Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-01

This morning the forces at work on
the plain discovered the mouth o. a
disused well in the middle of the field,
the plank covering of which had given
way in the mad rush Of yesterday morn
ing. In the well there were thirty dead
bodies, and wedged in among them and
held down by their weight, we're found
two men, alive and comparatively un-
injured physically. But the terror and
the hideouS surroundings of the night
had proved TOO great a strain on their
minds and they were raving mantacs.
Various versions as TO the
CAUSE OF THE STAMPEDE
are current. but the account TO which
the most credence is attached is to the
effect that the wagons laden with The
SOC, 900 souvenirs which were to be Ces-
tri5Ujed among the people, were pro-
ceeding to the KhodijnskOje plain, fol-
lOwd by a multitude Of eager peasants,
when the attndants. with a view of
plasing the people threw a number Of
the souvenirs among the crowd. There
was a wild scramble towards the point
where they fell and the news spread
like wildfire up and down the throngs
of expectant peasants that the distribu-
riCC had commenced. This resulted in
q head-lOng. pell nell rush for the
booths. where the distribution of SOU
venirs was to have been made later.
The arrangements which it was intend
ed to make to keep the crowds in order
during the distribution. had not been
completed at that early hour. and the
force on hand was powerless to stem the
tide of
THE CRUSH OF HUMANITY.
What added greatly to the gravity Of
the disaster was the circumstance that
these booths were surrounded by
bitches. The foremost persons in the
Cncoming crowd fell PROSTATE in these
diaches and the people following speed
ily trampled them TO death. Others
stumbled over their bodies and met the
same fate. And so the horror grew.
The pressure was so great upon the
sides of the booths from the struggles
of the mass Of mad humanity that they
gave way and hundreds OF people were
forced into them through the broken
walls. One mounted gendarme near the
booths was literally crushed to death,
together with his rearing and plunging
horse.
The Car and Czarina, to-day, after
attending the requiem mass in the
chapel of the Kremlin. paid a visit to
the injured survivors in the hospitals,
passing from cot to cot and addressing
words Os
SYMPATHY AND COMFORT.
Both of the imperial pair were deeply
affected by the scene of suffering they
witnessed.
The scene al the celebration of divine
service at the cemetery to-day was most
impressive. some $4,000 persons being
present. The majority of those were
seeking missing relatives in the NOR
tuary chambers and their grief and de-
spair were indescribable.
As fast as a body was identified 4
Ns2cred icon Gmage) was placed upon the
breast. Those bodies which are claim
ed by relatives or friends viii be inter-
red in the church yards Of the COM
munes to which they belong. The ~
identified dead Will be buried in
\ COMMON GRAVE.
Many of the injured were discharged
from the hospital to-day, their wounds
having proved to be slight.
One could gather a suflic;Cnt number
of incidents of narrow escapes from
death and stories of heroic rescue to
fiji large volume out Of the few min
utes' costly experience Of that great
thrOng of individuals.
Oue instance was that of poor SER
want girl who was in danger of being
rramp.ed to death. But a dozen stall
wart Moujiks surrounded her and
fought off the press and bore her safely
cut OF the crowd.
One visiting the plain late il the day
to-day found almost all the traces of the
disaster removed. But il was seen how
easily the accident could happen. Be
hind the booths from which the SOU
venir mugs were TO be distributed is a
deep. broad hollow in the land, fifty
wards across and full of irresUlar de-
clivities and of holes from SIX 10 eight
ieeJ deep. The shifting. sandy nature
of the soil would make il difficult to
secure f0othOld there even under or
Glaary circumstances, and Qdite impos-
sible with thousands Of persons press
ing on from behind.
Hundreds of the victims met their
death in this hollow and IN the narrow
passages between the booths Work.
men are still searching the bottom of
the Well in which thirty bodies and
two live men. gone mad. were found.
Everywhere in the city are excited
groups Of reople
DISCUSSING THE DISASTER,
the significant proportions of which all
have at last come 20 realize. The
streets present some saddening con-
trasts in the coronation decorations.
very few of which have yet been re-
moved. and the gaily dressed populace.
who. having escaped with their friends,
continue their holiday merriment,
while every few wards men are carry
ing collins on their shoulders or across
their knees in drOschkies.
The police and a force of soldiers
with fixed bayonets have been keeping
order all day at the cemetery, where a
string of people have been passing all
day. most of whom were distracted
Searchers after missing ones dear to
them. but many of whom were the idle
and morbidly curious.
All day there were
MOST AFFECTING SCENES.
vailing relatives and priests praying
here and there beside the dead ranged
upon the ground. surrounded by still
larger numbers o. the unidentified dead.
Most of these pOor remains Of humanity
merely had q sheet for covering to
the mutilaed and terribly disfigured