The Portland daily press., 1883-10-22
A CRASH AT HARVARD,
Suddea Stop of the College Fa
Races.
The Balcony of the Boat House Gives
Way-Thirty Men Precipitated into
the Water and Several Injured.


tsrrible calamity occurred at the Harvard
were ready to start for the scratch races the
balcony of the boat house gave way, precipitat-
ing over thirty men into the mud and water
below. Eight men were injured more or less
seriously, and twenty-five others are drying
their clothes and bathing their bruises and
sprains
The balcony is on level with the second
floor of the building, is about fifteen feet above
the piazza extension of the first floor, and ex-
tends the whole length of the boat house.
From the piazza three long bridges extend to
the large float in the river. The tide was about
half flood at the time of the accident, and the
distance from the piazza to the water at the
river bank was about ten feet. The four up
per class scratch crews had just got into line
near the lower bridge, and A. T. French, '85,
the judge at the finish was at his position in
dory up stream towards the Brighton bridge.
Very few students were on the lower piazza o.
the boat house. The majority of the specta-
tors we're on the balcony above. There were
about sevonty-fve students here, and some
twenty-five others had climbed to the roof to
get better view of the course. All was ex-
pectancy and good cheer. The upper class
men were expected to make an exciting race,
and the freshmen, of whom five eights were to
row later, were looked to for untold amounts
OF sport. The eyes of all the spectators were
turned eagerly to the place of starting. Sud-
denly the middle post supporting the balco.
ny gave way, the plank flooring broke in the
middle, and thirty men or more were precpi-
lately dropped into the mud and water of the
Charles. An indescribable scene of confusion
followed. Those who were left on the ends of
the balcony and those who had climbed to the
roof piled down on the piazza and the bridges,
into the mua even, to rescue their friends.
The crews down the river did not wait for
any word to start now. but literally pulled for
life up to the floats The strong arms and rea-
dy hands of the crews were soon hard at work
with the Others Captain Perkins of the Var
Slty crew took the direction of aft airs, and
coolly got all the work possible out of his will
ling lieutenants. Half dozen men were pull
cd helpless from the pile of planks AID a doz-
en- others dragged themselves, teIror-stricken
from the mud. The most seriously injured
were laid on the boat house floor and brandy
and water brought for their relief. Physicians
and carriages were Immediately summoned,
and the house was cleared of all who were not
at work caring for the injured. Drs. Farnham
Ella and Vaughn soon arrived and did all that
could be done to help matters.
Eight men, it appeared, were seriously in
Jured and dozen others were bruised and
scratched more or less. Thorough wettings
lost umbrellas and spoiled hats were thought
nothing of.
THE INJURED.
G. T. Hardwick, S4, of Quincy, Mass, had
the wind knocked out of him, probably being
struck by falling post. He bled slightly from
the throat, but his lungs were thought to be all
right. He was able to walk, bat was assisted
to a carriage.
J. A. White, 'S4, of Williamspors, Pa, was
hit by post in the small of his back little to
hn Ho rod s1xr l,..4 c..
pain. BE may be injured slightly internally.
IL. h. Curtis, '85, of Boston, was also hit in
the back and badly lamed; but he talked
cheerfully and did not think his injury at all
serious.
G.. S. Hamlin, 'S3, Of Boston, grandson Of
Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, was hit in the head
and nose and knocked senseless. He came to
ri .nself in short time, bat still was rather
dazed.
G. A. Stewart, 'S4 of South Boston, had his
knee spraiued and got rap in the forehead.
Otherwise he was considered all right, except
that he felt rather faint
Il. 8. Mead, 'S7, was probably hurt the worst
OF all His head was badly bruised over the
right eye, and his knee was iammed. The ex-
tent OF bis injuries cannot yet be folly deter
mined. DR.. Ella attended him.
E. III. Allen, 87 of Cambridge, Mass, had
his arm broken, and was badly used up gener-
ally. But Dr. Vaughn, who gave him his sole
attention, thinks that his ribs are all right.
Alien pore up manIully unQer his Suff6rln gS.
DIR Vaughn went home with him.
A. I'll. Drake, '87, was jammed in the back
and slightly bruised in the forehead, but his
injuries are believed not to be serious
L. 2. Frost, sophomore, was injured about
the head.
Ali the injured were at once taken to their
rooms in carriages. The doctors went away
with the worst cases, and all are sure to receive
the best attention.
large crowd of townspeople were attracted
to the scene by the noise and confusion. The
for the race were complete, but of
course the excitement of the hour put all
thought of rowing it out of the question. 1t is
not known when the races will come off, or
whether they will be rowed at all. There had
been entries enough by upper-class men to
make four eights.
The corporation which now owns the boat
house is blamed by many for not having re-
paired the supports of the building, and it
was alleged that the attention of the college
authorities had been called to the very spile
that gave way and caused the accident.
LATER.
A later investigation of the accident reveals
the fact that Hardwick is the most seriously
injured HamIin and Allen sustained severe
injuries, while the injuries of the others are not
nearly SO dangerous