The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-31
DEATH At THE FEAST
A Terrible Panic Occurs at the Mes
COW Popular Banquet.
MORE THAN 1000 KILLED
About 100000 of All Grades
Mixed Up In the tumble = But
the Festivities Proceed Ac-
cording to Programme.
Copyright 1896 by Associated Press.

Copyright 1896 by Associated Press
| Moscow, May 30.-A terrible panic re-
| sulting from the great crush OF people AT
the popular feast here to-day in honor
of the coronation OF the czar, caused the
trampling to death of many people In
| cluding a woman delivered of a child
| during the excitement. In anticipation of
grand holiday and popular banquet on
/ Hody-Uski plain thousands of people be-
gan trooping towards Petrovsky palace.
In front OF which the plain is situated.
In fact. thousands reached the grounds
last evening and camped there or in the
immediate vicinity in order to make sure
OF obtaining good positions to-day
On the plain long lines OF rough tables.
hanked by rougher benches, had been
erected. 1t was the first arranged to ac-
commodate 900 people, but in view of
the Immense crowds assembled in and
about the city at the coronation fete, ex
ira tables and benches were erected and
every effort made to provide a meal for
100000 people. To feed the multitude an
army of cooks and walters was gathered
together. the army bake houses were tax
ed to their utmost, 500 900 mugs. each
bearing the portraits OF the car and the
czarina, were ordered for presentation
10 the people taking part in the banquet
thousands OF cattle. train loads of pro-
visions and ship loads of liquid refresh
ments were sent to the plain and this
gantic event In anticipation Of the as
sembling of the immense crowd and the
possibility OF disorder, strong forces OF
police were detailed for duty on the plain
three miles outside OF the city, on the
road to St Petersburg. Several detach-
ments of infantry and cavalry were sta
toned in the vianity to support the police
should such step be necessary.
by dawn to-day the mass of peasants
anout the tables was really enormous and
an desperately hungry. some having fast
ed nearly "A hours. The police did every
thing possible TO keep back the crowd.
but suddenly the masses pressed forward
swept everything before them, overturn-
ed tables and benches, trampling hum
dreds under foot and curshing the life
out OF number. The exact number OF
people Killed has not been ascertained
Tor the police and military, eventually
succeeded In restoring order and took
away the dead and injured. Preparations
were made to proceed with the banquet
as II nothing unusual had happened.
Among the dead found on Khodijus-
koJe plain were ladies evidently OF
nigh rank. dressedl In the finest silk
ana adorned with the richest Jewels.
The police barracks to which the bod
les or the dead were taken are be-
sleged with persons beseeching for
news OF friends and relatives. The
scenes at the barracks are terrible IN
the extreme.
The disaster was due mainly TO the
absence of the police who had not ar
rived at so early an hour Fully 300
700 persons OF all grades of society were
gathered together and only about a
thousand attendants were in charge
and they seemed to be unable to control
the mob. Hoping to lessen the pressure
or the assembled thousands, all mov-
ing toward a common center. they
tossed the packages and presents into
the midst OF the crowd. This seeming
ly precipitated the panic since a
scramble to obtain the gifts ensued.
and the hollow place of ground near
the center formed death trap for
thousands.
The buildings on all sides of the
plain are In many cases being used
for temporary hospitals. Further time
must elapse before accurate figures as
TO the number actually killed and the
number OF persons who are victims OF
the disaster. but who are only suffer-
Ing from injuries Is ascertained but
there is no doubt the official estimate
Of 1000 victims cannot be far from
right.
The police made desperate efforts To
soatrol the people but all attempts
proved futile. For a time the officials
IN charge of the banquet lost their
heads entirely. The crowds seemed 10
have gone mad with rage. excitement.
shouting, cursing and yelling as they
pressed onward over a path strewn
With dead and dying human beings.
There We're several heartrending scenes
among the survivors. who were seeking
'elatives among the victims. The latter
we're mostly peasants and few of them
nave as yet been identified Many OF
he hordes were trampled into u shape
ess Jelly.
IL was not until nearly 10 o'cLbctS to-
aga-Hf NA,s .
he disaster was made public At IL
''clock official notice was posted saying
he list OF the dead is ,135 persons