The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1896-06-05
THE HODYNSKY PLAIN
Where Napoleon Massed His Men
Before Entering Moscow,
Converted Into q Valley of Death-Ths
Lives Crushed Out of Multitudes of
People Assembled to PaEtake
of the Cars Hospitality.

dent. resulting in the loss of large
n umber of lives, occurred here yester
day. The popular fete of, the corona
tion ceremonies was held in the Ho-
dynsky plain, opposite the Petro ffskJ
palace, and it is estimated that fully
500, 600 persons attended. For days
past the city has been full of peasan t:
from many parts of the country, al
awaiting the free feast that was given
yesterday. 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 description.
Expectation had reached the highest
point, for it was known that yester'
days fetes would excel anything 'oi
the kind ever given in connection with
the coronation of aczar.
Long before daylight the crowds be-
gan pouring in the direction of the
plain, while at an early hour all
sorts of merry making was INDUCED
in. The scene was one to be long
remembered. Great booths had been
constructed on the plain, and free
food was distributed with free beer
and also mugs as souvenirs of the oc-
casion.
This free feast, which has always
been the popular feature of corona
tions, has hitherto been the occasion
of great deal of crowding and good
natured fighting for places on the part
of the hundreds of thousands OF
guests in the city, but no such gather.
Ing was ever witnessed on the
Hodynsky plain, which has always
been the scene of the popular enter.
tainments ending coronations, as that
which asse mbled yesterday.
Everything progressed smoothly un'
til the distribution of the food and
gifts began. Then the people in the
rear began to crowd forward. but the
police and soldiers checked them, and
for short time there was compare.
tive order. Soon, however, the
crowd in the rear again 0e-
came impatient and surged forward
despite every effort to hold them back.
Barriers had been erected in the
vicinity of the booths to prevent
aggressive crowding and under ordin-
ary circumstances these would have
been sufficient for the purpose. The
people in front were swept against
the barriers, where the enormous
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
Io e4,. 10I - h,,4
their attempts were fruitless. Their
shrieks were heard, and this had the
effect of further melting those in the
re ar to get forward,
Suddenly the barriers gave way,
and with rush the immense throng
swept forward Hundreds of men,
women and children were thrown
down, and to stumble or fall meant
death or serious injury, but no power
could check the crowd, many of whom
were in condition of panic. The au.
thorities were helpless and for a time
the scene baf1ed description. Many
persons were killed by being crushed
against the barriers before they gave
way, and a great number met their
deaths by being trampled upon. The
cries and shrieks of the injured could
be heard above the tumult of the
crowd, and the effect was heartrend
ing,
Additional troops were called upon
to assist in checking and dispensing
the people. This they finally sue
ceeded in doing, when every effort
was made to succor the injured. Cos
sacks were placed at the entrances OF
the 500 booths on the plain and into
these structures were carried the
bodies of the dead.
At the time of sending this dispatch
(4:50) it is impossible to say how many
of the United Press, who was an eye.
witness of the affair, saw heaps OF
b odies in the booth.
A large number of the dead were
carried away in ambulances and on
fire trucks, but many bodies are still
in the booths. 1t is highly probable
that many of the victims who came
from distance will never be identi-
fed. These bodies will be inferred by
the government. In fact, 1t is be-
lieved that most of those who were
killed were moujiks from the prov
inces. All the victims belonged to the
poorest classes of people. The mum
ber of injured is very large, and it is
thought many of them will die. In
some cases many had their arms, legs
and ribs broken, and several had their
skulls fractured by the heavy wooden
shoes of the peasants.
The authori ties and members of the
Russian Red Cross society are taking
the best of care of the injured. The
has cast gloon over the fes-
..ivities, these being the first fatalities
that have occurred during the corona
tion ceremonies.
The czar and czarina, when informed
Of the extent of the disaster, expressed
profound sorrow, and the czar gave
orders that everything should be done
TO alleviate the sufferings of the in
jured. The calamity was not due to
any lack of precaution on the part of
the authorities, but arose entirely
from the eagerness of the people to
enjoy the hospitality of the car.
TIL e Killed and Injured.
MAc~nrry AI%I =