SURVIVOR PUTS THE BLAKE, Smith Thompson of the records division, a clerk in the ruined building, where he narrowly e2- caped death yesterday mor: mide an earnest speech. He blamed the fatality upon Col. Ainsworth of the War Department, who compelled clerks of the department to work in that “hell upon earth,” while band- some rooms iu the War, State and Navy build. ings are used for the mere storage of docu: mente, A COMMITTER ON SUBSCRIPTIONS, Mr. Glover moved that a committee of fiv be appointed to canvass the audience for sub. scriptions. Mr. Lambert moved that the com. | mittee be increased to twenty the city. but Col. Parker thought the general work | had better be leftto the press, and Mr. Glover's | motion was carried. The committee ay tiuatly pea ney consisted of ex-Commissioner John W. Douglass, Messrs. B. H. Warner, C.J. Dell. | . A. Lambert and 8, W. Woodward. THE FIRST SURSCEIPTIONS. Col. Parker read @ letter from Mr. John W. Macartney of the firm of Corson & Macartney subscribing $500 to the fund. Woodward & Lothrop led off with a subserip- tion of $1,000. Mr. Wilkins announced that the President had | sent his personal check for $100 to the fund and bis secretary, Mr. Thurber, $25 more. i While the subscription was being taken up| Bishop Hurst made an earnest specch, in whic he said that Washington had earned a higher place than ever before for the sympathy its, people had shown and the good work they had | already done. Mr. Emery thought the best way to raise a | subscription was through the press, and a m tion to make a general committee to receive subscriptions was loat. MR. WOODWARD MADE TREASURER. Mr. C. C. Glover was elected trensurer of the | relief fund. He stated that he would leave the | city today, and Mr. Woodward was elected | in his piace. | It was decided that the committee appointed today be given the power to enlarge its metm- bership and then to take charge of the distribu- tion of the funds that might be raised. Ex-Commissioner Donglass was appointed to fill the vacancy on the committee of five caused by Mr. Glover's enforced withdrawal. TURN ALL FUNDS OVER To THE COMMITTEE. Judge Kimball made a motion that all funds raised by the newspapers or otherwise be turned over to the committee, This Was ca) rie, and on motion of Mz, Edson, it’ was do- | cided to ask all banks to receive funds which should be transmitted to the committee's treas- | urer. Asubscription amounting to about $5,500 | was made at the meeting on subscription blanks prepared by Mr. Woodward. THE RELIEF COMMITTEE. The relief committee met at 8 p.m. in parlor | 10, Willard’s Hotel, and organized by electing Commissioner Douglass chairman and Mr. John B. Larner secretary. Col. O. G. Staples and | Mr. John Joy Edson were added to the com-! mittee. It was decided that the matter most if was the funeral expenses of the vic- | As but little was known of the condition of their families and the necessities of the it was decided to hold meetings today at 1 and 8 o'clock. Among those present were: Bishop Hurst, B. H. Warner, S. W. Wood- ward, John Joy Edson, Noble D, Larner, Alli- son Nailor, 0. G. Staples, T. A. Lambert, Wil- lard Fracker, Barry Bulkley, C. ¢ ove Chas, McKenney, Walter Willard, A. M. Lot rop, Wm. Means, Dr. Bartlett, Commissioner | Ross, Commissioner Parker, ex-Gov. N. G. Ordway, W. C. Dodge, Jesse B. Wilson, Frank B. Conger, N. W. Burchell, N. Anderson, Geo. Joyce, Jno. T. Armes. M. G. Emery, O. Staples, Geo. E. Herrell, B. F.. MeFarland, ex-Commissioner Jno. W. Douglass, H. Canfield, L. 8, Emery, Judge I. G. Kimball, A. 8. Taylor, T. W. B. F. Coyle, Sn ‘Thompson, Capt. A. P. Cunningham, Brooks, Rev. B. N. Seymour, W. K. Ei W. Chappel, R. Goodwin, Beriah Will Wm. H. Manogue, Max Lansburgh, A. P. don, Dr. H. L. E. Johnson, Charles Lell, George Brown, A. A. Thomas, Washington Nailor. Subscriptions to the Fund. ‘The following is a list of the subscriptions ro- ceived to the citizens’ relief fund: Bell & Co.. $100 | Dr. H, L. E. Johnson. 10 A. 8. Taylor. 5| M. G. Emery 100 A. P. Fardon 25 Willard Fracker. 5) 8. Cohen & Co. 50 | Corcoran Fire Insurance Co. 100 Woodward & Lothrop. 1,000 Washington Nuilor. 50 | O. G. Staples. 100 | B. H. Warner. 100 | i 100 | 500 50 5 Bishop Hursi 25) Pitch, Fox & Brown. 100 | Brooks. 50 | Washington Market Compan; 100/ N. W. Burchell, 100 Jno. E. Herrell 60 | John Joy Edso 25 J. A. Settle, 10 W. C. Dodgo 10} J. B. Wimer. 25 R. L. Coope 10 | r : 5 20 200 | 100 | 2b 1 B Cc. W. King. 10 F, J, Hieberger. 20 H. H. Bergraan. 5/ FD. M... 6 | D. W. Patterson 5 Barnes & Weaver. 50 Wm. Hahn & Co 25] Peter Grogan... 