New-York tribune., 1888-08-28
FATAL FALL OF a PLAT FORM.
A BOY CRUSHED TO DEATH MD MANY HURT

TOO MUCH ECONOMY AT A DEMOCRATIC BANNER
RA1sING-THE BUILDER ARRESTED
There was serious accident at u meeting of
the Hungarian-A American Democratic Association
at the junction OF East Houston and Norfolk sts.
last evening. The occasion of the meeting WIS
the raising OF Cleveland and Thurman banner.
To accommodate the speakers, committee and nu-
sicans a stand was erected in the middle of
little square in Houston-st, and the crowd that
was too heavy for its size, broke it down. After
the banner had been raised, the crowd clustered
around the speakers stand and Coroner Levy,
who presided, got up, raised his hand to silence
the cheers and had Just said Gentlemen when
the supports trembled for second and the struct-
ure fell
Coroner Levy fell on top of the table and es-
capped injury. Policeman Thomas Herman was
standing at the cast end OF the platform, leaning
against it and when he felt it giving away, he
braced against it and supported the weight with
his shoulder for second, which gave several pee
pie an opportunity to Jump TO the ground. When
kcrnan's strength gave out he fell into the street
and was buried In the ruins. His entire left side
was severely injured and the flesh torn from
his leg in several places. 1t is estimated that
sixty people were the stand and they fell in
heap and men boys and tmbers were all mixed
togctl er. There great excitement and several
women were knocked down and trgmpled upon
by the swaying crowd, and Mary Swebcrt had
her back severely strained and had to be carried
home By her friends.
WOMAN ROLLED ON THE GROUNb
Another woman was rolled over on the ground
under q truck and receiI ed spraned ankle.
The musicians eight in number, went down in
a solid body and their instruments were twisted
and bent so as to be useless. Coroner Levy was
the first man his feet, and he called on the
musicians to play and quell the excitement Tie
musicians locked at their instruments and then at
the coroner, and then repaired TO the rum-shop
10 quiet thcir feeling, with beer. SeN people
received slight injuries, and nearly every one Was
scratched. Among those seriously injured was
Alderman Philip B Benjamin. VINO was down 10
deliver a speech. His head and neck were badly
bruise'i, and his left leg was thought 10 be broken
at the ankle. lie was taken home in n carriage.
lgDatius Grant, OF No. 80 Norfolk-St had the
acsh torn from his left leg. Fritz Jocke, q boy,
Werthener, musician of No. 06 East Seventh,t.,
bad hi. right side injured. Jacob Runtt musician:
Of No. 43 Clinton-st, had his right leg cut aud
boot crushed. Abram Goldsmith, OF No. l63 At
torney-st, who was setting of fireworks received
o severe injury to his spine. Charles Shoncgro,
Of No 90 Chnrcs.st., was struck IN the lace with
q plank and his nose was crushed and eye partly
torn out. Abe kronz, boy llvins at no. 2s1
East Houston-st.. had n piece OF his car torn of
and was also injured in the body.
FINDING MS DEAD BODY.
After al the people had been taken out OF the
fallen structure the planls were raised to see II
there was any onc under it, The police had
about given up the work when white face was
seen in the electric light 1t was that of boy,
who was pinned down with carpenters horse.
lie was speedily released and found TO be
dad. HIS s,li.ll was crushed and spine broken.
lie was identified as licnry Grocnbaum, of No.
301 East Ilouston-st. lie was sitting under the
structure, with his head resting on the platform,
when il fell.
Charles Iandslnan built the platform for $50.
Tic WAS the lowest bidder. Coroner Levy or
dercd his arrest and Detective Bassett, Of the
Fourteenth Precinct. found him at lis home. lie
said ut the police sta iUnhouse that the platform
was substantially built, and that if there any
fault to be found with il the blame should be put
upon the coninittecc who reduced his price from
500 10 $50 Colonel Kellogg the president OF
the Executive Committee, who suspected the plat
form before the meeting, sent for Landsman and
told him that il tliG not appear 10 be SgcIg enough