West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-05-09
FATAL PANIC IN CHICAGO.
Frightful Disaster at an Elk.
hibition of Fireworks.
Many Persons Fatally Injured or
Badly Wounded.

A terrible calamity attended the Centen.
NAL celebration in Chicago in connection
with tho pyrotechnio display on the lake
front.
One Of the three exhibitions OF fireworks
arranged by the Centennial managers was
given in tho Lake Front Park. large.
nat mclosure in central part OF the
city. Fully 100000 people were as
Sembled in the park and on adioin-
INC streets While the exhibition was I'm
progress all passed of safely aud the thou.
sands were scattering when tho disaster oc,
CURED. A piece OF fireworks I'm the form of
a flower-pot had not been discharged, though
lighted, and Daniel Grant, thirteen years old,
picked it up when the display was over.
While handling the picce IL exploded and
scattered its deadly fiamo aud fire
in all directions. The crowd at
once became panic-stricken, and n horse
which had been allowed in the crowd dashed
headlong into the helpless screaming mass of
humanity. Before the animal could be
stopped he had trampled over scores OF peo-
pie and fatallyfipJured many.
lt was n S.a ending TO an otherwise
glorious and enjoyable celebration of the
nations centelni9 anniversary. The
the extent of injuries, will never
be known, as moA them who had reia-
tives or friends on the scene were immedi-
ately removed TO neighboring houses Per-
sons who were in tho panic. however and
escaped uniniurcd estimate the number OF
badly injured ~ fully fifty.
To and fro the crowd swept until the last OF
the fireworks had exploded Then n rush
was made for the side streets and for home
This only intensified Che crush. The streets
are narrow, ana in the thickest OF the
hight the weak were knocked down and
tramp led under foot by the strong The
poli6s in their desperation fired their
revolvers in the air, hoping 60 check tho rush
but they were laughed at and hooted. Until
the mob had scattered no assistance could be
rendered 20 any of the injured ns they lay on
the ground.
Many Of the erS preferred struggle
with ne animals 9 ne with human beings,
and m people. ho eS aud vehicles were
wedl,~d tightly togetA :. Several OF the panic
stricken horses rushed through the crowd
and left n trail OF injured behind. The ami
mails were stopped i'm their fatal rush with
great difficulty, and every carriage was
smashed and It's occupants thrown out
When all was over aud the struggling mass
Of humanity had scattered i'm ali directions
the scene on Michigan avenue presented n
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. Tho neigh
boring houses were turned into temporary
hospitals.
Daniel Grant, the bog az whose feet the
flower pot fireworks exploded had tho flesh
stripped from the bone ON both insteps Tho
fire burned of both shoes and reduced his
clothing 10 shreds
a large number OF persons, some fatally
md others seriously injured. were taken
home by friends before their names could bo
ascertained
The victims were hurredly gathered up
and carried TO their homes and the hospitals
No time was consumed i'm asking names or
keeping records IL is impossible 10 give the
number % persons hurt In the jam. Ono esti.
mate places it not less than thousand who
sustained injuries of some sort.