The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-31
PANIC HORROR
RUSSIA THE SCENE OF AN APPALL-
ING DISASTER YESTERDAY.
FrightfuI Rush on the Khodijnskoje
Plain at a Popular Feast Given I'm
Honor OF the Cxar's Coronation.
1,1S8 LIVES CRUSHED OUT
AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FATAL
LY OR SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Most Of the Victims Women and Chill
dren, Who Were TrampIea to Death
by the Frenxied Multitude.
PEASANTS WERE TOO EAGER
IN THEIR HASTE THEY OVERTURNED
TABLES AND BENCHES,
Ran Over Thousands Of Their Fellows
and stamped the Lives Out Of Most
Who Fell to the Ground.
POLICE FORCE INSUFFICIENT
TO CONTROL THE HALF MILLION
WHO WANTED TO EAT AND DRINK.
Bulletin Issued last Night Stating
that the Killed and Those Who Died
I'm Hospitals Numbered 1,13s.
CORONATION FETES MARRIED
pAMPER THROWN ON THE SEASON
OF REJOICING AT MOSCOW.
Cxar and Cxarina Distressed Over the
CaIamfty-1,OOO Roubles Sent to
Each Bereaved Family.

Copyright, 1896, by the Associated Press)
MOSCOW, May so-A disaster. more ap-
palling than any that has startled the old
world in many years. occurred here this
morning between and 6 o'clock. Nearly
three thousand people were trampled to
death or injured in a panic. At IL o'clock
tonight the official report gives the number
of dead bodies picked up as 11ss. There are
hundreds more seriously and PERHAPS ia
tally Injured. A popular feast was given in
honor Of the Cars coronation, and
about $4,000 people were gathered to par
ticipate in It, While the crush was at its
greatest a panic started and the stronger
people trampled the weaker to death. One
woman gave birth to child while in her
death agony. At first it was believed only a
few hundred lives had been crushed out.
but the number Of bodies picked UP kept
growing all day and evening. Now It is be-
lieved 200 deaths will result.
Among the dead found on the plain were
ladies evidently of high rank, dressed in the
jewels The police barracks. to which the
bodies Of the dead were taken by the au-
thorities, are besieged with persons be-
seeching for news of friends and rela-
tives The scenes at the barracks where
the process of Identification is going on.
are terrible in the extreme. The remains Of
the dead will all be conveyed during the
course Of the night to the cemetery. where
a large morgue is located.
In anticipation of the great feast,
tens of thousands of people be-
gan trooping towards the Petrov-
sky palace, in front Of which the plain is
situated, during the earliest hours this morn
ing In fact SO much interest was taken in
the open air banquet that thousands reached
the ground last evening and camped there
or in the immediate vicinity during the night.
I'm order to make sure of obtaining good po-
sitions to-day. The majority Of these peo-
ple came on foot, but some came in the
oldest kind of vehicles. country carts and
turnouts of the most primitive description.
and others travelled on horseback.
THE BANQUET TARkEs.
On the Hodysky or Khodijnskoje plain dt
is written both ways) long hines of rough
tables, hanked by rougher benches, had been
erected. In the distance these lines
of tables looked like immovable
regiments Of soldiers, or the trerches
of some extensive series of fortifica-
tions. 1t was at first arranged to accommo-
date 100000 people, but in view of the i'm
mense crowds assembled in and about this
city for the coronation tetes, extra tables
and benches were hastily erected ard every
effort was made to provide seating room and
a hearty meal for 100000 people. Twice that
number was desirous OF taking part in the
feast, but the authorities decided that there
must be limit to the number to be enter
tained. and so the figure was fixed ct 5oo.-
900. To feed this multitude, an army of cooks
and walters was gathered together. the army
bake-houses were taxed to their utmost ca
pacity. and 10000 mugs. each bearing por-
traits Of the Car and Czarina. we're ordered
and manufactured for presentation to the
people taking part in the great banquet
Thousands of cattle. trainloads OF provisions
and ship-loads of liquid refreshments were
| sent to the Hodysky plain during the week,
and this morning all was in readiness for the
gigatic meal.
In anticipation Of the assembage Of an
immense crowd and the possibility of dis
order strong forces of police were detailed
for duty on the plain. which. like the
| Petrovsky palace 1t fronts. is some three
miles outside Of this city and on the road 70