Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-10-10
INTO A BASEMENT.
FATAL ACCIDENT At s RELIGIOUS
CEREMONY IN OHIO
During the aging nj a Corner Stone
the Temporary Floor Coiiapscs,
Throwing About TIVE Thousan nd
People Into the Basement Below,

Lorain. Ohio, Oct. S.-W'hlle n great
crowd of people was assembled IN wit
hess 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
vas killed outright, ten were fatally
injured. and between thirty and forty
others were hurt.
The services were Just about 10 be
gin when the accident happened. Fully
5000 persons were assembled on ana
around the platform. which had been
constructed across the foundation of
the ediiice. The boards forming the
temporary floor had been laid across
the ioists, which were supported In
the middle by upright posts. These
supports broke and the ioor went
down with a crash. Fully 300 persons
were thrown into the pit formed by
the sagging In the middle of the floor.
for a 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 people. This made matters
worse, for fifty more persons 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 extricate themselves did so by
walking and crawling over their less
fortunate companions. The work of
rescue was begun at C. and all were
finally taken from the pit. Following
is a list OF tie killed and wounded.
Killed Mary Weber, 3 years old,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Mat Weber
Of Sheffield.
Fatally Injured - Rosa McGee, 3
years old, skull fractured. Katie Grit
fin, 8; hurt internally. Mrs. Mary Nc
Gracith, left leg crushed and hurt in
ternally. Mrs. John Eustin, aged wo-
left leg crushed and chess in
jured. Mrs. Cornelius Sullivan, spine
injured and left leg crushed. Mary
Gaiber, chest crushed and hurt inter
nally. Mrs. Michael KEELING, injured
internally. Mrs. Kate Diedrick, both
legs broken and hurt internally. John
Field Camp. hurt internally. Mrs.
Margaret Mackert, hurt internally.
Those badly injured. but who will
recover, are Nellie Dollard, head cot:
Nicholas Wagner, skull fractured; Leo
TheObald, head cut; Col. w. |. Brown.
leg and arm bruised: Mrs. John Fox.
both legs broken; Mrs. William Du
Burgett, hurt internally: Mrs. Mary
Iatimer. right leg crushed; Mrs. Jacob
Keefer. hurt internally and leg badly
crushed; 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 and
parochial school were at once turned
into hospitals. A score of doctors we're
called and they were kept busy for
| hours caring for the injured. several
0f whom will die. Tue accident n
dine to defective timhers. The con
tractor was told yesterday that the
platform was insecure. hut he said ii
| would hold all the people that could be
crowded upon it. There were between
1900 and 1000 people on 1t when it
| CAV way. Despite the accident the
services were continued and the lay
Ing of the corner stone was completed.