The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-07
MANY FATALLY INJURED
The Basement of the Structure
Transformed Into
Death-Trap.
FOUGHT LIKE WILD CREATURES
Scores Trampled Under In the
Mad Rush to Scale the
Walls.

Lorraine, OHIO, Oct. GA frightful ac-
cident attendedNthe laying of the corner
stone for the new st. Mary's Catholic
Church in this city this morning. Fully
5000 people were gathered around the foun-
datlon of the new structure, anu the priests
were about to begin the services, when a
section of a platform constructed of boards
and running entirely across the area, and
on which were 1000 people, gave way. pre-
cipating 800 of them into the excavation.
A panic ensued, which resulted in increas-
ing the list of fatally injured
Mary Weber was crushed to death.
The fatally injured were: Rose McGee,
tured; Katie Griffin, years old, of
Lorraine, injured internally; Mrs. Mary
McGrath of Lorraine, left leg crushed and
injured internally; Mrs. John Ensten, aged
lady, of Lorraine, left leg crushed and chest
injured; Mrs. Cornelius Sullivan of Lo-
raine, spine injured and left leg crushed !;
Mary Sieder, aged lady, of Lorraine, chest
crushed and hurt internally; Mrs. Mike
Keeling of Lorraine, injured internally !;
John Feldcamp of Lorraine, hurt internally (;
Miss Kate Deidrick Of Sheffield, both legs
broken and hurt internally; Mrs. Margaret
Mackert of Lorraine, hurt internally
Nicholas Wagner of Elyria, skull fractured.
The seriously injured are: Nellie Dol
lard of Lorraine, head cut; Leo Theobald,
3 years old, back of head cut; Colonel w.
l. Brown of Lorraine, right arm and leg
bruised; Mrs. John Fox of Sheffield, both
legs broken; Mrs. William Burgett of
Lorraine, hurt internally; Mrs. Mary Lati-
mer of Carlisle Center, right leg crushed !;
Mrs. Mary O'Keefe of Lorraine, hurt in
ternally; John Martin of Lorraine, left leg
broken; John Ensten of Lorraine. back
hurt; Mrs l. NJ. Bruce of Hoganville, left
ankle broken; William Ryan of Lorraine
right leg broken. Mrs. O'Keefe of Lorraine,
who had her leg crushed, will have to have
the limb amputated.
The foundation of the building extended
about ten feet above the basement bottom
and on this was erected platform where
the ceremonies were being held. Over
1000 persons were standing on the floor
when a section of it, containing about 800
people, sank beneath its burden and pre-
cipitated them into the pit. The section
which gave way was in two wings and as
it sank it formed deathtrap for the people
from which there was no chance 10 escape.
The pit resembled an inverted roof of
very steep slant, the ends being closed up
by stone walls, and into this it was that
there we're crowded men, women and
children in one struggling heap.
As the floor gave way, a great cry went
up from the multitude, and in 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 beneath the great weight.
Although there were a thousand people
ready to rush to the rescue, they could
render very little aid to the helpless per-
sons in the pit, and several minutes
elapsed before ropes and ladders could be
procured. When assistance finally reached
the unfortunate victims several had al
ready been trampled to death and others
fatally injured.
The old Catholic church near by was
turned into hospital and morguc. Into
this were carried those who were killed
and injured
Notwithstanding the shock of the acci-
dent the priests succeeded in quieting the
crowd and continued the service. Very
Rev. Mgr. Boff of Cleveland delivered the
sermon.
The contractors are said to be respon-
sible for the accident, poor timbers being
used for the support of the platform.
The Mayor and other city officials lent a
helping hand in careing for the injured.
The town tonight is in deep mourning
over the accident