50 | Miss G. B. Pattersoa 50! | adopted setting forth the sympathy of the asso- | Lyrich, M. Wallace, R. | thought perhaps he could serve the city better | not be changed except b | necded they would be secured by purchase or ‘The Virginia Association, Ata meeting of the Virginia Democratic As- sociation held last night resolutions were cintion 1 + consis with the families who were bereaved | ed by the accident. A committee of | f Messrs, W. C. Maupin, F Riddick, J. a 8 appointed to solicit for the relief of the sufferers, ——— RELIEVING THE DESTITUTE. fero and H. 3. La subseriptio: The Committee Begin Touching Its Work—Some lorie: The citizens’ relief committee met at parlor 10, Willard’s Hotel, at 10:30 this morning. At the time of mecting there were present J. W. Dongia W. Woodward, T. A. Lambert, Chas. J. Bell, 0. G. Staples John Joy Edson, A. letter was read from lr. B. 11. Warner stating that he could not be present ashe had been subpcenaed to serve on the coroner's jury, and he added that he on that jury. Later in the day, however, Mr. Warner found time to join his col- leagues in the committee and took part in the work of the day. ‘The committee took hold of the business before them in a rystematic and orderly way with the determination to accomplish the most good possible. They in- tend to regard money placed in their hands asa sacred trust, which must be expended with caution and a certainty that it goes to the right places, but they want to take care of every family left in need by this trophe and to do so without the delicacy of these families, who by a sudden accident are, for the first time in their lives, placed ina dependent position. ‘They decided that the names of those aided should bo kept secret, and they are anxious that every noedy case shall be presented to them by some one that they may do the utmost in their power to relieve suffering and want. PROVIDING BURIAL EXPENSES, The first action of the committee was the doption of a resolution appropriating a sum t to execed $150 in each case for the puria! of those who were killed, who, dying, did not leave their families in a position to be independent. A number of applications for assistance wero made immediately after the commaities got to work. and the stories told by he fmends of the afilicted families made a ivid picture of terror of the calamity which su ldenly befell them. Families who had been independent, Hving in fair comfort, but spending from day to day the money earned by the head of the house, are left sud- denly without resources and without a dollar for ihe necessaries of life. In a number of cares there are large families of small chil- dren aud ently impending sickness has added an additional care to the sudden widow- hood. ‘The first thing for the committee to do, | As it appeared to them, was to see to the buriai | of the dead and to’ relieve the immediate wants of the families of those who were kil ihe injured, they were not so much concerned about at this immediate time, | as their salaries from the government would | still co on, butin all cases where their aid was | required they proposed to give it freely, and to | do ail in the name of” bumani eve the suffering which they cannot en- tively cure. ‘They have, of course, to guard against ail extravagance or expenditure of mouey that is not ubsolutely necersary, since the families now left destitute must be eared for by the citizens until such time as Congress shall come to their relief, and every dollar ised unnecessarily now will be sorely missed before this relief is secured, CASKS REPORTED, In one case it was reported that one of the injured men was in need of a reclining chair, being so badly injured that his position could the adjustment of the couch or chair on which he reclined. A letter was sent to the acting secretary of war asking for the chair and other hospital farnish- ings necessary. It was decided that if the army hospital service could not furnish the things other W. K. Ellis reported that one of the victims, whose body was one of the last taken from the ruins yesterday, had left a wife and five young’ children without a dollar in the world for their support The family bad no means to provide for the burial of the body, which “had not yet been — taken fromthe undertaker's place to the house. Word was sent to the widow that the funeral ses would be paid, and that if he was in of money today the committee would give her €25 today, which was done later. A letter was received from ‘Thomas Anderson and others stating that ‘the widow of one of the victims makes an earnest appeal for immediate relief. She is left today without any means of support, not having even the wherewith to lay away her dead. “Her condition 1 deplorable. She has one child and is about to again become @ mother.” ‘The committee at once