The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-24
AN APPALLING DISASTER.
A Floor Gives Way During a
Strawberry Festival
One Hundred Persons Injured The
Dead Bodies Recovered.

An appalling catastrophe occurred mere To-
night strawberry festival was being held at
the parors OF the Central Baptist church. when,
without any premonition, the floor gave way
about hafpast nine O'Clock. precipitating the
roomful into the story below. The parlor was on
the second floor and the room underneath was
also full The nre alarm was Immediately given
and the nremen hurried to the scene. Soon
10000 people were there ana tremendous excite
ment prevailed 1t is impossible to give particu-
lars at this hour. Five dead bodies were taken
out and the work has hardly commenced. Prob
ably 100 persons are more or less injured, many
very seriously.
The following are among
THE DEAD BODIES RECOVERED.
DR.. o. E. Wainwright, Mrs. Wainwright Miss
Minnie Thomas, child named Ostrander, little
girl named Leonard, little girl named Horton,
Miss Theodore Holmes and little girl named
Winnie Collins. Rev. George 7. Downing, pastor OF
the church. is dangerously injured also his wife,
who is not expected to live. Rev. II. J. Eddy Is
Injured, some dangerously.
List OF the Dead Taken Out-Estimated
Number Of tho Injured-Ths scone In
the Streets-Causo OF tho Accident.
SYRACUSE, N. Y. June 2a-Midnight.
The following were taken out dead
DR.. O. Wainwright.
Mrs. E. Austin Barnes.
Mrs. james M. Grow.
Mrs. J. f. Karr.
Miss Gussie Carpenter.
Mrs. Abijah veeder, OF Utica.
MISS Oracle Holmes.
Miss Winnie Collins, aged thirteen to DAY
Hattie Leonard, i've or six years old.
John Austin.
Ostrander, boy about nine years old
Miss Minnie Thomas.
Frank Collins, aged fourteen.
Lulu Harton, aged Twelve,
THE NUHBER OF INJURED
will probably reach 1oo Mrs. Dr. wainwright win
undoubtedly die. Ex-Aderman Austin Barnes is
very seriously injured. Rev. Dr.. H. J. EDDY is
slightly injured.
The bodies are supposed to DO all recovered now.
1t is impossible to get the names OF tue injured to.
night The excitement Is very great The city Is
Nued with lamentations.
THE SCENE IN THE STREETS
around the church baffles description. Thou
sands are gathered there asking after friends,
waiting for the dead and attending to the In
jured. The entire police force and fire depart
ment OF the city were called out and took charge
Of the work OF recovering the dead and wounded.
The broken tImbers were hoisted up with difficulty.
The walls OF the church did not fall In but are Sc.
riously damaged.
The church is comparatively new one. A few
minutes before the moor gave way 1t trembled so
that many persons left the room. fearing an acct
dent, which had been predicted by many.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
The accident was caused BY the giving way Of
the joist that supported the door.
The jost ran from both sides Of the room to
cross stringer. the middle OF which was supported
by iron rods from the roof The stringer gave
way, pulling the ceiling and roof down upon tho
people and precipitating them into the room be-
low. H. N. White was architect OF the building;
Dickinson 4 Coleman did the carpenter work.
The work of recovery was exceedingly slow, as
1t had to be done in the dark, and 1t was feared
every moment that the walls would fall in.