A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9762, 12 June 1893, Page 2

A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

FIFTY LIVES LOST BY THE COLLAPSE

OF A BUILDING.

|_Bt Eleotbic Telegraph.—Copyright.] (Pbb Press Association.) Washington, Jane 9. (Received June 10, at noon.) Ford's Theatre, in this city, which was used ai offices by the Pension department, collapsed. A thousand people were employed in the building, and so far very few have been found alive.

June 10.

(Received June 11, at 6 p.m.)

It is stated that 200 were buiied in .the ruing of the Pension deprrtmeut house. Three hundred were in tha building when it collapsed, but portion of the floor remained intact, thus enabling many to escape, while others jumped from the windows. The number of killed is estimated to be nnder 50. • .

The building had been condemned as unsafe, but was preserved from reasons of sentiment, it being the scene of the murder of President Lincoln by Wilkes Booth in April 1865.

(Special to Pejess Association.) Washington, June 11, (Received June 13, at 1 a.m.)

The cries of those buried by the collapse of Ford's Theatre were most appalling. The three floors fell in rapid succession, and the dead wore horribly mutilated.

The cavalry, who were early en tho scene, were successful in c-xti'ioating a number of those within the building.

The cause of the collapse is attributed to the underworks having bean removed for the purpose of an installation of electricity. One hundred of the occupants of the upper floors saveS themselves by jumping on to the adjoining roof.