St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-04
DOWN TO THEIR DEATH
BALCONY OF. THE CHELSEA YACHT
CLUB GIVES war.
FOUR PEOPLE ARE KILLED

n N1ghC OF Gayety changed Into
One of Mourming-Scenes OF
Horror and Terrible Confu-
sion-Large Number injured
Fire Laddies Do Heroic Work
in saving Many lives,
BosToN, Aug. 3.-A distressing acci-
dent occurred at the boat house of the
Chelsea Yacht club on Broadway, near
the bridge over the Mystic river, this
evening, which changed a night Of
gaYety and enjoyment to one of mourn
ing. -Four persons are dead, while
some fifteen or more are injured. The
club was having concert and illumina-
tion at its quarters in honor of the
ladies, many OF whom were present
from Chelsea and neighboring places. All
had proceeded pleasantly until shortly
before O'clock, when one of the bal
comics gave way suddenly and most of
its occupants were thrown 10 the pier,
or float below, in lndescribable con-
fusion.
The rear of the club house has an
overhaug over the river and two bal
comics, one above the other, each thirty
or forty feet in length. Directly be-
meath the balconies is a large
float, and it was this that pre-
vented the entire number Of peo-
pie from falling into the water.
AS it is, no one is known 70 have been
drowned, although it is possible that
some may have fallen from the float
into the water and been lost. The
balcony gave way near the center, the
bottom slipping in either direction and
slightly outward, forming a sort of
chute, through which nearly forty of
the occupants were precipitated to the
float, some thirty-fve feet below.
The band had just stopped playing,
and the signal had been given from the
cOmmodOre's flagship to illuminate.
Every one was anxious to see the spec
tacle, and the 175 or 200 people OH the
upper float of the house crowded out
upon or towards the upper balcony. 1t
was too much for the weak supports of
the balcony, and they gave way with
crash that startled every one who
heard it. j. z. Warren, the band
leader, was the first one to fall, and
he was killed instantly, striking on
his head. Then, as described by eye
witnesses, the flooring boards kept
gradually giving away, and one after
another shrieklng men and women
were precipitated through the ragged
opening. The scenes were indescriba-
bic, and everything was in terrible con-
fusion. One man alone was in the
lower balcony, but managed to keep
clear of the mass of falling humanity,
and escaped uninjured.
A cry of fire was raised and an alarm
sounded from the nearest box, summon
ing the fire department, the members
OF which did excellent work in caring
for the dead and injured. Nearly two
score people were thrown from the bal
cOny by the accident and piled in a
struggling and confused mass upon the
float. Many believed their injuries to
be far more serious than they
proved to be later, and it was a
long time before it could be
definitely ascertained how many were
killed. The list. as finally made up,
contains four names. Three or four of
the injured are severely hurt. while the
remainder have only bruised or flesh
wounds. The list of casualties is as fol-
lows:
Killed.
]. P. WARREN, band leader, Chel-
sea.
A. L. PEMBERTON, musician, Mel
rose.
MRS. AUGUSTA P. SCHUMAN,
Chelsea.
MRS. A. P. PUTNAM. Chelsea.
Injured-Mrs- Mary Van Worst, of
Revere, badly bruised about the body:
son of the above, slightly hurt: Mrs.
l.. E. Barnes, Chelsea, injured about
sea. depressed fracture of the
skull; Thomas Mitlen, musician,
Cambridge, compound fracture of
the arm; Mrs. +. j. Lynde. Chel-
sea, badly wrenched and bruised; Miss
Josie Grimes, injured about the face
and limos; Miss Fannie Newman,
bruised; Miss Mary BiIlman, badly
shaken up; Miss Eva WinOtt, badly
bruised about the body; ex-Counselman
Charles Ii. FOye, of Chelsea, leg
sprained and face badly bruised.
Mrs. Morton, Chelsea, bruised about tue
body. Miss Annie Farley, Chelsea. feet
crushed. Jerry McCarty, internal in
juries received while attempting to res
cue Miss Grimes and Mr.. Warren. The
more seriously injured were taken to
the United States naval hospital and
the Frost hospital, where their wounds
were dressed, while many We're able to
60 home unaSsiSted.