The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-07
THEFLOOR GAVE WAY
Fatal Accident at the Laying Of
a Cathedral Corner Stone.
PEOPLE CAST INTO A PIT.
One Killed and Many Fatally Hurt at
Loraiu, Ohio-The Services
Went On.

: I.orain. o.. Oct. awhile a great crowd
OF people was assembled this afternoon 70
witness the laying OF the corner stone OF
the new ST. Nary's cathedral. temporary
floor on which many OF tne people were
ste nding suddenly gave way, prec-plta1lnS
many men, women and children into the
basement One was killed outright, ten
were fatally injured, and about thirty
others were badly hurt.
The services were just about 70 begin
when the accident happened Fully 800
people were assembled on and around the
platform. which had been constructed
across the foundation Of the ediffce. The
boards forming the temporary floor had
been laid across the Joists, which were
supported IN the middle by upright posts.
These supports broke and the floor went
down with a crash. Fully 800 persons
were thrown into the pit formed oy the
sagging IN the middle of the floor. For
moment everybody was paralyzed by the
calamity. but soon there was a rush for
ward BY those willing to lend assistance
TO the crushed and struggling people. This
made matters worse. for fifty more persons
were crowded forward into q hole upon
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 or crawling
over the less fortunate. The work OF res
taken from the pit Following IS list Of
the killed and wounded:
Killed: Mary Weber. 3 years old.
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Matt Weber,
Of Sheffield.
Fatally injured: Rose McGee. skull
fractured; Katie Griffin, S years old. hurt
internally: Mrs. Mary McGrath. left leg
crushed and hurt internally; Mrs. Jonn
Eustin. left leg crushed and chest injured
injured: Mrs. Cornelius Sullivan. spine
injured and left leg crushed; Mary Geiber,
severely crushed, hurt internally: Mrs. VI.
Kelly. injured internally; Mrs. Kate Died
rick. both legs broken and hurt internally;
John Edcamp. hurt internally: Mrs. Mar
garet Mackert, hurt internally.
Those badly injured. but who will Ie-
cover. are Nellie Doliard head cut: Mich
olas Wagner. skull fractured: Lee Hobald.
cut on head; Col. w l. Brown. leg and
arm broken: Mrs. John Fox. both legs
broken: Mrs William Du FaTgett. hurt in
ternally Mrs. Mary Latimer. right leg
crushed: Mrs. Jacob Keefer. hurt internal
~, and leg viii have TO be amputated;
John Martin. leg broken; John Eustin.
back hurt; Mrs. NJ. Bruce, ankle broken:
William Ryan. leg broken. Many others
were severely bruised.
The old Catholic church was at once
turned into hospital A score of doctors
were called and they were kept for hours
caring for the injured, several of whom
will die before morning. The accident was
due TO defective timbers. The contractor
was told yesterday that the platform was
insecure. but he said il would hold all the
people that would be crowded on It. There
were between 800 and 1000 people on il
when Il gave way. Despite the accident the
services were continued and the laying OF
the corner stone was completed