The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-21
10000 PERSONS IN A PANIC.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN CRUSHED
At A FREE EXCURSION.

Twice ne Many ms Were Expected Crowded to
the North second street Pier In williams.
burg and Tried TO Force their Way TO IN"
~Boats-sicLncss aud Hunger on the Picnic.
A panic among the women and children who
went to the new North Second street pier In Will
liamsburg yesterday to enjoy the free excursion
which was given under the direction OF the
Grand street Board of Trade nearly caused the
trip to be given up. The movement for the ex.
cursion for poor people was started by Robert T.
Whalen two months ago, and he was the Chair
man of a committee which included ex.Alder'
man Daniel MCGrath, |. y. Hagenbacher, and I.
w. Mcntzinger. All the members of the board
interested themselves in the affair, and several
hundred dollars were collected 10 pay the OK
pcnses. Mr.. Whalen had over 10000 tickets,
each admitting one woman and children. to be
distributed in Williamsburg. The Excursion
Committee thought that about 5000 or 5000
women and children would attend the excur.
sion, and they chartered the steamer Mohawk,
four barges and a tug to take them to Forest
View Grove on the Hudson.
Persons who held tickets began TO arrive at
the North Second street pier at daylight yestcr.
day. Women and children kept streaming in
until at X O'Clock there were 5000 OF them
anxious TO start up the river. When tho
steamer and barges were made fast TO the pier
the crowd pushed forward to get on the boats.
The Excursion kept tho people back
until the boats had been made ready for them.
During this time the crowd grew until fully
10000 people were jammed on the pier and in
the street. The crowd stretched from the end
OF the dock to Kent avenue. nearly 100 yards
away. There was such "a crush at 3 o'clock that
ono woman in the crowd tainted.
The screams Of her children caused q panic,
and the committee, after trying to quiet tho
~ a,,,t. .-- a. H.
station that unless policemen were sent to the
pier many people would DO killed. Capt. Short
sent twenty-five policemen. Before they
reached tho dock Drs. Southwark, Riedel. and
Schaefcr OF the Eastern District Hospital, who
were detailed to attend the excursion. appeared.
They helped to quiet the people. and the woman
who had tainted was carried to a canal boat and
On the arrival Of the police the people were
permitted to board the boats. In the struggle
to get seats In the forward parts of the barRcs
more women tainted, and n second panic start
ed. The police closed the Rangways until order
had been restored on the boats. Four women
who had tainted were carried off to the pier.
After they were revived friends took them home.
After more than 1000 people had boarded the
steamer and barges the COMMITTEES decided that
II would be dangerous to take u larger party on
the trip. Those who were left behind became
angry and pushed, forward, trying to force their
The police had great difficulty in keeping
back the crowd. and SO great was the pushing
! luht u Jul WIN TWO cnlIuren CnnglnR 10 her
skirt and a baby in her arms narrowly escaped
being pushed into the river. 1t was after 10
Seioef When the lines were cast on and the
left behind denounced the men who arranged
the excursion and then went home.
Before the excursion left Mr.. Whalen said
that IL the committee had known there would
be such a multitude OF people additional barges
would have been chartered.
After the eNcursionists left WILLIAMSBURG
some Of the children became hungry, and when
their mothers, applied for food they were in
| nrTlnl that MI fnNl and - ~ lu y,,,,t = l-,,.L
Most of the excursionists had understood that
everything would be free. There was such a
that the members of the committee were Obliged
to distribute nickels and dimes in order that the
hungry ones could get something to eat.
There were some people who were ashamed tc
Ellison Of SO varet street, Williamsburg. Or
child became very i'll. and Surgeon Schaefel
was summoned. He found that the child wa,
Mrs. Ellison herself needed food. The surgeon
Just before the grove was reached NOR.
This condition was brought upon many by laci
Of food. It was after . o'clock when tho grove
Frederick Hauser: 1s years old, and Henri.
climbing a eliff at the grove and received scall
wounds and COMMISSIONS. They were taken Il
When the boats were ready to return 1s.year
seized with an %epileptic fit. Her struggle
caused other women to swoon. On the wa,
back to williamsburg a woman who had los
her three-year.old boy and heard that a chill,
fell overheard believed it was her son. Sh
tainted. Her married sister became so excite,
to cry, There came near being another panic.
While every one was excited a woman ar
preached /. $. Remsen. the Vice-President O
the Board. and asked him to hold her one.month
old baby. She did not return for tho child, an,
when the excursion. reached williamsburg a
1880 last night the child was transferred to tn
city nurse. While the people were leaving tn
boats Mrs. Pasqualina Gymar of 81 North Sec
ond street was caught in q crush with her eight
months-old child. She tainted. She was take
to her homo in an ambulance. while the in
jured boys were taken home by friends.