sent her twenty-five dollars and authorized the family to incur an expense of not more than $150 for the funeral expenses. Rey. 8. Shannon reported that the family of another section left a wife and three children under age, the youngest nine years old, in great destitution, ‘They needed assistance’ to bury the dead and money for the necessaries of life. He said that the family had not a penny, no money nor lifeinsurancepolicy being left by deceased. The family had been deeply in debt on account of misfortune. During tho past two years they had lived as humbly as pos- xible, and by the rigid economy of the wife the ‘debts “had been about all paid off and they had a few months ago been able to buy acheap carpet for their little parlor. ‘This was the only carpet in the house and there were only afew cheap articles in the house. The widow was, he said. a good, economical woman, who deserved the sympathy of the public.” She was, he said, extremely helpless in this emergency. BURIAL SITES OFFERED. Messrs, H. O. Towles, Louis Clephane and Philip F, Larner, on behalf of the directors of the Glenwood cemetery, appeared before the committee and offered the gift of five or more sites in Glenwood cemetery for the burial of those killed. This offer was very gratefully received. Mr. Towles, when told that an in- jured man was in need of an adjustable chair, Said he would send one to him at once asa oun. It the desire of the committee that all needing aid shall let their necds be known to the committee, giving information in the fol- lowing order: Name. Address. Condition financially. fame of widow. umber of children and age. Whether life or accident policy. References. Notes. ANOTHER MEETING THIF AFTERNOON. At11:55 the committee adjourned until 3 this afternoon, Thoy will meet also at 10:30 Sunday morning. — Contributions in t! War Department, Many persons having expressed a desire to contribute to a fund for the rolief of the suf- ferers by the disaster at the 10th street build- ing occupied by the record and pension office of the War Department, Mr. W. 8. Yeatman, disbursing clerk of the War Department, has consented to receive auy contributions’ that may be made for that object and turn the amount over to such committee as may be ap- pointed by the employes of the record and pension office to distribute the same. Contributions will be duly acknowledged through the daily press, CRE Subscriptions at the District Bullding. One hundred and forty-eight dollars was sub- WHATTHEPAPERSSAY Indignant at the False Economy of Congress. FIXING RESPONSIBILITY. Repetition of Yesterday's Catastrophe— Other Unsafe Public Buildings—The Go ernment Printing Office, The papers throughout the country in their editorial utterancer today bring Congress to account for its false economy which herds its employes in unsafe ram- shackle buildings. Many of them know well that the old Ford's Theater is not the only rickety structure at the capital whieh is used as a government workshop, and reiter- sounded £0 ofter in this city. The govern- urged to make immediate _ provisions for the safety of the public servants, The following editorial extracts. from some of the leading journals of the coun- try indicate the public disapproval of the poli of Congressmen who think that there is alw: money enough in the treasury for purposes ii which they have a more or less selfish interest, but never enough for objects which make no direct appeal to the individual representatives of the people: Who is Responsible? From the Phitade!phis Inquirer. There is apparently no excuse whatever for the loss of life. Some pne is at fault,and crim- tnatly 0, -Now that tes hacia bas been dows and valuable lives lost it wili Le recalled most vividly that the walls have been considered un- safe for a long time; that the building has been condemned and those who have escaped from | instant death will tell of the shaking floors, of the general feeling of insecurity. And still hundreds of clerks have been al- lowed for days and weeks and months, if not for years, to work in building that was liable to fall at any time! Who is responsible for this thing? Is it pos- sible that the government is but a machin caring nothing for those who are employed b; it, willing to pack hundreds of men upon floors that shook from the rumbling of the wheels in the street benenth? “The government” is but an indefinite term, “The government” is like a corporation. It is irresponsible except in a ecuniary way. What 1s everybody's business sno one's. Red tape bas done its work. And yet there mst be one or more persons in official positions who ure guilty of this crime, for the calamity can be called nothing else. It will not soothe ‘the suffering