St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-10-07
SPECTATORS AT A CORNER
STONE LAYING TAKE AN
AWFUL PLUNGE.
THREE HUNDRED GO DOWN.
TEMPORARY FLOOR GAVE WAY
PRECIPITATING MANY To
THE BASEMENT,
TEN WE'RE FATALL7 1NJuREn,
One Was Killed and a Score of
Others Receive Serious
Wounds.

LORAIN, O., Oct. 6. = While a
great crowd of people was assembled
TINS afternoon to witness the laying
Of the cornerstone of the new St.
Mary's Catholic church. a tempor-
airy floor on which many of the peo-
pie We're standing suddenly gave
way, precipitating many men. won-
en- and children into the basement.
One was killed outright, ten were
fatally injured and between thirty
and forty others were badly hurt.
The services were just about to
begin when the accident happened.
Fully 5000 persons were assembled
on and around the platform, which
had been constructed across the
foundation of the edihce The
boards forming the temporary floor
had been Lid across the joists.
which were supported in the middle
by upright posts. These supports
broke and the floor went down with
a crash. Fully 300 persons were
thrown into the pit formed by the
sagging in the middle of the floor.
For moment everybody was par
alyZed by the calamity. but soon
there was a rush forward by those
willing to lend assistance to the
crushed and struggling. This made
matters worse, for fifty more per-
sons were crowded forward into the
hole upon those who went down
with the floor. When the confusion
had subsidized somewhat, many of
those who were able to extrieate
themselves did so by walking and
crawling over their less fortunate
companions The work of rescue
was begun at once, and all were
finally taken from the pit. Follow
ing is list of the killed and
wounded:
KILLED.
MARY WEBER, three years old.
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Mat Weber:
of Sheffield.
FATALLY INJURED.
ROSA MGEE. three years old, skull
fractured
KATiE GRIFFIN. eight-years old.
MRS. MARY McGRAcITH. left leg
crushed and hurt internally
MRS JOHN EUSTIN, aged woman,
left leg crushed and chest injured.
MRS CORNELIUS SULLIVAN.
spine injured and left leg crushed.
MARY GAIBER, chest crushed and
hurt internally
MRS MICHAEL KEELING. injured
internally.
MRS. KATE DIEDRICK- both legs
broken and hurt internally
JOHN FIELD CAMP, hurt inter-
naily
MRS MARGARET MACKERT, hurt
internally.
cover, are: Nellie Dollard. head cut:
Nicholas Wagner, skull fractured; Leo
Theobald, three years old, head cut;
Col. w. l. Brown, leg and arm bruised;
Mrs. John Fox. both legs broken: Mrs.
William Du Burgett, hurt internally;
Mrs. Mary Latimer, right leg crushed;
Mrs. Jacob keefer, hurt internally and
leg will have to be amputated; John
Martin. leg broken; John Eust:n. back
hurt; Mrs NJ. Bruce, ankle broken;
William Ryan, leg broken. Many 9TH
ers were severely bruised.
The old Catholic church and paro-
chial school were at once turned into
hospitals. a score of doctors were
called and they We're kept busy for
hours caring for the injured, several
of whom viii die before morning. The
accident was due to directive timbers.
The contractor was told yesterday that
the platform was insecure. but ne
said it would hold all the people that
could be crowded upon it There were
between 1850 and 1900 people on it
when it gave way.
Despite the accident, the services
We're continued and the laying Of the
corner stone was completed