The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-08-09
A WILD PANIC.
Fire in Grand Stand Causes Q
 Mad Rush.
MANY PERSONS CUT AND BRUISED.
The Spectators Viewing Baseball Game When the Alarm Was Given-Unable to Get Through the Fences
 sidewalks Burned.

CHICAGO, Aug. 6.-The discovery of fire in the grand stand at the West Side ball park yesterday afternoon caused wild panic among the specta- tors, in which several met serious in- jury and large number of others were slightly cut and bruised in trying to make their exit. The Chicago and Cincinnati baseball clubs were battling with each other and 10000 crowded into the grounds to witness the game. Every available seat in the grand stand and bleachers was occupied and a large crowd of men and boys contented themselves at not finding seats in talk ing up their positions on the ball field. The game had advanced to the seventh inning with the Chicagos leading the Red Stockings by seven runs, when a fire cry was heard from the bleachers, and a thin veil of smoke was seen creeping through the cracks of the grand stand The cry of fire was taken up on all sides and in very short time terrible panic ensued.
 The four exits leading from the grand stand were jammed with anxious men and boys and also sprinkling of women. The exits were not large enough to permit the throng to go through and hundreds of men sought places of safety by jumping over the barbed wire fence and into the ball ground. The four rows of barbed wire which encircle the stand proved very disastrous to the people who at tempted to make their way through them to the grounds. A jam of men and boys crowded to the barbed wire fences but they were not able to get through, owing to the closeness of the wires, the first reaching the fence scaled it successfully, but those that followed, in their anxiety to get safe quarters, tried to crawl through and in nearly every instance became wedged between the wires and their clothing was torn in shreds and hands and legs were lacerated by the sharp barbs.
 When the fire department arrived the entire 50 cent stands on Lincoln street and also a portion of the grand stand were a mass of flames. The fire spread rapidly and the small force of fremen NlllCli ICSlOnOCu JO lhS liISI dluI were unable to cope with the raging flames. Fire Marshal Swenie seeing the entire buildings in the ball park were threatened, sent in a 2:11 alarm and with the reinforcement of engines the fire was kept from spreading to the grand stand proper. The heat from the flames was so intense the firemen were unable to get within 20 yards of it. The sidewalks on both sides of Lincoln street and also the cedar blocks in the street were burned.
 Edward Ahern, fireman connected with the insurance patrol, endeavored to reach the ball ground by going through that portion of the stand which was in flames. He only went a short distance when his clothing caught fire. He was compelled to re- treat into Lincoln street, where his comrades extinguished the fire in his clothes. He was badly burned.
 During the stampede E. w. Bartlett, of Center avenue, severely cut his hands and legs and several others who followed fell on top of him, smothering him into inconsistencies. He was rescued from his perilous situation by police officers. He was removed to the County hospital, where it was found his left leg was broken below the knee. He was also badly bruised about the body and limbs.
 The close proximity of the County and Presbyterian hospitals stood the injured in good stead. For an hour after the first alarm the physicians of both hospitals were kept busy attend. ing to the injured. Twenty or more went to the county hospital to have wounds, received by climbing through the barbed wire fence, dressed. None of the men save Ahern and Bartlett were kept at the hospital, the others being turned away as fast as their in juries were attended to.
 After an hours hard work the blaze was under control. The damage was about S4,OOO, covered by insurance The cause of the fire is thought to be due to lighted cigarette or cigar be- ing thrown among the shavings and other combustible material under the stand.