Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-08-04
AWFUL CATASTROPHE
Interrupts Festivities of a
Boat Club.
FOUR PEOPLE MEET DEATH
And Score Receive Serious Injuries
by the Falling Of a Balcony.

CHELSEA. Mass, Aug Alike the grim
pTecter at the banquet board, death how
cred over the scene of Joy and merriment.
In moment it transformed the appear
anoe of the scene completely. Where
few seconds before life and .sociability
had reigned. death and pain were now
rampant.
The occasion which had drawn the party
together was the illumination OF the Chel-
sea Yacht clubs house and band concert
an annual event, Of which this was the
second.
Elaborate preparations had been made
for the event. Gay Chinese lanterns were
strung over the building upon all sides;
the boats Of the members, lantern be-
decked, darted hither and thither upon
the dark surface Of the water, giving the
effect Of carnival scene In Venice at
night.
In the clubhouse supper had been
spread-a banquet to which the guests
were bidden, but Of which they would
never partake.
II is estimated that at o'clock nearly
800 were in and about the clubhouse. At
thnt hour the band concert was to start.
Upon the outer end of the club house,
CverhanGipg tho Water.
there were two piazzas, one opening from
each Of the floors Upon the upper one
Worms Mi AIRY AID of Chelsea was
stationed
The presence Of the band, together with
the fact that the better view OF the water
and the decorated craft was to be had from
IL, made the upper piazza the gathering
place for most of the spectators.
At y O'Clock nearly 200 people were
seated upon this veranda. Happily, the
lower balcony was deserted, those few
who could not get upon the favored spot
rem lining inside the house.
The band had finished the first piece,
Boat Club March, and was resting, pre-
paratory to another selection; those on the
balcony were engaged In conversation;
upon the bridge, overlooking the scene,
WIS a large crowd of spectators who were
unable to gain admission to the house
Then Came the Crash.
Those on the veranda suddenly became
aware of sinking sensation, and those in
side tie windows OWNED the danger at the
same moment There was splintering,
crashing sound, and Immediately pande-
| mouium reigned.
The screams of frightened women and
the hoarse cries of falling men, the shrieks
OF pain and the groans of the dying filled
the cir Spectators on land aud In the
house added their cries, the whole making
an impression upon witness not soon to
be forgotten
The center of the platform had caved in
1t was the effect OF "A gigantic tobog9an
slide. From both sides the people slid
down, powerless TO stop themselves under
the rail and through space to the float, IS
feet below.
Some few saved themselves by clnging
to the rail or grasping the helping hands
that were thrust through the windows.
The presence of the float below the bal
comics, while responsible for many broken
bones, undoubtedly saved many from
death by drowning.
The accident was Immediately fol-
lowed by
The Work of Rescue.
Commodore Clayton, with the flagboat
and dozen other boats, gathered about
the float at once; the house committee and
M mbers lent aid In bringing the wounded
from the raft
Several people ran across the street to
the naval hospital, and four physicians
were sent TO the house. At the same time
tilted OF the disaster.
The excitement which the accident oc-
casioDod was great A large number of
people had been scattered along Broadway
listening to the concert. and the streets Of
the city were well filed.
The news spread with incredible rapid
ity. Curious spectators focked to the
place and rubbed elbows with anxious
Fri" nds and relatives of those within the
clubhouse.
The Whole City Mourned
with the stricken families. Half an hour
after the accident IL was almost impossible
to gain access to the house. An immense
crowd filled the sidewalks, lined the bridge
on either side. and blocked the path of the
electric cars. Everybody that was lifted
into the Ambulance was an xiously scanned.
and the name of the wounded person
passed from lip 20 lip throughout the
crowd.
Ii is impossible TO give too much credit
TO those who aided In the work OF rescue.
One hour after the accident every killed
or wounded person had been removed, and
at IL o'clock the only indication of the
frightful accident was the grave faces of
the few remaining club member and the
wreokage Of the balcony outside.
Following is the list Of the
Killed and Injured
Killed - Mrs. Augustus T.. Schuman,
John r. Warren, John Pemberton, Mrs
Warren Putnam.
Injured-Mss Susie Grimes. injuries at
the base Of the brain, probably fatal; Miss
Josie Davis, depression OF frontal, prob
able fracture at base OF skull, arm dislo-
Gated and badly lacerated, probably fatal;
I..ls Il
ture Of arm aud elbow; Ms Barnes, lac
Grated about face; Mrs. Thomas Lynde,
injured inte naiy; Mrs. Mortimer, bruises;
Charles foye, bruised; Mis-, Newman,
bruises; Mis- Mary Mccarthy, bruises;
Miss Van Zorst, bruises; Reeves Van
Eor-t, bruises; Miss Annie Farley, bruises;
Miss Sedie Davis internal injuries; Jere-
miah Mccarthy, bi uises.
fiaicony Was Weak.