The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-12
ATLANTICS SORROW.
The Casino Accident Depresses the
Gay Summer Resort.
ALL THE INJURED DOING NICELY.

Evon Frederick Claprorth, Whose Death
Was Reported, Is stlIl Alive-The Acoi-
dent Caused by Rotton Pillar Used as
Support for the Uppor Floor.
ATLANTIC CITY, July 12.-The gaiety
and hustle characteristic Of this resort has
given way, to degree, to feeling Of de-
preston in consequences Of the disaster at
the Baltic Avenue Casino. 1t Ii largely
tempered however, by devout thankful
ness that the catastrophe was no worse,
and, indeed, 1t ia considered almost miracu-
lous that hundreds were not killed out
right. At tho Pacific Avenue Sanitarium,
where the most seriously injured are be-
ing cared for, II is reported that only one
Of the patients is in any immediate danger
of death. This is Frederick Claproth, the
cornotist Of jennings band, Of Camden.
He has been several times reported dead,
but is still lowering between life and
death, to the wonder Of the physicians,
who ascribe 1t to remarkably strong con-
stitution.
Tho other Inmates of the hospital, all Of
whom are progressing encouragingly, are
Mrs. s. 8. Japha, of New York, compound
fracture Of the thigh; ]. l.. p. Eckman,
Mt Holly, N. j., fractured leg; Anton
Diamond, Philadelphia, fractured leg;
Leopold Fry, Philadelphia, fractured leg;
8. H, Hamburger, Philadelphia, fractured
leg; !. Melville Jansen, of Carncross'
minstrels, Philadelphia, out 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
Hoor 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 refresh
ment pavilion, but tho music from Jen
nings' band, which was stationed above
attracted large majority to the uppel
hoor. This undoubtedly prevented a grea
loss Of life. There was party Of sigh
New York delegates below, and they re
mained there, chatting together, wheI
there suddenly came warning orackle
the ceiling above them was seen to split
and they rushed for their lives, gaining
the boardwalk outside but moment be
fore the crash came.
The great weight Of the crowd was pri
marlly responsible for She collapse, bu
measures will probably be taken to fix tn
responsibility, 1t having been generall
known that the structure was unsafe 70
amultitude.
The accident occurred few minutes be
fore 10 o'clock James J. Armstrong, tn
New York theatrical agent, had fnishe
an address, and Grand Exalted Ruler Del
weller had arisen to introduce anothe
speaker, when there was a cracklin
sound, tho pillars broke, and the floor CO.
lApsed into funnel shaped gap, formin
a"V, open at the apex, to the lower fiool
which fortunately withstood the shook.
The scene that followed was almost b,
yond description. Within the radius Of
mile the town was panic stricken, but
was not long before every able bodied pc
son who had escaped unhurt began I'll
work of resouing the victims from III
mass of timbers, and ministering to thei
nufferings. Help came from all quarter
and the police and flremen responded han'
sOrnely to the sudden and taxing call upo
their services.
Incidents Of a curious character WEI
not lacking, even amid the intense excit
ment. One Elk form New York was tol
that both of his legs were broken, and
Immediately asked for dose of Pruss
aoid, declaring that he did not want
live. ID was subsequently learned that
was not seriously injured. Another wei
away In an ambulance with his hes
badly cut, but he was singing at the tt
Of his voice and declaring that he was u
hurt. One little girl was shot throui
= the hole in the floor into the arms of
young man below, and momont lat
her mother, who was uninjured, crawl,
through the hole, seized the little on
aud made OFF iSlong the boardwalk.