Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-07-12
ELKS ARE THANKFUL
That the Accident Was
No Worse.
NO ONE is DEAD YET.
Although Somewhat subducd the Elks
Proceed With Election of Officers
and Other Business.


ATLANTIC CITY. July II.
Tue galety aud busilng Characteristic
10 y feeling OF depression IA consequence
OF last nights disaster at tho Hattie ave.
nne Casino. u Is largely tempered, how
ever, by devout thankfulnoaH that tho
catastrophe was no WORSE nnd indeed IL
IL considered almost miraculous that hun.
drods wcru not Killed outright,
Al the Paclnc avenue Sanitarinin where
the most seriously Injured are being ear
cd for II was reported this evening that
only one OF the patients was In any Inn
mediate danger of death, rhls IL frrlrr-
lex tnlpwth. the Curuotist vt Jennings
band OF Camden. He has been several
times reported dead but IL stu lowering
between life and DEATH 60 the wonder OF
the physicinns, who nscrihc u to n re-
mnrknbN strong constitution, The other
Inmates Of the hospltnl are NIL progressing
eneunragingly, The numher OF the inJur-
cd VIII aggregate close TO 2Otl although II
II impossible to obtain the cxnct figures,
many OF the victims having left FOR their
homes, nnd the Others having scattered
throughout tho city II nus been dctu.
ltcly learned that the accident WAS caused
by n rotten wooden pillar which helped to
support the second noor of the Casino, It,
sen an old structure.
Most OF the viaitoh had boon on the lower
hoor which had been used as n rctrcshmuht
pavilion, but the music from jennings band
which was stationed above aitfaotd large
majority 10 the upper floor. This undoubttd.
~ prevented great loss u life. There was
party Of eight New York delegates below
and they remained there chatting together
when there came suddenly a warming cfaph
the coilng was seen TO split and thoy rushed
for their lives, gaining tho board walk
outside but q moment before tho crush came
The great weight OF the crowd was primarily
responsible for the collapse, but measures
viii be taken TO place the responsibility
where II belongs It having been genafally
known that the structure Was unsafe for
multitude,
The accident occurred few minutes bo-
fore 10 o'clock
Jamos J. Armstrong. the New YlrR thea
uirnl agent, had lust flushed m adhr sr
and Grand Exalted Ruler Dotwicr had
arisen TO Introduce another speaker wh,n
there was cracking sound, Tho pilaia
broke and tho iloor collapsed Into funnel
shaped gap, forming " open nj the
apex TO tho lower ilOor which iuitunHtaiy
wthstood the shock
The scene that followed was almost DO, Oid
description. within the Iadlua VI mile
the town was panic-strickcn, but 1t was rot
long before every nble-hodod pcrSc1 who
had escaped unhurt began tho worN q rra-
culng tho victims from the mass o. tim1efg
and minaterlnE 10 their sunqrlngs. llrlp
came from all quarters and tho nnllrc and
hrcmon responded handsomely to tao sud
don and taxing call upon tnelr services,
Incidents Of a curious character were not
lacking even amid the excitement whmh last.
ed until the early hours m The nothing IA
Elk from New York was told thai BON hts
legs were broken and no Immediately asked
for a dose Of Prussic acid declaring that lie
did not want TO live. II was subsequently
learned mat ne Wuh not tNtluNhlN injured
Another went away In an ambulance With
his bend badly cut but he was singing az the
top OF his voice declaring that he was un-
hurt.
messed the collapse from the platform, has
not yet recovered from tho horror OF tho
sight, lie escaped from the building by way
Of tho roof
lowing oflcera were elected Grand ok
nltel ruler William a. Meyers, lhllndol'
uhln. grand esteemed lending knight,
Grorgc A. Reynolds. Hartford grind es-
teeme1 loyal knight. II. NJ. Allen. Blrining-
ham Ala: grand esteemed lecturlng knight,
w, H. McDprmntt Columbus, o., grand
Treasurer, Percy q. Williams, brooklyn,
grand secretary, George H. Reynolds Sag
lnnw Mich; bonrd ~ grand trustees, W.
q. Vnnddrllp. BOSTON; ]. u. l,nuhr, iIich-
mond va; Edward II. Hay Washington;
srand Tyler George W. June, lndiannp'
The sciectIon OF the next place Of meet
Ing was left TO the grand tfusieeh. INC
grind lodge adopted u resolution extend,
Ing sympathy TO all members OF the order
who were themselves Injured or whose
families were injured In the accident ht
the rnslno last night, and lnstructing the
grand trustees to inquire Into the physical
and financial condition OF the injured
Elks.
The committee Of laws and appeals re-
ry,rtei adversely on the proposition TO
ostnblish state grand lodges nnd 10 mike
the present grand lodge n supreme lodge.
The ncw rltnnl Of the order was presented
The convention then adjourned.