The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-29
FIGHT OVERPOLO
Led to a Bad Accident at
Fall River.
Gallery Railing Fell and Many
Persons Injured.
Linley Died This MOrning--C0ndi-
tiOn of the Wounded.


accident at the Casino last night, died
this morning. The other victims are all
reported as improving today, and are said
by the physicians to be in no serious
danger.
Mark Hogarth, who was among those
reported fatally injured last night, is
among those reported much improved to-
day.
An inspection of that portion of the
gallery in which the accident occurred
shows that the rail against which the
spectators leaned last night, and which
gave way, causing the accident, was very
lightly constructed. 1t Is learned that
the gallery was not fully ready for occu-
pancy, having been recently constructed,
but on account of last nights game, in
which there was such great local interest,
1t was thrown open to accommodate the
spectators. The seats in the gallery are
very low and as the fight between Dunning
and Curley occurred almost directly un-
der them, the spectators arose and leaned
over the fragile rail. 1t gave way under
the pressure and four rows Of men were
precipitated TO the floor below, distance
of about Is feet.
1t has also been learned that Charles K.
Schofeld, who was not reported among
those injured last night, had several ribs
broken. Five or six persons who were
sitting in the front row of reserved seats
beneath the gallery were also injured.
Including this number the revised list
of the injured will reach about 40.
A successful operation was performed
this morning on James Lyme, whose skull
was fractured.
A terrible accident occurred at the Ca
sino last night during the polo game be-
tween the Fall Rivers and New Bedfords.
Owing To the great rivalry existing be-
tween these two teams, the attendance
l. l..1
to their utmost. In the rear gallery
standing room was all taken by spectators,
and against the rail along the edge of the
balcony pressed as many persons as the
space would Accommodate. 1t wanted
about two minutes to end the game, with
the score to in favor of Fall River.
Dunning Of the New Bedfords put the
ball into shs cage with his hand; Curley
of Fall River accused Dunning of foul
foul play. The men began TO fight; Cap
tain Cotter tried to separate thom. Tobey,
who was referee, blew his whistle, but the
men paid no attention TO X. The crowd
In the gallery leaned forward, and two or
three men were pushed over the rear rail-
ing
The crowd behind them, thinking these
men had jumped over To take part in the
fight, pressed still more ferccly in their
intense interest in the game, and the rail
ing giving way, fully 80 spectators were
precipitated upon the floor beneath.
The scene was indescrbable; IL was
simply human waterfall, aud 1t was
terrible. They fell q distance of 18 feet at
least. and lay in n CORY lreap, while 400
souls looked on In silent horror. Women
tainted, but still there was no panic.
Words of caution were passed from mouth
to mouth. keep silent and avoid u
crush" were the passwords
Half stunned and bleeding bodies worked
free from the mass. and staggered biindly
to their feet. A hundred eager and pity.
ing hands lifted the more unfortunate.
Many bleeding forms remained as still N
death. The floor was slippery with blood.
A dozen officers were In the audience.
or the number thus prccipitated, over &c
were more or less injured AS soon as or.
der had been partially restored, all tho
doctors available were obtained, and the
wounded persons either taken to their
homes or to the several hospitals.
1t was reported that Nelson Maynard
had been killed. But IL later proved that
he had suffered injury Of the spine and
was paralyzed. The outcome of his in.
juries is still uncertain. The badly
wounded are:
James, Linley, dead.
James Lynes fractured skull.
Nelson Maynard, right leg fractured and
spine hurt.
Mark Hogarth, right side hurt, inter.
nally injured.
William Fleet, nose fractured, other
wounds.
John May, right thigh broken.
Alfred Lyme broken arm.
Cornelius sullivan, both arms broken.
Joseph Lewis, ribs broken.
John Cody, right arm broken.
Joseph Ainley and Sebastian j. Rigby
badly hurt.
Many other spectators were cut and
bruised, but not as seriously as those
above mentioned.
Richard Powers, leg broken and side In.
iurcd.
Alfred Martin, side hurt and head cut.
Nelson Necland right leg broken.
Fred Falky. right leg broken and head
hurt.
Nelson Menard, leg broken and eyes cut.
Alfred Brightman, lip split.
John Hogan, right leg broken.
James Whitehead. head cut.
Michael O'Hallorau, head cut.
Charles Cash, head cut and broken leg.
William Williams, forehead cut and
arm broken.
Charles +. Schoheld, hurt internally.
Thomas Welch, head cut, arm and legs
broken.
Joseph Lewis, right arm broken.
Il. j. Crate, internally injured.
Thomas Sullivan, head and face cut
John May, right thigh broken and left
hip hurt injured seriously internally.
DIR. o j. Earan. finger broken.