The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-15
FATAL PANIC IN CHICAGO.
Frightful Disaster at an E2'
hibiti0n Of Fireworks.
Many Persons Fatally Injured or
Badly Wounded.

> A terrible calamity attended the Centen-
nial celebration in Chicago in connection
with the pyrotechnic display on the lake
front.
; One of the three exhibitions of fireworks
arranged by the Centennial managers was
given in the Lake Front Park, a large,
fat incloSure i'll central part OF the
city. Fully 1G0000 people were as
sembled in the park and OH adJoln-
ing streets. While the exhibition was in
progress all passed off safely and the thou
sands were scattering when the disaster oc.
a fower-pot had not been discharged though
lighted, and Daniel Grant, thirteen years old,
picked it up when the display was over:
While handling the piece it exploded and
scattered its deadly fame and, hre
in all directions. The crowd at
once became panic-strichen, and a horse
which had been allowed in the crowd dashed
headlong TO the helpless, screaming s, mass fd OF
humanity. Before the animal corId be
stopped he had tt:-,ccinpled over scores of peo-
pie and fatally injured many.
It was sad ending to an otherwise
glorious and enjoyable celebration Of the
nations centennial anniversary. The
names Of many who were injured, or
the extent of their injuries. will never
tives or friends on the scene were lrnrledl-
ately removed to neighboring houses. Per,
sons who were in the panic, however, and
escaped uniniured, estimate the numbeT Oh
badly injured at fully fifty.
Toand fro tic crowd swept Until the last Of
the fireworks had exploded. Then q rush
was made Co. the side streets and Tor nome.
This only intensified the crush. The streets
are marrow, and in the thickest Of the
FIGHT the weak were knocked down and
trampled under foot by the strong. The
police in thei- desperation fired their
reyolvers in the air. hoping 60 check the rush.
but they were laughed at a:cG hocted. Until
the mob had scattered no assistance could De
rendered to any Of the injured as they lay Gil
the ground.
Many of the crowd preferred struggle
with the animals to one with human eelngs,
and soon people. horses and vehicles were
wedeed tightly together. Several of the panic
stricken horses rushed through the crowd
and left a trail of injured behind. The ami
mails were stopped in their fatal rush with
great difficulty, and every carriage was
smashed and its occupants thrown out.
When all was over and the struggling mass
of humanity had scattered In all directions
the scene on Michigan avenue presented
horrible sight The roadway on the corner
of Michigan avenue and Harrison street was
covered with human beings, lying helpless
and groaning from their injuries. The neigh
boring houses were turned into temporary
hospitals.
Daniel Grant, the boy at whose feet the
fower-pot fireworks exploded, had the flesh
stripped from the bone on both insteps. The
fire burned off both shoes and reduced his
clothing to shredS.
A large number of persons, some fatally
end others seriously injured, were taken
home by friends before their names could be
ascertained.
The victims were hurriedly gathered up
and carried to their homes and the hospitals.
No time was consumed ir asking names or
keeping records. 1t is impossible to give the
number of persons hurt in the jam. One estl-
mate places it not less than thousand who
sustained injuries of some SORT.