New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-22
DETAILS oE THE DISASTER.

AHTTY NOT AT FIRsT UNDERSTOOD-PREYENr
ING PANIc-sEARcHrSG FOR THE INJURED.
At quarter past nine O'clock the interior Of the
Garden presented a brilliant scene. There was o
great throng walking up and down the avenue
formed by the rows of booths and stands of flowers
which stretched from the main entrance at Madison
ave. to the further end of the immense hall. Around
the different tables were clusters of people admir-
ing the articles offered for sale by the ladies in
| tendance who were gratifed by the large number
Of customers among the visitors. The 9th Regi-
ment Band-whi1h has occupied the balcony just
above the entrance ut the Madison-square side since
the opening Of the fair-was enliVening the even
ing with music. All of the attractions of the fair
excepting tho Art Gallery were open and drawing
their share of patronage. The Art Gallery had been
| closed few minutes before.
Five minutes later the people who were In that
part of the Garden nearest Madlson-ave. had their
attention attracted to noise proceeding from the
direction Of the balcony occupied by the musicians.
In the second story at this end of the building there
were three apartments occupied by the fair all three
entered from the balcony. At tho southwest corner
| of the Garden q largo room used for restau-
rant, This was conducted by Mrs. DR.. Helmuth. A
portion Of this apartment had been petitioned of
with curtain to form dancing hall, and was en-.
tered by door situated near the centre Of the bal
cony. North of this was o door leading into the
room which has been used art gallery since the
opening Of the fair At first the impression was TO
ceIved that there was no occasion for alarm, and
that nothing moro serious had happened
| than the fall Of some plaster from the
ceiling, and, indeed. this impression pre-
| vailed for some time after the fatal crash came.
The noise rapidly grew louder until it resembed O
succession of explosions. Immediately the scene
became one Of indescribRble confusion. A white
cloud of dust rolled out through the doors Of the
restaurant and dancing-hal Then through the en-
velOping dust came young men and women from
the middle door. They had been sitting about the
dance.hall or engaged in dancing Men and women
also rushed in terror from the restaurant-those
who had been In attendance and those who had been
sitting at the tables enjoying the refreshments be-
fore them. Many Of the young women tainted and
were carried down the stairs In the arms of the men
who accompanied them. Their faces, pale with
fright, were made CHASTITY by the lime dust which
| had covered them from head to foot. Many women
In the west part Of the Garden, who were not near
the immediate scene Of danger, ShTteked and fell
faintng upon the floor The musicians, who had
stopped playing at the first sign Of peril. hastily
| gathered up their instruments and fed down the
stairs leading down on either side.
| As yet no person outside the three rooms on the
| second floor had realized what had happened
within the rooms. Soon the final appalling crash
building that partially obscured the brilliant lights
which illuminated the interior. A murmur Of ter
| Tor ran through the crowd. BY this time every
face was turned toward the Of the disaster.
| Several began to speak of fire, but were
| instantly hushed. Women shrieked In DIFF
| erent parts of the house the gentlemen
present engaged themselves in trying
| to quiet their fears. Hero and there man had
| presence of mind enough to call out thai nothing
was the NATTER and that all was over Otherwise
| a panic might have seized the people that would
have resulted IN great loss Of life. One Of the man
ayers Quickly sought the leader of the band and
had him call the musicians together. and soon they
were playing in their places on the balcony, The
effect of the music was instantaneous, and helped
rrea,ly to reassure the ladies who had been seized
with fright
| SEARCHING FOR THE INJURED.
As soon as those who had escaped unhurt could
sneak they said they sure that others had not
been able to get out before the roof fell. Among
the last to como through the doors were several
who were cut and bruised on the head and should
ers Their friends soon took them In charge and
hurried them away from the building-in most
cases they refused to give their Names Several
policemen who were in the house at the
time went through the door leading into
the dancing hail aud raised huge piece
of the ceiling that had fallen upon the
floor inst inside. After some difficulty the mass
was raised, and young man named Leonard Dater i
who lives at No. Ii West FOrty-sixth-st" was
taken ont and carried down to the office below He
was conscious though In great pain aud said he was
sure that there were others yet under tho ruins.
Bv this time tho frcmen had arrived and were !
examining the ruins in search of any who might |
be under the great of timbers and plaster that
lay On the floor, Near the north side young man |
and woman were found. They had been sitting |
side by side at the time Of the accident. The young
man was apparently unhurt and per- |
sisted in carrying tho young woman down !
the stairs In his arms. She was
taken into n room under the tier Of seats on the
south side. Whom asked If she was badly lnrt, she
said that she had severe pain in her chest. There
was red mark on her cheek, where piece of the |
falling ceiling had cut the flesh, The young man's
name was s, J, Hyde, but he refused to give the
name of tho young lady, Within few moments
sbe was taken out Of the building at the Fourth
ave. entrance and driven home.
Mr. HYDE was too much excited to give any YER
sion of the disaster further than y say that almost
witbont warning they were overwhelmed and |
horne down into darkness. Leonard DateE the |
Arst person rescued was taken into tho office. Al
though he was able to sit upright bis left leg ap-
peared to be seriously injured, and II was feared
that Il was manged or broken. Il surgeon was I'M
mediately sent for aud the injured young man re- |
moved from the building. Among those who e. |
oaped with slight ipjuriea we're Albert Hilton and
Ernest Thompson, both young men,
After the extent Of the disaster became knowp |
through the building tho crowd inside |
began to disperse. Those who had triepds shoyt |
whose safety they were uncertain looked Apxiously
for them, and others moved out Of the building, "
was now generally known that large part Of the