Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1883-06-09

From the New York Sun Extra, May 3oth.
There WAS a crush at the steps at the
New York approach TO the Brooklyn
bridge this afternoon. \ panic follow
ed and at least fourteen persons were
killed and many wounded. The crush
began shortly before 4, and at that hour
there were thousands of people on the
bridge, most Of them coming from
Brooklyn. The air was clear and brisk
and people walkink rapidly. AS the
crowd approached the short flight Of
steps, those in front pushed back for
fear they would be precipitated over the
| steps a distance Of about six feet. These
people, in drawing back from the steps,
made the nucleus of the jam, for thou
! sands hahind them pushed on unheed-
ing. Almost instantly people began to
shout, Stand back !" and Give us
roomw Meanwhile the crowd from
New York, which was at the foot Of the
stairs. got blocked Men at the head of
the New York crowd fought their way
back, leaving clearing space at the foot
Of the steps. The shouting and crowd
ing from the Brook iyn side increased
1t was utterly incxplicable. People in
the advance guard Of the Brooklyn
throng were pushed in spite Of them
selves towards the steps. They seemed
TO have horror of going over the steps.
IL, h, N;r,L ,, al
feet high. They locked arms and push
cd fcriously back against the thousands
coming steadily over from Brooklyn.
In few minutes, at a point just above
the steps, there was slow yielding to
the frightful pressure from behind, and
the front Of the crowd was forced nearer
and nearer to the edge Of the steps
Women and children were screaming
for help, and men were shouting con-
fusedly. Umbrellas, parcels and canes
were thrown over the rails at the side
bv people who needed their hands to
fight their way out Of the desperate
crowd At last with a single shrek cut
ting through the clamor Of thousands
came the voice of q young girl who lost
her footing on the pcrilous edge, and
fell headlong. She struck the pathway
at the foot Of the steps. She raised her
self on her hands, and, would have got
up, but in another moment she was
buried four deep under the bodies Of
others who fell over the steps after her.
She was dead when they got her out,
more than half hour afterward. The
men spang up the rails at the sides, but
the people continued to crowd on to-
ward the steps. No police were in sight
Every minute the excitement grew
worse. Men in the crowd lifted chill
dren above their heads to save them
from the crush. People were still pay
ing their pennies at both gates and
swarming on. At last people at the
New York end of the bridge understood
what was happening, the gates were
closed, and word was sent to Brooklyn
to close the gate there. Messengers were
sent to the police station at Oak street,
but before any outside help came the
bridge police, assisted by citizens, press
ed two grocery wagons into the am
bulance service. They were loaded
with dead and dying and driven of the
bridge, followed by crowds Of distracted
men and wamen. As the wagons came
ont into the street they were obliged to
stop to allow brilliant, uniformed
band. playing gay music to pass up
Chatham street. Twelve dead bodies
had been laid in the basement Of. he
Chambers street hospital 1T 8 o'clock