The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-07
THE PLATFORM Cave way
Friqhtful Accident at the Laying OF
q Corner Stone.
LIST OF KILLED AND INJURED
Platform ut Lorraine. Ohio. Containing &
Ono Thousand People Gives Way
and Three Hundred Are Precipi.
tated Into Pit Below.

Lorraine. Ohio, Oct. "a frightful ac-
cident attended the laying OF the cor
ner stone for the new ST. Mary's Cath
Ollie church in this city this morning.
Fully 5000 people We're gathered around
the foundation for the new structure.
and the priests We're about to begin
the services when the platform, con-
structed of boards and running entire
ly across the area, on which We're about
1000 people. gave way, precipitating
800 of them into the excavation. 4
panic ensued. which resulted in increas-
ing the fatalities. The casualties are:
Killed.
Rosa MCGEE, years old.
Fatally Injured.
Katie Griffin, 3 years old, injured inter-
naly.
Mrs. Mary McGrath. left leg crushed and
injured internally.
Mrs. John Ensten, an aged lady, left leg
crushed. chest injured.
Mrs. Cornelius Sullivan, spine injured. leg
crushed.
Mary sieder. aged lady. chest injured and
hurt internally.
Mrs. Mike KEELING, injured internally,
John Feldkamp injured internally.
Miss Kate Deidrick, both legs broken
and hurt internally.
Mrs. Margaret, Mackert. hurt internally.
Nicholas Wag fer, skull fractured.
Seriously Injured.
Nellie Dollard, head cut.
Leo Theobold. 3 years of age. head cut.
Colonel w. l. Brown, arm and leg bruised.
Mrs. John Fox, both legs broken.
Mrs. William Burgett. hurt internally.
Mrs. Mary Latimer. leg crushed.
Mrs. Mary O'Keefe, hurt internally.
John Martin, leg broken.
John Ensten. back hurt.
Mrs l. NJ Bruce, ankle broken.
William Ryan, leg broken. =.
Mrs. OKeefe. leg crushed, VIII nave 10 pe
amputated.
section That Gave Way.
The foundation for the building eX-
tended about ten feet above the pase-
ment bottom, and on this was erected a
platform where the ceremonies were De-
ing held. over 1000 persons. were
standing on the floor when section of
1t containing about 800 people sank be-
meath it's burden and precipitated them
into the pit The section which gave
way was in two wings, and as 1t sank
1t formed a death trap for the people,
from which there was no chance to es-
cape The pit resembled an inverted
roof of very steep slant, the ends oe-
ing closed up by stone walls and into
this were crowded men, women and
children, in one struggling heap.
AS the floor gave way great cry
went UP from the multitude. Dut III
another second it had fallen and carried
in its ruin the lives of several persons.
Those at the top of the mass escaped
easily. but when the pit was partly
emptied those victims still entrapped
could not Chamber up the steep sides.
and they trampled each other like so
many wild creatures, the strong getting
on top and the weak being crushed be-
meath the great weight. Although there
We're a thousand people ready to rush
to the rescue they could render very
little aid to the helpless persons in the
pit and several minutes elapsed before
ropes and ladders could be procured.
When assistance finally reached the un-
fortunate victims. several had already
been trampled to death and Others ia
tally injured.
Church Turned Into Hospital.
The old Catholic church near by was
turned into an hospital and morgue.
Into this were carried those who were
killed and injured Notwithstanding
the shock of the accident the priests
succeeded in ouieting the crowd and
continued their services. Very Rev.
Mgr Boff, of Cleveland delivered the
sermon.
The contractors are said to be re-
bsrs being used for the support Of the
platform The mayor and other city
officials lent helping hand In caring
for the injured. The town tonight is
In deep mourning over the accident.