The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-21
Seventy-Fiye Fell Twelve Feet by the Col.
lapse of Poorly Constructed Entrance
Way, and Eight We're Seriously Hurt.
Interesting Talk by Mrs. 0rmiston
Chant, Of England, on Sense in Dress.
Close of the Series Of Meetings-Monster S1a.
day Opening Demonstration Expected at
the Worlds Fair Grounds To- Day.
FELL TWELVE FEET.

Accident at the woman's World Congress-
Eight Injured by the Fall of a Floor.
CHICAGO. May 20.-The close of the great
congress of women was marred by an acci.
dent to-day. A section of the flooring.
twenty by thirty feet in extent, forming a
entrance to Washington Hall. in the Art In.
stitute. gave way and fell to the ground, q
distance Of twelve feet. Seventy five panic
stricken omen fell In q mass of struggling
humanity. and the cries Of thousands Of
women already assembled contributed TO the
excitement that followed. Cries of paia
end terror arose. and from the collapsed 500
tion Of the building came the most exagges-
ated reports of many persons killed or in.
jured. After scores of people had rushed
to the rescue and the nearly four-score OF
women had been extricated, it was found
that about eight persons had been serioue.
ly injured, but none fatally. The most seri'
ousiy injured are:
MRS. ADA JACK, Chicago left leg dislocated.
Mrs. A. G. BRIGGS, Argyle Park Ill, ankla
spraiDed.
MRs. 9. GREELr. Michigan avenue Chicago.
MISS MINERv1 GREELY, Michigan avsnus.
Chicago. bruised.
MRS EMIL PATTERSON, No. 577 Forty-thtr1
street, Chicago bruised.
Mrs. GEORGE Il. DENNETT, Rockford. Ill, an,
kle strained.
MRS W. TOWNSEND. Grand Rapids. Mich, bach
hurt.
MRS. A. G. NoRrHup, Auburn Park H., ankle
hurt.
Mrs J. r. LAINs. No $50 vincennes avenuA
Chicago, left side bruised.
The ceuse of the accident, apparently,
was the fact that. weakened by the cons
tinual passing of thousands. the supports
of the floor failed. Warning of the acci-
dan vva " n nj fUh n
was no crash; slowly the platform sank
until it's tlmbers wore mingled with shrek.
ing women on the solid foundations twelve
feet lower. n. ii. Carpenter. superintend.
ent Of the building; Secretary Young,
policemen and the available force Of
ushers and workmen were coon az
work rescuing victims from their pain.
full positions. Ladders were lowered. and
tricated. After ell danger had passed.
some who had successfully weathered the
panic tainted. and until the physician ar
rived the attendants wero equally divided
between the injured and the frightened.
Mrs. Jack. ono of the last to be extricated.
was almost unconscious with pain when
the rescuers reached her. She was carried
between two men TO the main tioof
Of tho hall and stretched out on
daughter Minerva were at the bottom of
the pile of suffering humanity. The mother
was UNCONSCIOUS and the daughter, though
badly shaken and somewhat bruised, was
frantic in her grief, believing that the
cident had resulted fatally. Most of the
women who fell were young or middle
aged and were able TO care for themselves.
For half an hour after the accident tho
Art Institute was an emergency hospital.
When confidence was restored. the hall be-
gan Co fill with women interested in the
proceedings. In one corner group OF In.
jured W attn G for conveyanees with which 20
reach homo scarcely attracted attention
g. $hA -
fore the last of those hurt had been re.
moved. The main entrance was. of course.
useless. and heavy cloth hung across the
| stairway leading to it, proclaimed that
| visitors TO the gallery stairs. and they
found their way 70 the main floor By the in
side stairway. No spatement Of she crowd
was noticeable. Before the break came
the ladies were impatientIy tapping on the
floor with their paraeols. This fact gave
| rise to the report that persistent stamping
| had caused the accident and that the
women were to blame for their predica-
ment. They were emphatic, however. in
their denial. Immediate steps were taken
| to have all the floors and supports ex.
| smined. and no repetition OF the disaster 10
feared By the officials Of the con aress.
Notwithstanding the accident the pro-
| grsmmo not only In the hall near which the
| floor gave way. but throughout the many
| other sections Of the con gress. were carried
| out as arranged the discussions ranging
| from dress to sociology. Perhaps the moss
| interesting speaker was Mrs. Ormiston
| appeal for sense in dress. She told of
| fashionable oolors which caused
death TO those who manufactured
| them. do not wear black" she said.
"and particularly, mothers. do not cast
gloom over your children by q black
| garb. Color exercises q vast influence over
| people. and animals. too." She claimed
that immortality of the shop girls and
| seamstresses was partly caused by the
| women who wanted TO buy dozen things
at bargain instead Of paying righteous
| price for one thing.
| When finally tho last section of the great
| congress had adjourned sine die. express
| sions of opinion were sought regarding the
| phenomenal gathering. Mrs. Ellen Hen.
| fotin was among those questioned. She
said with q laugh: What would You ex.
| pect the vice president Of this affair 20 say,
| but that it has been q great successf It 10
the greatest movements women ever maoe .
| toward Capitalization. IL has been sort
| ~k al -