New-York tribune., 1896-05-31

EACH OTHER -NDERFOOT-MEN. NOHif--'
AND CHILDREN PERISH BEFORE THE
czAR's EYEs-oNE THOUSAND
RUBLEs TO BE PAID TO EACH
BEREAvED FAMILY.
Moscow, May 30--A terrible accident result
Ing in the loss of between LOO and 2'.,oO lives
occurred here to-day. The popular fete OF the
coronation ceremonies was held to-day on the
Hodynsky Plain, opposite the Petroffsky Palace.
and II Is estimated that fully 100000 persons
attended
For DAYS the city has been full Of peasants
from many parts Of the country. all awaiting
the free feast that was given to-day. Many
OF the peasants had walked long distances IN
order to be present, while others, more fortunate
had arrived In the city in vehicles OF every oe-
scrIption. Expectation had reached the highes.
point for 1t was known that to-days fetes would
excel anything of the kind ever given In connec-
ton with the coronation Of the Cars
Long before daylight the crowds began pouring
in the direction OF the plain. while at an early
hour all sorts Of merrymaking was INDUCED lh
The scene was one to be long remembered. Great
booths had been constructed on the plain ana
from them were distributed free food, free beer
and also mugs souvenirs OF the OCCASION
This free feast. which has always been the popu-
lar feature OF coronations. has hitherto peeh
the occasion OF a great deal OF crowoing anu
good-natured fighting for places on the part OF
the hundreds Of thousands Of guests or the CITY,
but no such gathering was ever witnessed on the
Hodynsky Plain. which has always been the
ecene Of the popular entertainments attending
coronations as that which assembled to-day
Everything went smoothly until the distribu-
tlon Of the food and gifts began. Then the peo-
nIe in the rear began to crowd forward, but the
police and soldiers checked them and Tor snort
time there was comparative order
THE CROWD sURGEs FORWARD.
Soon. however the crowd in the rear again
became impatient. and surged forward despite
every effort to hold them back. Barriers nad
been erected in the vicinity Of the booths 10 pre-
vent excessive crowding, and. under ordinary
| circumstances these would have been sufhcient
for the purpose The people in front were swept
against the barriers. where the er ormous weight
of the surging mass In the rear was thrown
| directly against them
Mad with pain and fright the people who were
crushed against the barriers struggled 10 se'
ovav but their attempts were fruitess. Their
shrleks we're heard, and this had the erect Oh lui
,her melting those in the rear to rush forward
Suddenly
the immense throng swept forward. Hundreds OF
| re, women and children were thrown down. and
% stumble and fall meant death or serious injury
| for M mower could check the crowd. many OF
| whom were In a condition of panic
| Th. authorities were helpless, and for a time
| the scene baffled description Many persons were
| killed by being crushed against the barriers pe-
fore they gave way. and great NUMBER mt
their deaths by being tramplei upon The cries
| and shrieks OF the injured could be heard above
the tunu,. Of the crowd. and the effect was heart-
| rendirS
TROOPS QUELL THE PANIC.
Additional troops were called upon to assist In
! ouetlng and disper5ing the people lhis they
/ nnally succeeded In doing when every enort was
roade 10 succor the injured Cossacks were placed
| a. the entrances OF the 800 booths on the piah'
a,d into theee structures were carried the bodies
| Of the dead The representative OF tie
| t-,t,ed Press who was an eyewitness OF the
Who'll. affair saw heaps OF bodies In the booths
Many wild estimates were at first made as to
| ,,, ,,,,,be~ a, persons who had lost their lives
II was impossible for some time to obtain any
! oe,cial information as 10 he number. but early
/ ,b,s evening IL was learned that the loss OF lie
will exceed / 100 Some reports place the num-
| Der u dead az high at 2,o0o
| While the crush was most intense ana the
curses shricks and hows Of pain were AT 'ne''
| height, an unknown woman was deiiVereu Vi
child on the field. No attention was paid 10
them by the maddened crowd and The mother
and the infant were trampled TO death
Every facility was giveE for the identification
OF the dead. but in most Eases 1t was impossio'e
70 recognize them so badly were they crushed
and dishgured.
FEW lDENTIFICATIoNs LIKELY
large number OF the dead were carried away
&, o,nbuIances and on fire trucks. but many
bodIes are still in the booths 1t Is highly prop
able that many of the victims who came from
n distance will never be Identified. These bodies
will be Inferred by the Government In iact' II
Is believed that most Of those who were Killed
were Moujlks from the provinces. All the VIC
| tins belonged TO the poorest class or the popuia-
| tion.
The number OF the injured is large, and 1t Is
thought that many Of them will die In some
| cases men had their arms, legs and ribS broken
| and several had their skulls fractured by the
| heayy wooden shoes OF the peasants. The au-
,hor,ties and members Of tn Russian Red Cross
Society are taking the best Of care OF the IN
iured The disaster has cast a gloom over the
| ,,,,,,,,os those being the first fatalities that
| have occurred during the coronation ceremonies.
| The Gar and Cyarina. when Informed OF the
extent Of the disaster. expressed profound sor-
row and tie Car gave orders that everything
| sbouId be done to alleviate the sunerings OF the
injured
His Majesty has taken practical way OF
showing his sympathy with those families VINO
lost n member In the calamity He has ordered
that the sum OF 1000 rubles be paid to each
| bereaved family.
The calamity was not due 10 any lack OF pre-
caution on the part OF the authorities but arose
entirely from the eagerness or the people 10 en-
ioy the hospitality Of the Car
list BEFORE TIE CATASTROPHE.