ones to know who the guilty oues are. It will not bring back the breath of life to those who have been crushed under the falling timbers. And yet there will be a certain sense ef. satisfaction to have the responsibility placed where it belongs. Tho Department of War bas this building within its jurisdiction. Somewhere in that de- partment is some onewho might and should have made the disaster impossible. Who is he? ‘That is for the department to determine by a strict investigation. The man who shot dowa was no more a criminal than he who is directly respontible for yesterday's catastrophe. Hundreds of clerks packed into a building that was notoriously insecure! Think of it! What possible excuse cau there be? The Blame Should Be Fixed. From the New York Herald, ster in Washington yesterday, with its lamentable list of dead and injured, is the natural result not of an accident, but a crime. The dead are simply victims of man- sliughter, due to the most flagrant and inex- cusable criminal neglect. It is amazing to read in the accounts of the horror that the collapsed building bad been re- peatedly condemned as dangerously insecure and likely to crash down at any moment, vertheless it was kept filled with human beings by order of the government, and de- truction was even invited by the reckless exca- vations which proved the moving cause of the collapse. The fact that the government is responsible more surprising, inexcusable and criminal. The Josst it cau now de pontoas for the great wrong is to make proper compensation to the living sufferers and the representatives of the dead victims. Meanwhile the blame should be fixed upon the department or officials responsible, that the country may know who the offenders are, A Building Bureau Needed. From the New York Ti The collapse of an old building in Wash- ington, with a very extensive lose of life, is Particularly disgraceful‘ because the building was used a8a public office and under the con- trol of the government. Almost all disasters of this kind are traceable to the reck- less greed of private owners who aro ing other people's lives rather than | the certainty of spending their own money. The accident seems to have been pre- cipitated by a curiously reckless excavation, whereby the building was in part nndermined. But that the building was unsuitable, and even dangerous, for the parposes for which it was occupied, is reported to. have been well known in Washington for many years. It was an old building, and originally of very flimsy con- struction, and it was ina condition to give way ata very shght shock. It is easy to understand how Congress came to resist the appeals to make an appropriation for the erection of a building suitable for the purposes for which this building, even if it had eon in a sound condition, would have been unsuitable. The District of Columbia, not being directly represented in Congress, | is not available for the log-roiling by which extravagantly costly public build. ings are authorized for little towns all over the country. When it is reported that a building in Washington used by the government is unsafe, members of Congress distrust the report, scenting in it ® coming appeal for an appropriation in which none of them has any personal or local interest. As a distinguished member of the House once said, there is no member of that body who represents the United States, and the needs of the nation, in the matter of proper accommodation for the public business, are less likely to receive attention than the needs of any community in the nation, out- side of the District of Columbia, The long delay in beginning work for the new Ci sional Library, years after the need for it had been demonstrated beyond the possibility of denial or doubt, is an extreme instance of the state of mind which forced a department of the government to occupy a rickety old structure, originaily built for a theater, as a public office. For the rest it is plain that if there had been an efficient building bureau in Washington the building that has now col- lapsed would years ago have been put in repair or demolished. Our own building tment still leaves a good deal to be desired, but it is ® good many years since such a collapse as that of Washington has happened or been possible under the system that We do possess. Niggardly Economy. From the Philadelphia Press, The description given of the old Ford's Theater building fully accounts for, the awful catastrophe of yesterday. The one surprising thing about it is that intelligent human beings were willing to risk their lives | in such a trap. Age bad weakened it; overloading had strained it; while the excavation of a celler underneath deprived its walls of