Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-10-13
SCORES MANNED.
n Crowded Floor Gives yyay-Tha
Cries OF Many Wounded Break III
Upon a Solemn Ceremonial.


Cries OF Many Wounded Break III
Upon a Solemn Ceremonial.
archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia, hal just
finished his sacred duty in the services of the
cornerstone laying OF the Polish Catholic
Church, in Reading, Sunday afternoon,
when, while Father Liebeeczki was making
the closing address, the flooring gave way
with tremendous crash and noise. About
two hundred men women and children were
hurled into the basement, fifteen feet below
item. The noise of the crash was heard two
squares away A portion of the brick walt
and the blanks and timbers of the wrecked
flooring fell among the struggling and
screaming people. Women with children in
their arms, the members Of two brass bands.
the members OF several Catholic societies anil
many ciizens, including leading members OF
the new church went down with the victims.
Archbishop Ryan and four assistant priests
stood lust beyond the line OF the wreck, and
could easily look down among the unfortu-
mates who were struggling, not only to be
free from the wreck, but to get OF the bodies
of those who were under their feet. 1t was
an awful spectacle, but tile priests were
equal to the emergency, and they at once
undertook the direction of taking ont the
wounded and the dying. Congregated Ill
and about the church were about fifteen
hundred people who promptly assisted
A general alarm was struck and ambu-
lances aud patrol wagons promptly responded:
These were rapidly filled with the injured
and taken home Private conveyances were
fitted up as amDulances and pressed into the
service. Thirty doctors ere speedily sum-
moned Private residences in the vicinity
,,f1 hncT,foC
every direction the streets were filled with
slightly injured men and women limpinS
away, leaning on the shoulders OF friends:
About Que hundred people slightly injured
helped themselves out of the wreck and were
taken home without giving their names to
The thirty policemen on duty ut the time and
during the parade prior to the ceremony.
The Mayor Of the city, James r. Kenney,
went down in the wreck, but was not serious
w hurt He describes the scene as terrible
il the extreme.
Among the first taken out were two ba oles.,
crushed. and one had il tongue bitten OF.
Three women had their backs broken. There
were many with arms or legs broken, and as
many more internally injured. All were
carefullylifted out of the bas ment and taken
home. Many were two weak to give their
names.
Then came anxious parents and friends
seeking for missing people, ana Ii,e inost iu-
tense excitement followed. Tho list OF those
very severely hurt runs up to ninety two;
A careful examination of the wrecked
floors shows that the trnbers did not over
lap the girders, but were simply mortised in
OH each side about half inch. This was IN.
sufficient for the heavy weight, and it was
bound to collapse. This city is without o
building inspector, and the opinion prevails
that not sufficient precaution was taken to
have the floor strong enough for the crowd.
AT least half dozen of the injured are not
expected to recover. 1t required four hours
10 get the wounded to their homes,
The new Persian minister is described as n
slender little man, short. dark brown and
almost black as to complexion. His black
beard is lightly touched with gray, BUTTS rs
hair is black. His eyes are soft and alino t
pleading in their expression; while his man
ners are gentle, almost insinuatin3, In their
suavity. His costume was froc coat mn
trowsers of black cloth, nearly edged as to
the seams with fine rcd cord, in the FASH u
which is so prevalent among district mes.
seneers. The long coat WAS much drawn IN
at the waist, and had cute little red-edged
pockets, one over each hip. -,