The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-07-12
ATLANTICS SORROW.
The Casino Accident Depresses the
Gay Summer Resort,
ALL THE INJURED DOING NICELY.

Even Frederick Claprorth, Whose Death
Was Reported, Is still Alive-The Acct
dent Caused by a Rotten pillar Used as
a support for the Upper Floor.
ATLANTIC CITY, July 12.-The gaiety
and hustle characteristic of this resort has
given way, to a degree, to a feeling of de-
preston in consequence of the disaster at
the Baltic Avenue Casino. 1t is largely
tempered, however, by a devout thankful
ness that the catastrophe was no worse,
and, indeed it is considered almost miracu-
lous that hundreds were not killed out
right. 1t the Pacific Avenue Sanitarium,
where the most seriously Injured are be-
ing cared for, 1t is reported that only one
of the patients is in any immediate danger
of death. This is Frederick Claproth, the
cornetist of jennings band, of Camden.
He has been several times reported dead,
but is still lowering etween life and
death, to the wonder Of the physicians,
who ascribe it to a remarkably strong con-
stitution.
The other inmates of the hospital, all of
whom are progressing e~ncouragingly, are
Mrs. S. S. Japha, of New York, compound
AloobhAO VI NhO uhABhi o. L. L HShhAohf
Mt. Holly, N. J., fractured leg; Anton
Diamond, Philadelphia, fractured leg;
Leopold Fry, Philadelphia, fractured leg;
S. H. Hamburger, Philadelphia, fractured
leg; j. Melville Jansen, of Carncross'
minstrels. Philadelphia, cut about head;
Mrs. Jansen, thigh fractured DR.. r. w.
Frye, Roanoke, Va, leg fractured.
The number of the injured will un-
doubtedly aggregate close to 200, although
it is impossible to obtain exact figures,
many of the victims having left for their
homes, and the others being scattered
throughout the city in innumerable hotels.
1t has been definitely learned that the
accident was caused by a rotten wooden
pillar which helped to support the second
floor of the Casino, itself an old and long
disused structure facing the boardwalk.
Most of the visitors had been on the lower
floor, which had been used as n refresh
ment pavilion, but the music from Jen-
nings' band, which was stationed above,
attracted a large majority to the upper
floor. This undoubtedly prevented a great
loss of life. There was a party of eight
New York delegates below, and they re-
manned there, chatting together, when
there suddenly came a warning crackle,
the ceiling above them was seen to split,
and they rushed for their lives, gaining
the boardwalk outside but a moment be-
fore the crash came.
The great weight of the crowd was pri-
marily responsible for the collapse, but
measures will probably be taken to fix the
responsibility. it having been generally
known that the structure was unsafe for
a multitude,
The accident occurred a few minutes be-
fore 10 o'clock. James j. Armstrong, the
New York theatrical agent, had finished
an address, and Grand Exalted Ruler bet
weller had arisen to introduce another
speaker, when there was a cracking
sound, the pillars broke, and the floor col
lapsed into a funnel shaped gap, forming
a ''V," open at the apex, to the lower floor,
which fortunately withstood the shock.
The scene that followed was almost be-
yond description. Within the radius of a
mile the town was panic stricken, but it
was not long before every able bodied per
son who had escaped unhurt began the
work of rescuing the victims from the
mass of timbers, and ministering to their
sufferings. Help came from all quarters
and the police and fremen responded hand
somely to the sudden and taxing call upon
their services.
Incidents of a curious character were
not lacking, even amid the intense excite
ment. One Elk form New York was told
that both of his legs were broken, and he
Immediately asked for a dose of Prussic
acid, declaring that he did not wan tc
live. 1t was subsequently learned that he
was not seriously injured. Another went
away in an ambulance, with his head
badly cut, but he was singing at the tor
of his voice and declaring that he was IN.
hurt, One little girl was shot through
the hole in the floor into the arms of {
! young man below, and a moment Later
her mother, who was uninjured, crawlet
through the hole, seized the little one
and made off along the boardwalk.