Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-24
The Madison Square Garden Dis
aSter.
From the Tribune. |

At a quarter past nine O'Clock the interior
of the Garden presented brilliant scene
There was great thrOng walking up aud
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 attendance, who were gratifed by the
large number of customers among the visit
ors. The 9th Regiment Band-which has
occupied the balcony just above the entrance
ut the Madison square side since the opening
Of the fair-was enlivening the evening with
music. All of the attractions of the fair ex
cepting the Art Gallery were open and draw
ing their share of patronage. The Art Gal
lery had been closed few minutes before.
Five minutes later the people who were in
that part Of the Garden nearest Madison-ave,
had their attention attracted to noise pro-
ceeding from the direction of the balcony oc-
cupied 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 the
southwest corner of the Garden was q large
room used for restaurant. This was con-
Quoted by Mrs. DIR. Helmuth portion of
this apartment had been partitioned off with a
curtain to form dancing hall and was entered
by door situated near the centre of the bal
cony. North of this was q door leading into
the room which has been used as an art gal
lery since the opening of the fair. At first
the impression was received that there was no
occasion for alarm, and that nothing more Sc
rious had happened than the fall of some
plaster from the ceiling, and, indeed, this i'm
preston prevailed for some time after the IA
tai crash came. The noise rapidly grew
louder until it resembled succession of ex-
plosions. Immediately the scene became
one Of indescribable confusion. A white
cloud of dust rolled out through the doors of
the restaurant and dancing hall Then
through the enveloping 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-thSse who had
been in attendance and those who had been
sitting at the tables enjoying the refreshment.
before 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. shrieked and
fell fainting upon the floor The musicians.
who had stopped playing at the first signs of
peril. hastily gathered up their instruments
and fled 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 came, and volume of dust
rolled out through the building that partially
obscured the brilliant lights which iliuminat-
ed the interior. murmur of terror ran
through the crowd. BY this time every face
was turned toward the scene of the disaster.
Several began to speak of fire. but were in
stantly hushed. Women shrieked in differ
ent parts Of the house the gentlemen present
engaged themselves in trying to quiet their
fears. Here and there a man had presence of
mmd enough to call out that nothing was the
matter, and that all was over. Otherwise a
panic might have seized the people that would
nave resulted IN great loss of life. One of
the managers quickly sought the leader of
the band and had him call the musicians to-
gether, and soon they were playing in their
places on the balcony. The effect of the
music was instantaneous, and helped greatly
TO reassure the ladies who had been seized
with fright.
SEARcRIxG FOR THE IxJuAxp.
AZ soon - those who had escaped unhurt
coald speak they said they wcre sure that
others had not been able toEet ont before the
roof fsll. Among the last to cone through
the door were several who were cut ana
bruised on the head. and shoulders. Their
1rtends soon took them in charge and hurried
them sway from the building-in most cases
they refused to give their names. Several