The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-10
POOR OLD
KANSAS CITY.
Has Another Terrible Time
With Her Fall Festivities.
Police Create a Panic In a
Crowd Of $4,000.
BOTH WOMEN AND MEN
TrampIed On While the Patrol
Wagons Tear On
Through the Densely Packed
Masses, Injuring Many.

Kansas City. Oct 1O.-By the best
good fortune the last night of carnival
week barely escaped being the cause of
several deaths AS it was. several peo-
pie were injured. Fifty thousand peo-
pie tried to squeeze into two blocks Of
space on Grand avenue in the center
Of the city TO witness a mimic play at
fire arranged by the fire department.
The crush of people finally became
terrific and two solid walls of humanity
found itself Wedged in by impenetra-
bic buildings on either side and pushed
on against each other by crushing
cfOWdS IL the rear. Attempts OF the
police headed by Chief Irwin to clear
the street only increased the terror
Women tainted by the score and were
trampled on; children were held in the
air to prevent their being killed and
men fought each other in their desper-
alton The widest confusion prevailed
for half an hour and only subsided
when an extra detachment of police
fairly beat back the crowds at the diff
ferent openings of the street and made
a breathing space.
Thousands of people standing and
shouting their united and indignant
protests at the brutalities of Kansas
C1ty's police force women fainting, chill
dren with tear-stained faces, lifted bod
lily into places of safety by willing arms
which was raised in angry gestures
against the men whose sworn duty it
is to protect them; charging police Of
hcers riding ruthlesly into crowded
streets, already full to overlooking; pa
troll wagons driven up and down
through compact masses of human be-
lngS, who were pOWerleSS to move an
inch in any way, and who begged for
the chance to go anywhere in any di-
rection that life might be left them.
These were some Of the scenes wit
messed at the grand stands on Grand
avenue last night.
The criticisms upon the lack of police
regulations on karnival night may
~ u IL L.
duct OF the officers and mel last night
or it may have been that Chief Irwin
momentarily lost his self-possession.
Whatever the cause, the sight was
sickening and one never to be forgot
ten.
All Of last nights fire department
display was scheduled to take place on
Grand avenue, between Ninth and
Tenth Naturally, all of the west
couldn't see it. nor were they expected
to, much as they desired. The display
was intended for the grand stand Occu-
pants and the Karnival kreWe re-
Quested that the streets be roped, and
ample police protection furnished as
early as $50 p. m
The streets We're rOped. at least the
sidewalks were, but the ends were wide
open The police appeared on the
scene at 20 minutes before s. The dis
play was advertised for 8 o'clock.
The few scattering policemen started
in to clear the avenue, which was pack
ed solid for two blocks, about g o'clock
L
ed officers and dozen or so patrolmen
were on hand to control and handle a
multitude of $4,000 1t was farcicaI to
expect anything but failure.
Chief Irwin commanded the police in
person. He rode in one patrol wa gon
He tried in vain to make the crowd
clear the space between the arch and
Tenth street As fast as the wagons
left a point 1t was crowded worse than
ever. The chief lost his temper He
shouted, waved his arms and tried to
make speech. The crowd jeered, but
did not move. It couldn't.
Other tactics We're tried. Right into
the compact mass of men, women, chill
dren and babes went the mounted men
They We're swallowed up and lost in
a sea of humanity
Still the crowd was packed The
chief wrathed angry The patrol wagons
changed their gongs, the horses. jumped
and the wagons charged the swarnls of
people Back, back they went slowly
drawing together. and yet closer as the
horses hOOfs trOd upon their toes and
their noses slapped into their faces
Strong men swore, women tainted by
scores, children We're lifted bodily from
the mass into freer air. that they might
not be crushed to death. 1t was brutal
beyond description.
The mounted men made the crowds
in the rear understand the condition,
the wagons charged in front and the
rear gave way that the front might fail
back. FINALLY the street was cleared
The crowds swamped the stands
clambered wildly over ratings and
ticket sellers and found safety The
patrol wagons, instead of staying at the
ends of the cleared space, charged up
and down pr0miScuously through the
big crowds beyond the cOrdOns of po-
hce=Why, no one knew. The crowds
stood it as long as they could, and final
Iy swept away the cOrdOns and once
more captured all that had been gained
The hremen and the Krewe We're in
despair and wanted to give UP the
show But the police were sure the
space could be held Once more the
wagons charged back and forth, the
mounted men rode into the crowds, the
patrolmen used their clubs. Painting
women were dragged out and carried
to the stands. to the drug stores even
placed in the patrol wagons for safety
Several women We're knocked down and
traupled on. One was thrown to the
pavement and kicked into unconscious
ness. Scores of feet were trampled on
by other feet or horses hoOfs.
Children and parents were separated
and the former swallowed up in the
great crush It was awful, brutal
scandalous. But the street was cleared;
the wagons charged up and down some
arrested; a negro was savagely beaten,
and the show began.
The real police work was utterly
neglected. Small boys entered the K
k X arch and tore its pedestals to
shreds. NIiscreants skulked about be
meath the stands, stealing whatever they
could lay hands upon Not one of
either was arrested. Notorious women
climbed up into the patrol wagon driven