necessary support and the whole shaky fabric fell, bruising, maiming and killing a very large proportion of the 300 clerks who were assigned to duty in this worn out and trembling structure. It is very clear where the fault lay, but it 18 not so easy to fix the immediate responsibility for the awful slaughter. The government owned and controlled it absolutely and the gov ernment ts the author of the con- ditions which brought about the tragedy of yesterday. But what individual or individuals “in that collective agency called government is directly chargeeble with this rewult is not yet clear. Postibly it isa case of everybody's business being nobody's business, The building had long possessed an ill reputa- tion for safety. Congress had been in- formed of its unsafe condition, but Gave no heed to the warning. Govern- ment clerks were required to work in it or loose their positions, and while they may have feared a collapse, they took the chances of its happening when they were out of the buiiding. Weak as it was, it might have lasted f rs yet, possibly, but for the rash scribed by the clerks in the Commissioners’ oflice toduy for the relief fund, meddling witb its foundations. It had ret the constitution for a surgical operation of that sort, and it fell like a house built of cards, Warning tothe Government to Permit the | ates the note of warning which has been | ment printing office is cited as being in a no- | torionsly unsafe condition, and Congress is | President Lincoln upon this same fatal spot | for the catastrophe makex the neglect all the | willing to incur the chance of destroy- | Asentiment—and a very proper sentiment dictated the preservation of the theater in hich Abratam Lincoln was assassinated. | It was no sentiment, however, that loaded it with records, crowded it with clerks and, | notwithstanding the warnings of trembling | deerepitude, actually attempted to und: | mine AU this was done in pursua of a niggardly economy made apparently neeersary by the parsimony of Congress, but which no necessity can reaily justify. If the government buildings of Washington are with. ‘ont the surveillance of responsible build. inspectors these unsubstantial build ings constructed for another purpose jshould be abandoned forthwith. There are other old houses in Washington ax unfit as Ford's Theater was which are filled j daily with government clerks. This is not | necessary and should not be suffered. This | government is certainly rich en: ildings for its employes, ers ir. Congress who prevent such | being made are the real authors of | and «utter | jing death | oceakioned by the collapse of | Ford’s Theater. It Was Preventable. From the Philadephia Times. The appalling disaster at Wasbington, by which two score lives are needlessly sacrificed and twice as many persons, more or less, se- | Tiously injured, came without warning to ite victims, but there is reason to believe that the engineering authorities of the War De- tment knew that the Ford building was ‘¢ and should have been vacated and torn Whether the responsibility ans | down long ago. lies with the “department or with Congress, which refused to provide other quarters for the businem that was being tranaacted im what, bas proved to be a gigantic human trap, cannot yet be determined. Somewhere there reste a fearful and criminal responsibility for the catastrophe of yesterday. The building originally erected for a theater Was never a proper structure in which to insert floors to be occunied by hundreds of human beings. This much should have been ap- parent to any competent architect. To the original “weakness of the patch- work structure there seems to have been added the further peril of undermined foundations, caused by an excavation in the cellar for the accommodation of anelectric light plant. Under these conditions the building could not be ex- pected to do otherwise than collapse and the only wonder is that the collapse did not come sooner, ‘These things could not be known to the un- fortunate employes of the War Department, who simply obeyed orders and Went to their work supposing themselves safe in any build- ing to which their superiors would assign them. They have fost their lives or been seriously injured through uo fault of their own, but there is some one on whom lies the deep damnation of their taking off, and it is the imperative duty of the War it authorities to fix the blame where it justly be- Jongs, and if there are any more government clerks in Washington exposing life and limb in unsafe buildings the fact should be made known and the buildings abandoned before another long list of victims are carried to the j morgue. The direfn! disnster of yesterday belonged clearly to