The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-21
FELL THROUGH THE FLOOR
Distressing Accident at the Last
Meeting Of the Woman's
Auxiliary Congress.
A Section Of Flooring Gives Way
and Several Are Seriously
Injured.
A Panic Narrowly Averted-Enthus
Over tho succsss OF Their Depart
ment-Eair News.

CHICAGO, May 20.-A distressing accident
marred tho closing day Of tho weeks
series of woman's conRr resses in the art in
stitute building. There was an attractive
programme In Washington hall. and a
great crowd OF women were gathered at the
entr ancs, struggling to get in. when asection
of the flooring, twenty by thirty feet, gave
way, precipitatinR seventy-6ve women to
the ground below. . distance Of twelve
feet. in u struggling mass. The ai- was at
once filled with cries of pain and terror.
and almost panic spread TO the largo au-
disnce already gathered in Washington
hall. Assistance was procured 40 quickly
as possible. and the frightened and disa-
blsd women were sxtricated.
When all had been gotten out IL was
found that eight were seriously, though
none fatally hurt. Many others were
more or less shaken Up. but none injured
enough to require assistance in leaving the
building. As far as learned NO prominent
member Of the organizations represented
was hurt. The injured we're mostly women
who oams 40 spectators. chiefly from this
o!ty, and the injuries consisted in disloos-
tion of joints and sprains more painful
than dangerous.
The subject to be considered in Washing
ton hall, which brought out such large
gathering. was dress reform. and addresses
were 10 be delivered BY Alice Timmins
Toomy. of California, on "Ethios OF
Dress," and other prominent women Of
this and foreign countries.
Notwithstanding the accident the pro-
grammes throuRhous all sections Of the
congress we're carried out az arranged. dis
cussions ranging from dress to sociology
When finally the last section of the great
congress adjourned sine die enthusiastic
expressions were heard on all sides of the
success Of the phenomenal gathering. To-
night An address sigRod by many dslsQatel
WAS presented May Wright sewall api
Rachel Foster Avery, reciting their appre
citation of the great work done by the two
women In arranging and carrying on tht
The "White city' was alive with schoo
children to-day. The Gun shone bright,
and the temr g; aturs WAS quite high. SO tha
the shade was grateful to pedestrians. Tn
fact that there WAS no school on Saturds,
and the reduction of the price of admis
mission for children to 25 cents had the ef
feot TO bring them ont by the thousands
This influx did not decrease the number o
adults in attendance. On the contrary
there was an increase. as the little peopl
required chaperones. A grand night fet
was given o-nieht. 1t was unusually fine
as the great electric system 10 now in full
and perfect summing order. The most bril-
liant and striking effects in illum ination o
the buildings and grounds we're produced.
The national Worlds fair commission
went into executive session this afternoon
and had before them all the heads of th,
departments to consult as to anything
which might need the immediate attention
Of the commission and to talk over tn
plans for Fastening to completion sucl
parte OF the fair as were not Jet done.
Later the judiciary committee reported
on the resolution rovokina the rulo TO
closing the fair on Sundays. but action wa
postponed until Monday. The majority re
pot favored opening the fair Sundays
while the minority opposed ii.
The gates of the fair will be closed aRsil
o-morrow. at least the management say
so. The judiciary committee. which has II
charge ths preparation of q report on th
action of the local directory. ordering tn
return of the money appropriated by CON
Rress and the opening Of the fair on sun
day. will bring in two reports Monday.
is believed the majority report will oppos
SUNDAY opening. and that the minority viii
favor it. There will be a hot fight over tn
matter when il comes up for discussion.