The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-06-07
FATAL STUPIDITY
Twelve Persons Killed and Many In
jufed ~ Result OF Stupidity On
Daralleled.


Twelve Persons Killed and Many In
jufed ~ Result OF Stupidity On.
Paralleled.
Shortly after 4 o'clock last Wednesday
afternoon a panic occurred ct the most
dangerous point on the fo0tpath Of the
great bridge between Brooklyn and New
York, and fourteen persons, men, women
and children, were trampld to death in .
mad rush that VAS absolutely needless, or,
~ it is believed, was started by pickpockets.
The alarm was Ut once given in the proper
quarters. Ambulances were sent - speed
lily as possible, and reserves Of policemen
to the number of nearly 100 were eordered.
out from different station houses. Then
the dead and dying were so quickly taken
to the various station houses and
hospitals that before those who
were passing the Brooklyn entrance when
the disaster occurred, had reached the spot.
almost every evidence of it bad been re-
moved. Quickly % it occurred, however,
it cannot be quickly told. nor were al the
details to be learned quickly. One s9ter
one the dead were picked up and tenderly
carried away. The wounded 10 far as can
he asceriained were sixteen in number.
Besides these, there were dozens, probably
scores, Who either received injuries too
slight to require hospital attention, OF who
were carried away by their friends without
category were certainly considerable num-
Der Of Persons, for many were seen 70 be
taken away.
From the Sun Extra: There was a crash
ut the steps at the New York approach to
the BROOKLYN bridge this afternoon. A
panic followed, and at least fourteen per-
sons were killed and many wounded. The
crush began shortly before 4, and Ut that
boar there were thousands OF peePse on
Brooklyn. The air was clear aud brisk,
and people walking rapidly. As the crowd
approached the short flight of steps, those
iii front pushed back for fear they would
be precipitated over the steps distance OF
about six feet. These people, in drawing
back from the steps, made the nucleus Of
the jam. for thousands behind them pushed
on unheeding. Almost instantly people be-
gan to shout, "Stand back!" and ''Give US
foom!" 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
q clearing space at the head OF the steps.
The shouting and crowding from the Brook
lyn side increased. 1t was utteraly inexpli-
cable. People in the advance guard Of the
Brooklyn throng were pushed in spite OF
themselves towards the steps. They seemed
to have horror OF going over the steps. al
though the fight is only five or six feet
high. They locked arms and pushed furi-
ously back against the thous-
snds coming steadily over from
Brooklyn. In few minutes, at . point
just above the steps, there was slow yield
ing to the fright!u! pressure from behind,
and the front of the crowd was forced nearer
and nearer to the edge of the steps. Wom-
aud men children were shouting confusedly.
Umbrellas, parcels and canes were thrown
over the rails ut the side by people who need
ed their hands to fight their way
OUT OF THE DESPERATE CROWD.
At last with single shrek cutting through
the clamor Of thousands came the voice Of
young girl who lost her footing on the per-
struck tbe pathway at the foot of The
steps. She raised herself 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 IN hour
afterward. The men spreng up the
rails at the sides, and waved the crowd lack
to crowd on toward the steps. No police
we're in sight. Every minute the excite
ment grew worse. Men in the crowd lifted
children above their heads to ave them
from the crush. People were still paying
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 po-
lice station at Oak street. but before any
outside help came the bridge police, assisted
by citizens, pressed two grocery wagons
into the ambulance service. They were
loaded with d ad and dying and driven off
the bridge, followed by crowds of dis
tracted men and women. As the wagons
came out into the street they were obliged to
stop t. allow brilliant, uniformed band,
playing gay music to pass up chatham
street. Twelve dead bodies had been laid
in the basement of the Chambers street hos
pital at o'clock.