Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-04-23
APPALLING loss OF LIFE - MANI OF THE
WOUNDED DYING-SrRANGE AND AFFECT
ING INCIDENTS
FROM NEW YORK.

PORTION OF MADISON GARDEN BUILDING
FAILs-MANY PEOPLE INJURED.
New YORK, April, 21.-At Madison
Square Garden tonight the Western or Madi-
son ave. end of the building fell in. the
police, firemen and ambulance corps are at
work removing the debris, and taking out
the injured A fair in aid of Hahnemann
hospital was in progress at the time. A
large number of people have been carried out
of the building and the neighborhood is
thronged with excited people.
SECOND DIsPATCH-oNE DEAD BODY TAKEN
FROM The RUNS
There were about 500 people in the build
ing Half the front on Madison avenue
gave away. the walls falling outwards. Part
of the roof adjoining also fell in with crash
and caused intense alarm inside the build
ing. This portion of the building was used
as dancing hall and picture gallery of the
fair 1t is not vet known how many per-
sons are killed. One lady has been taken
out dead and one wounded. Several hack
drivers were injured. A large detachment
of the fire department and police were
promptly on the spot and rendered every
possible assistance.
THIRD DEsPATCH-rHREE PERSONS KILLED.
Three killed have already been found and
seven wounded. The part Of the building
which fell was mainly occupied as the art
gallery. The pictures were loaned and were
insured for $3.50, 900 against fire alone, and
have been so much injured as to be almost
worthless. In the front part of the garden
where the accident occurred space more
than fifty feet wide had been partitioned off
and made into two stories, the lower being
used for an office, reception hall and res
taurant, the upper story for a dancing hall and
art gallery. The cause of the accident is
supposed to have been the pressure of the
floor of the dancing hall and art gallery upon
the wall which supported it. Both these
rooms were filled with people, and sudden
" it was noticed the floor of the art gallery
was cracking. The manager of the Fair
was summoned. He sent man TO turn off
the gas in that part of the building and call
ed out 10 persons near him TO leave
the art gallery as quickly as pos
sible. Most of the persons
in the room stepped ont on the broad landing
which overlooks the main part of the gar
den. The dancing hall was still full of peo-
pie and before they could he warned of the
approaching danger succession of loud re-
ports were heard they all went through the
building and the front walls suddenly fell
out into the street, and large part of the
room Immediately caved in upon the fright
ened dancers, burying many out of sight.
Screams and groans were heard on every
side and panic among those not injured
followed A moment after the accident the
floor of the dancing room settled and there
was general stampede out upon the land
ing and down the staircase to the main part
of the garden. Those out at dinner when
the roof tel in rushed forward towards the
front of the building and seriously impeded
those trying to escape. Outside OF the
building the widest excitement prevailed
and the streets were filed with
excited people. Several persons was
rescued from the ruins in fainting
condition and carried to Eeighhoring houses
before the police could learn the extent of
their injuries. The dead comprise woman
and two men-names unknown. AT mid
night the firemen are still at work at the
runs. 1t is believed all the wounded have
been removed, but it is feared more bodies
may lie beneath the debris The art gallery
with its valuable contents is mass of ruins.
The loss on the building is S25, 900 TO S40,-
900. The building was owned by W. II.
Vanderbilt