The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1893-05-06
CRUSHED IN THE CROWD
ALMOST A PANIC AT THE
WORLDS FAIR.
Many Women and Children Are
Overcome During the Pro-
ceedlngs Attending the
Opening Of the Elk
hlbitlon.
A Few People Preaen+.

Chicago, May 2.-No sooner had the
opening ceremonies at the fair yesterday
commenced than the bad police arrange
ments were shown in an unfortunate
manner for many people. A handful of
Columbian guards had been detailed for
duty to keep the inside border of the
mass of humanity from %encroaching on
the press seats which were arranged be-
low the grand stand on either side. Not
even a rOpe was strung along the line of
the grand stand to keep q ~passageway
clear for the newspaper men and am
bulance corps. The pushing n crowding
at the northeast end of the administration
building soon became so sever that many
women tainted, while others became 80
sick that they had to be lifted bodily
over the railing into the press seats until
the arrival of the Red Cross corps with
the wheel chairs.
While the poem was being. read it
looked as though a panic with fatal
~nsequence could not be averted. The
|. guards were almost powerless. Women
tainted by weakness, and others were
getting in q fainting condition and had
to be lifted over the heads of the crowd
by guards and newspaper men into the
press seats and grand stand reserved for
distinguished guests. City police mingled
with the guards and ~endeavored to quiet
the excited, swaying mass within BOUNDS
of personal safety. The crowd in attend
ance was %variously estimated Mt loO,OoV
to 175,OOO. Before the ceremonies were
half over twenty women and halt as
many men had been removed UNCONSCIOUS
to the hospital. Here a corps OF pnysl-
clans were in waiting. Most OF the heip-
less ones had simply tainted, but a num-
Der were suffering from Internal injuries
received in the JAM. and it was feared
that a fatal termination might ensue.
President Higinbotham realized tne
gravity of the situation, and while the or
chestra was playing he arose IRON ms
seat. advanced to the edge OF the plat
form and raised his hands above his head
in a mute appeal to the tnou-
sands. He cried out at the top Of his
voice. "For Gods sake keep cool. DUE
his words were not heard far. His ap-
neal had q Statutory effect, however, as
the center and rear portions OF the
wedeed in mass refrained from pushing
towards the frail barriers. Yet the nos
pital chairs continued to be forced through
the almost blocked passage to carry OUT
sick women and children.
Others drawer and stronger fougnt
against the physical strain. and were apie
to hold their ground with the aid OF I'D
eral doses of brandy supplied by the hed
Cross corps. For several mlnutes IL
looked as though a terrible catastrophe
could not be averted. The multitude con-
tinued to sway to and fro, and the air
was filed with the shrieks of the Women
the hoarse shouts of the men, The cries
of little children, of whom there were
MANY hundreds if not thousands, and
the warning yells of the occupants OF
the grand stand. With the View OF
facilitating the disposal of the throng
President Higinbotham escorted MI.
Cleveland and the ducal party from the
platform with all possible haste, but TINS
did not suit the temper OF the Spectators,
and they yelled Come back, we want
to see more of the president" Flnaly
by breaking into the throng from a hal1
dozen points the Columbian guards sue
ceeded in turning into half as man
channels, but not before a section OIL sne
platform occupied b few moments before
by the president and his party had been
turned into a harbor of refuge for no
less b twenty-six sick OF unconscious
women and children. Fortunately, hoW.
ever. no one was seriously hurt: VI
course It was a big crowd to handle, for
Director of Works Burnham declared that
100000 people had passed the furnishes
since daylight, a number far IN excess
of the most sanguine expectatlons. ~. 10
take care of such a multitude with only
one accident which could be called serl-
ous-for all the other casualties of the
day were trivial-was therefore q matter
for qualification amongst the ohcers OF
the exposition.