New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-02
POLICE HEMMED IN BY THE CROWD.
INCIDENTS OF THE CRUSH At THE WASHINGTON
SQUARE gTAND

The scene at Washington Square all day was much
the the day OF tn" military parade. There
seemed 10 he more people. however. and the crowds
allowed TO occupy the street far beyond the curb
line. novelty presented itself In the use Of dry
r. obs boxes and barrels by the ranks OF spec
iaors for tho purpose OF clcvating Themselves above
their less fortunate colleagues The streets crossing
the square the Wavorley Place SIDE werc absolutely
barrcadrl With these mprovisrd stands which filed In
every little rrcvco between the nnumcrable trucks.
The crowds about the anglc were pac bcd IN manner
making impossible for to pierce the barrier.
The stand Itself crowded to It's utmost capacity,
and the park behind It contained thousands OF people
who had been unable to gain oven chance TO SECURE
q seat. The occupants OF the upper fer OF the stand
found II Impossible TO leave their seats in tho middle
OF the day and nIany OF them who had neglected to
provide themselves with luncheon wcrc supplied by
fskirs who threw life saving ropes to the furnishing
and attached baskets OF s0eleaiher sandwiches and
cans OF milk from the chalk clins Of England.
Pcidlcrs OF all kinds, such ~ flourish In midsummer
at COney Island In clover among the overflow.
for the guardians Of the public peace were Is unable to
get out through tho mass Of spectators as the I'M
fortunate outsiders unable to get inside the lines.
barrels and boxes, most OF them dIlapidated struct.
ures, which Offered every variety OF danger and
Of comfort, commanded 81 cents apiece. and
eagerly bought Tho 10000 seated spectators and the
10000 more who stood IN the Immediate nrighbOr.
hood OF the sqnarr wen quiet IN comparison with their
beTsy OF appaGse ~, the day Sei I Insy confined
mode Of expressing appreciation. but Ihdulgcd TO a
great in the fad OF hurting volcys Of fruit and
sand wichcs ct the marching hosts
A SHOWER or CUSHIONS At TIE RESERVOIR.
when the sun climbed over the tops OF tho houses
and looked down into Fifth ave. II saw tho grand
stand at tho reservoir covered with q laughing,
shouting, pushing and scrambiing multitude. each
person intent getting tho best seats. and, con.
scquently each person getting into somebody elsos
way. It was q surprisingly good-hrmored crowd,
however, and the people seemed to foel common
bond OF sympathy, for, TO q large extent, the
people occupied the stand yesterday who had viewed
tho military parade Of the day before from that
point. Fully many people crowded the stand as
D Tuesday.
For almost six hours the people sat and watched
tho over-changing panorama, breaking into now
EXPLANATIONS OF delight some now wonder como
IN sight, The minute the last float had passed the
crowd filled In tho avenue behind It; but whom tho
path In front 0! tho reservoir stand became thus
black with people, tho following crowd met with an
unex pee ted experience.
Tho occupants Of the stand had boon sitting on
cushions which enterprising merchants had sold TO
them, but now they had no further uso tor theml
and so, by common impulse, without thougnI oi
the they hurled the cushions down upon
the heads Of tho unsuspccttnR crowds beneath. ror
n few minutes the air full OF flying cushions, ana
then the consequences wero made apparent Battored
silk hats and ruined spring eonnets toeeher wtn me
agonEed oppression OF the uckess wearers, brought