The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-07
RudeIy-Constructed Platform, ON
Which Were 1000 People, Col
Iapsed at Lorain, o.
CONTRACTORS ARE BLAMED
DEDICATION OF THE NEW CATHO-
Lie CHURCH AT ANDERSON.
Dignftaries Of the Church and Crowds
from Surrounding Towns At
tend the Ceremonies.

/. LORAIN, O., Oct 6.--while a great
crowd of people was assembled this after
noon to witness the laying of the corner
stone of the new st. Mary's Catholic
Church, a temporary floor on which many
of. the people were standing suddenly gave
way. precipitating many men, women and
children into the basement. One was killed
outright, ten were fatally injured and be-
tween thirty and forty others were badly
hurt.
The services were just about to begin
when the accident happened Fully three
thousand persons were assembled and
around the platform, which had been con-
structed across the foundation of the edi-
fee. The boards forming the temporary
floor had been lad across the joists, which
were supported in the middle by upright
posts. These supports broke and the floor
went down with a crash Fully three hun
dred people were thrown into the pit
formed by the sagging in the middle of the
floor. For a moment everybody was panic
stricken by the calamity, but soon there
was rush forward by those willing to
lend assistance TO the crushed and strug
Cling people. This made matters worse, for
fifty more persons were crowded forward
into the hole on those who went down with
the floor. When the confusion had subsidized
somewhat, many of those who were able to
extricate themselves did so by walking and
crawling over their less fortunate compan-
ions. The work of rescue was begun at
once, and all were finally taken from the
pit. Following is a list OF the victims:
Killed
aaahssr of Mr and ns Mat Weber ODD
Sheffield.
Fatally injured
t,as3s RosA MCGEE, three years old. skull
KATIE GRIFFIN. eight years old. hurt
~ MRS. MARY MGRAcITH, left leg
crushed and hurt internally.
MRS. JOHN EUSTIN. aged woman, left
leg crushed and chest injured.
MRS. CORNELIUS SULLIVAN, spine in
jured and left leg crushed.
MARY GAIBER. chest crushed and hurt
MRS MICHAEL KEELING. injured in
MRS. KATE DIEDRfcK, both legs
broken and hurt internally.
JOHN FIELDCAMP hurt internally
MRS MARGARET MAcKERT. hurt in
Those badly injured but who will re-
NELLIE DOLLARD. head cut.
NICHOLAS WAGNER, skull fractured.
GEO. THEOBALD. three years old. head
cut.
CJlI W. L. BfSOW<N lex du0 dEIil DFuiSeu
MRS. JOHN FOX. both legs broken.
MRS. WILLIAM DU BURGETT. hurt in
ternally.
MRS. MARY LATIMER. right leg
. MRS. MRS JACOB RoDIFER, hurt internally
and leg will have TO be amputated
JOHN MARTIN, leg broken.
JOHN EUSTIN. back hurt.
MRS. M. BRUCLE ankle broken.
WILLIAM RYAN, leg broken.
Many others were severely bruised
The old Catholic Church and parochial
school were at once turned into hospitals
and score of doctors were kept busy for
hours caring for the injured, several of
whom will die before morning.
The accident was due to defective tim
bers. The contractor was told yesterday
that the platform was insecure, but he said
it would hold all the people that could be
crowded on II. There were between 1.500
and 1000 people on 1t when 1t gave way.
Despite the accident the services were
continued and the laying of the corner
stone was completed.