the class of preventable accidents and its repetition should be made an impossibility. Not Without Warning. From the New York Tribune. The catastrophe at Washington repeats the old story of human negligence and credulity. The shabby and flimsy structure in which a department of government kept hundreds of its employes at work did not collapse without warning. For years it had shown signs of in- stability, and lately, while a criminally care- | less work of excavation was proceeding beside | it, the proofs of weakness had become con- | vincing, aud not only convineing,but startling. But those whose duty it was to heed this plain | evidence were willing to tuke the chances. The building bad stood for a long time, decaying slowly, but still holding together. ' Probably it would Inst a little while longer; and an: way, inasmuch as government employes work only eight hours a day, there were two chances out of three that it would be unten- anted when the crash came. Wedo not su pose that any responsible person ‘consciously Teasoned in precisely this way, but the con- tinued use of the building in defiance of ite | obvious condition was consistent with just such |aline of argument as this and with no other. The consequences of carelessness and blind faith are horrible, and those who now realize | too late that they ought to have intervened must be bearing a beavy burden today. We have no picasure in seeking to make it heavier: and yet the duty of putting the responsibility for such disasters where it belongs cannot be honestly or safely shirked. The leason that they are capable of teaching loses half 1ta value when it is not brought home to individuals. The circumstances of this calamity aggravate the indigestion and shame with it must be regarded. The building known as Ford's Theater in Washington was owned by the gov- ernment; that is, by the people, and it was oc- cupied and controlled exclusively for public purposes, Moreover, it was in the use ‘and under the control of a department of the government which bas special resources of knowledge and discipline for the administra- tion of its affairs and the protection of its em- ployes and its property. Peculiar discredit seems to attach to a disaster for which the War Department is mainly and im to blame. We do not doubt that the lack of quar- ters better adapted to the purposes which this disreputable structure served has been offi- cially deplored, and Congress may be justly condemned for failing to make suitable ion for the requirements of an important bureau. But the indifference and parsimony of ‘legie- lators eannot justify the llessness of an executive department. The measure of ac- countubility and the place where it belongs are indicated by the simple fact that if the Is in control of this fallen building had certainly foreseen its fate they would have done just what they failed to do. They ought to have certainly foreseen it, for they had been amply warned. But while no excuse will be valid which seeks to throw the blame backward upon C there is nevertheless a lesson in this shocking eceurrence which Congress ought to apply. It is the theory of too many members of that APPREBENSIVE EMPLOYES, Insecurity of the Government Printing Of- fice Again Made Plain by an OMmcial, CAPT. H. T BRIAN TELLS A STAR REPORTER OF THE DANGERS THAT EXIST AND THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED—NEARLY THREE THOUSAED LIVES IN HOURLY PERIL—WHAT ARORITEOE CLARK AND OTHERS HAVE PROPHESIED. In a certain building in this city owned by the United States government are huddled to- gether ® shameful, inhuman manner 2,700 beings, one-third of += whom are females, This building is mo- toriously unsafe and, made more so by the pur- and unquestionably not the appalling disaster of yesterday, « dis- aster which shock: to. Dring! *hocked the whole civilized world, to. thore by nothing jess than inbumanit; labor in this building the lesson of yesterday, ana’on learn from it the story which some day | may, and surely will, be theirs, if the right thing is not quickly done. For “Sot day, not an hour, of years past has ‘come and gone’ that bas ‘mot brought to those employes of this mighty gov- —— the realization of how near stood and yet stand to death by fire and walls, — the foreman: of that great estal HL T. Brian, stated to a Star and bis fellow employes fully curity of the building, apprehensive. CAPT. BRIAN CONDEMNS rt. Said Capt. Brian: “The insecurity of building bas always given the possible. The feeling today is the ‘same, fecling which rune community, one of apprebension and Lam not by any means an alarmist, bub we all feel ‘very ticklish, I assure you. Indeed, the doubtful security of "the building imperatively