Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-12-23
II CREATED a PANIC
CAUSED The FLOOR TO SETTLE
M null1lns vas Ussals anA Haa
Bern Coademned--Many Persons
Iajared Iryins - Goa oua

New YoaK. Dec s2-Fiftsen hundred
psnic-stricksn psopla struggling like
madmsn 10 escape from . courtroom
contributed . great deal Of excitement
in Second avenue today. The police re-
serves. . couple Of IRE companies and
5000 people Who gathered In Response 70
the noise raissd by the l.lo0 added "a
the sensation Fortunately only three
or four psoplc we're injured although ~
one time it looked - though many
would b crushed 10 death The court
room whore civil cases are passed on y
located In fvs-story building that was
once condsnned- Judge 6teckler pre-
sides over L. This morning about 80
o'clock the court room. which h mp
stairs. was crowded Lawyers. clients.
policemen, detectives and losfsrs
jostled sach other In the biggest
crowd that has bsen 10 the building
for long tins. Suddenly thsre vas
conmotion Ut the back a the room A
policeman had been dispatched In
hurry TO clear the ROOM
Warned % Get Ont
Hurry up now; get out" be cried 70
those near the door. The building 10
unsafe. It's shaking and may fall any
minute"
He tried to force his way through the
dsnssly packed crowd Of lsraelitss and
Germana But they made no room Tor
him and his voice did not reach the
judges deck. An ominous rumble was
heard for minute above the noise OF
the crowd
-You hear thatYv cried the policeman
who was now seconded in his efforts BY
two more giants in blua "You hear
that? Get out! Get out! Hurry for
your livcs,"
The coolnees Of the clerk, who con-
tinued to read list Of cases. alone pre-
yenfcd panic at the outset Soon.
however. the crowd began TO get en-
cited Four policemen we're struggling
at the door and by degrees the people
were leaving. They went slowly and
unwiIlingly. The strangest cries were
heard. many Of the Jews thinking they
We being turned out because Of their
race. None o, them wanted to 60; they
fought aud struggled and waved their
hands with the palms turned toward
heaven. But they would not GO T. on
tae Judge stood up and announced that
the court WIS at ence adjourned. He
urged the people TO leave quietly. Then
for the first time TIE people realized
the horror OF the situation and with one
mind they turned to Tee.
Mad Hush FOR the Door.
A panic seemed unavoidable and for a
moment there Vas a scene o, wild ex-
element. Women. nien AMI children
all made a rush for the dco. Has a
dozen policemen were brushed aside
Meanwhile Clerk hamburger passed rap
idly In and out among the screaming
women and the excited men. and in
their native language urgei them 10 be
quiet and to proceed orderly This ac-
t:oa did much to prevent the women
and children from being crushed
When about half Of the crowd was
safely out OF the building the whole floor
suddenly sank about three inches. A
wild yell rose up from the struggling
crowd. They thought the last moment
had come and expected To see the walls
and ceiling follow the floor. The last
person finally got out Of the building
and the police. who had come TO the
scene on a rush. found that only few
persons had been bruised.
The building was closed, and with
Judge Steekler at the head, q pictur-
esque procession OF 1900 persons. OF
whom nearly 1000 were Jews. marched
across town to another courtroom.
where business was resumed. On the
way the Hebrews made many demon
STATIONS Of JOY and called upon heaven
to witness their gratitude over their es-
cape.