River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-03-12

oe"u.n6 INC pushing ana croWdlng throng
that In moment, with calmness on their
part, all would be well. But their en-.
treaties were vain. Still the crowd
surged toward the outer doors, the strong
bearing the weak before them or crushing
them under foot, and still escape was as
far off as ever.
The most narrowing scene Of all was
that which occurred on and at the bot.
tom Of the winding stairs leading from
the eastern gallery. At the first alarm
those nearest the gallery door leading to
these stairs rushed out and ran down
them pell NELL. But the people in the
body Of the church below had been too
quick for them, and when they reached
the hallway they found it so jammed that
no motion alone, but in some cases respi-
ration itself, was almost impossible. Then
the crowd above, pressing downward for
safety and for life, recently crushed those
who had gone before, yelling and scream
ing and praying in breath. Women's
clothes were torn from their backs, and
strong men were crushed into insensibil-
ity. At the lower angle of the stairway
several women and children we're held
fast for nearly ten minutes, suffering UNI
told tortures.
Even before the church was fully
cleared of its frightened congregation,
the firemen and the police began to re-.
move the dead and wounded. At the
front door strong guard of policemen
were stationed, but with all the authority
attaching to blue and brass, they were
unable to keep numbers of anxious moth
ers and wives and sisters out who insisted
upon looking among the ruins for the
bodies of their loved ones. With the
men they could deal, but the women made
their way through the grove of clubs, and
rushed into the church, regardless of
danger.
The killed and wounded were taken
into the reading room of Sweeney's Ho-
tel, which the proprietor put at their
service without any restrictions. He was
himself one of the most devoted attend.
ants on the victims, and it was at his
order that sheets were reverently thrown
over the bodies Of the dead.
The first bedy taken out of the gal.
lery was that of woman Of so, neatly
and plainly dressed. Her face had none
of the pallor of death, nor was there a
sign Of q wound. But she was dead.
She was crushed and suffocated in the
fatal stairway.
Then came the dead body of a man
whose head was crushed by wall.
A man of Is or 80 was next borne in.
He was breathing family, but the cash on
the side of his head, from which the
blood was slowly trickling, was SO deep
and so broad that none who saw him had
hopes of his recovery. For an hour or
more he remained insensible, watched
over by his friends. Then he died, and
his body was placed at the side of the
other dead.
IN swENEY's HOTEL.
The wounded, supported by their
friends or policemen, came into the crowd.
ed room one by one. There were two
young girls of considerable beauty, one of
whom, the doctors said, had received a
most dangerous cut. The other was
petite brunette, with pleasant
features, who had shared in the crush on
the stairs. Injured, as she evidently was,
she uttered no groan, but sat patiently
in her chair, sometimes covering her face
with her hands to shut out the sight of
the horrible wounds around her.
On the floor, his head supported on
the knee of one friend, while second
laved his bruised and bloody face with
cold water, lay young man of fine APP
pearance, who had sat Immediately be-
meath the falling bricks. His head was
indented at one spot, and his face was cut
and bruised almost beyond recognition.
Those having friends or relatives killed
or wounded were admitted to the room
for the purpose of Identification, and
their cries of anguish as they recognized
among the dead or wounded some loved
relative, were heart-rending. Two little
girls who entered timidly, but with no
expression of anticipated grief on their
faces, were allowed to pass among the
wounded, and thence to the corner in
which the white covered dead. with their
CHASTITY faces exposed, had been placed.
They scanned the faces of the first three
carefully, but with no sign Of emotion,
but as they cast their eyes on the fourth,
they recoiled with scream Of horror. Ii
was that of their mother, whose head had
been crushed by brick. In the Young
man on the floor young woman recog.
nized her lover, and husband who came
to look for a daughter found the corpse
Of his wife.
THR FRIENDS OF THE INJURED.
About 10 o clock several sick patients
were sent to the Bellevue hospital, and
their beds were given to the wounded.
Then the doors were opened and those
who sought friends among the injured,
and who had stood more than an hour in
the crowd who were clamoring for admit.
lance, we're permitted to enter. Passing
with heads uncovered through the wards
OF the hospitals. they peered anxiously
into the faces of the sufferers.
Many went away expressing thanks that
their friends were not there. The faces
Of some grew bright as they found their
relatives we're but slightly injured. The
eyes Of others filled with tears as they
stood by the bedside Of sufferers who
were near and dear TO them.
Many Of the wounded we're taken 10
their homes by friends. Some were sent
to Bellevue Hospital, and at late hour
the rest, most Of whom were severely