demands the immediate erection of a larger and more secure structure As it is now and has been for itis our constant eare to relieve the building from overweight. we do by - SaaS meats al ergata aa additional ware houses bave been rented and only three days ago we were com- ning, and in that way our daily. Grand juries have point dangerous condition of the buildi to time, the architect of the Capitol nee the same, and in recent years at the thing has been pointed out on the floor Senate and the House of Representati Nothing bas yet been done, however, and. @ best as we mignt, we have curselve been obliged to’ do to the building a* safe as possible. Our people realize their position, and, of course, that realization brings us no comfort. A ‘short while ago Dr. Scbaeffer, the deputy coroner, im speaking to me on this very subject. said that while such a disaster as that of yesterday in this building would not be an unei one to bim, he action Congress would prevent it, but I dis tinctly remeinber that he remarked at the time that he would some day be called in his official character to the building which yesterday was the scene of ruin and death. WHAT HAS BEEN SAID aT THE CAPITOL. Capt. Brian then called the reporter's atten- tion to the following utterances respecting the government printing office building: Senator Gorman—“I believe that we have by & miracie, as it were, escaped great disaster at the prevent building. It is in such « condition, and has been for four or five years, that it is likely to collapse at any time. Senator Hawiey Rained mon decency and bumanity printing office. It isan old, sufficient building.” Senator Biair—“I am glad tovee that the gov- i floors out of necessity. moving undoubtedly caused ‘constant of course, to that extent increased | ity of the building, but be was reduced now to E i thought 1m. A complete list of the clerks who oscupled desks in the wrecked area of the building yes terday is as follows, the of each floor Dring grouped together and st far-as body that there is always money enough in the treasury for pur; in which they have a more of less selfish interest, but never enough for the accomplishment of objects which make no direct appeal to individual representatives of the people. Upon this theory a nabit of false and indecent economy has been con- tracted, and while the consequences are not often of such a kind and of such magnitude as to shock the whole country, they are often coutly and discreditable, ateching Rot merely the possessions aud operations govern- ment, but human heaith and life as well. Ford's Theater is not the only building in the country or at the capital in which public eerv- ante have long been surrounded by perilous ecnditions because Congress is parsimonious. ‘The employes of the government printing office have good reason at this moment to fear a still more appalling catastrophe than that of yesterday. Universal compassion will be felt oon the euf- fering survivors of the tragedy at Washington and for the relatives and de) te of the dead. It cannot be doubted that their imme- diate necessities will be su as far as pos- sible, but that will not be enough. At the earliest opportunity a permanent provision for their comfort ought to be made by the repre- sentatives of the people whose service has in- flicted such loss and suffering. They cannot be recompensed, but they can be cheered and helped by the practical acknowledgment of a heavy obligation, Repeated Warnings for Twelvd Years. the names of the injured and dead cated: First foor—James Taylor, Gulager; Clifton Lo: inyured; W. ardson; C. L. ‘¥° Mifier, jr., KR. E. Wilson; T. sent; ‘Witiam Schrieber % dead; injured, Spencer; EH. A cients Ds Praitt, injured; J. 0 3 Dowd, Douglas, John Bp lions upon unnecessary public buildings in small towns throughout the country. Twelve years ago the inspector general of army gave official notice that this old was unsafe. From that time to this its ous insecurity has been perfectly well Repeated warnings have been given of fitness for human occupancy. » Yet dui that time a great, rich government has a of its employes there, in daily of their lives, for lack of an ypriation better quarters. aR It is too late now to mend this matter. But is not too late to accept the warning which the disaster gives. There are other unsafe build- ings occupied for government in danger- HUE BF rs my § = Washington. The building used as the ment printing office is notoriously ina ous condition, There are 2,500 ployed there, ps ‘Tun injured; © x us +E KM . Chapman; C. M. Pant ~ F. : OB a oma G. Cc. Sore a; Joan aka Wit Ming a. Bac, ert ©. Lucas, George J. Drew, Homer B. Firman inne 8 Hamer ifr ti # PI ! Pei) SER SH: