Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-23
TERRIBLE DISASTER.

a4H 4sU VI afE
ALI sfRoof and Wall 81 . Publsc Garden
-Threc Persons Killed aud Fourteen
Wounded.
New York, April 2l-An alarm went
through the city shortly before 10 o'clock
tonight that the roof of Madison Square
Garden had fallen and several persons had
been killed or injured by the accident. It
soon learned that the entire wall 'front.'
ing on Madison avenue, which ls the front
part Of the garden, had fallen outward,
crushing several persons on the sidewalk.
Part Of the roof had also fallen in, buryinR
number Of persons. The garden was
crowded tonight with visitors to the fair.
for the benefit Of Hebermann hospital. The
fair had already been in progress several
days and the building was filled with costly
works of art and with articles of various
sorts donated for sale.
The front part of the garden where the
accident occurred had been greatly changed
in appearance On account Of the fair. A
space Of more than fifty feet in width had
been partitioned off and by means ofa false
floor been made into two stories, the lower
being used for the Offices, reception hall
and restaurant and the upper story for a
dancing hall and art gallery. The cause of
accident is supposed to be 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 at an
early hour. Suddenly it was noticed that
the floor Of the art gallery was cracking
and Albert Mckay, manager of the fair,
was summoned to the place. He mounted
the stairs leading to the art gallery and
noticed that the room was filled with ladies
and gentlemen. Detective lilly, who had
been employed to watch valuable pictures
in the room, informed him the walls were
sinking and that there was danger of the
floors giving way. Mckay sent a man TO
turn off the gas in that part Of the building
and called out to the persons near him to
leave the gallery as quickly as possible.
His manner Of speaking caused most of the
persons in the room to step out on . broad
landing which overlooks the main part of
the garden. The dancing hall on the same
floor was still full of people and before they
could be warned of the approaching danger,
a succession of loud reports were heard and
the front wall suddenly fell out into the
street. A large part of the roof which had
been supported by the wallimmediately fell
in upon the heads Of the frightened dancers
burying many out of slght. Screams and
groans were heard on every side and a
panic followed.
A moment after the accident the floor of
the dancing room settled and there was q
down stairs to many parts of the garden
Those who were out of danger when the
roof fell rushed forward to the front of the
building andssecurely impeded those who
were trying to escape outside the building.
The widest excitement prevailed. A
large police force soon cleared the street in
front Of the garden and alarms of IRE we're
sent out, bringing several companies of
6remen to assist in the work Of rescuing
the wounded.
Calls were sent to the New York hospi-
tai and a number of umbulsnces, in charge
of a surgeon, were promptly on hand.
Almost the first person taken from the
ruins was Mrs. VIM. A. Ogden Highlamer,
wife Of q prominent lawyer, and a lady
we'll known In New York society. Another
woman whose name could not be learned,
and two or three men, whose names could
not be ascertained, were carried out dead.
VIM. b. Tileston, No. II East Thirty
eight street, was dragged from underneath
part of the roof, having both legs and arms
broken. His injuries are. believed to be
fatal.
James Smith of Flushing, Long Island.
was also found suffering from several
bruises. Two or three men and several
women were injured seriously and were
taken away by friends.
At midnight the fremen we're still at
work on the ruins.
1t Is believed that all the wounded have
been removed, but 1t is feared sou more
lifeless bodies are still beneath the debris.
The loss BY the accident apart from the
loss of life is very great. The art gallery,
which was reduced to a mass of ruins, con-
tanned q large number of paintings, many of
them ofgreat value. The loss on the build
ing is estimated at from S25 900 to $40, 900.
The building is owned by VIM. 81. Wander
bilt and was insured against fire.
AT q late hour it was learned that the
woman found dead in the ruins was Mrs.
Anna Willett of NJ. SO East Thirty-Grst
street. Among the seriously injured is Miss
josie Streeter of No. z West Thirty-second
street.
THE KILLED.
Mrs. Hegerman of No. 9 West Forty-frst
street.
MleS IL. II. Wlllett, An unmarried lady OF
No. 36 East Twenty-6rt street.
Marie, aged about 26, a nurse maid 10
Mrs. H%egerman.
INJURED.
Cos, bruised about the body.
Leoney Dater, No. IA West Forty-sixth
street. right leg fractured.
E. Steel, % Waverly Place, left hand
and suffered slight confusion.
H. Herrick, Forty-fourth street, arm bro
ken.
Albert Hilton suffered . slight bruise.
8. j. Hyde, injured slightly.
A. Montgomery, slight injuries.
Ann Serville, Twenty-second street, slight
Silverman light, badly injured.
Miss Josie Streeter, 81 West Twenty.sec-
ond street, evere internal injuries.
J. w. Swan. slightly injured.
Ennis Brownson, 80 Madison avenue,
bruised about the head.
VIM. Tittsom, IL East Thirty.eighth
street, compound fractures Of both leRs, q
of the left arm and lacerated
wounds OF the head.
Walter Webb, IA West Twenty-eighth
street. seriously injured; had several scalp
wornIo lofk Ia l.n1.~> - ri -