Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-10-09
PLATFORM GOES DOWN.
Thlrty.one People Injured In Serious
Accident At Kansas City.
Four OF the Victims In Critical Condition
aud May Die-The Accident En-
tirciy Due TO the Rot
ten Piling.

KANSAS CITY, No., Oct IA few
minutes before seven o'clock last night
portion Of the platform Of the Kan
sas City & Independence Rapid Transit
railroad depot at Fifteenth street and
Askew avenue gave way. 1t fell dis
lance Of 20 feet, carrying with 1t 80
people. OF these 81 are known to have
been injured. It Is probable that, in
GLIDING those whose injuries are slight,
the total will reach 40. OF the injured
four are in a critical condition and
may die. They are: Mrs. Randolph
NJ. venable, Independence, injured in
ternally; Mrs. l.. w. Baldwin, INDIE
per dence, internally injured; Mrs.
Madge Decker, Webb City, NO., con-
cussion of the brain, and E. L. Morse,
Excelsior Springs, Mo-, internally in
jured.
E. L. Morse, of Excelsior Springs, is
better known as "Liv" Morse. He was
injured internally, and, though con-
scious, the attending physician feared
that his wounds might result fatally.
Morse has been back from Washington
but few days and was in Kansas City
seeing the Flower parade. lie is re-
publican politician known from end to
end OF Missouri and is recognized as
Kerens' representative in the Third
district. Mr.. Morse was removed to
his home in Excelsior Springs last
night
The accident was due to the decayed
condition OF the stringers which sup
ported the floor Of the platform. The
platform was constructed over q deep
ravine, and its foundation consisted Of
piling driven into the soft, swampy
soil 1t was constructed eight years
ago. 1t supported the electric line
tracks, and was subject constantly to
severe strain from bearing the weight
Of the heavy cars.
A crowd OF about 100 people were
struggling to get on board car which
had just backed upon the platform
when, without even moments warn
ing, without even preliminary waver,
section of the platform eight feet
square, between the gate leading from
the depot to the cars, fell with crash.
For q moment the crowd was dumb
founded, and no sound was heard save
that Of the swapping asunder OF the
timbers and planks. Then there arose
mighty shrek, which struck terror
to the hearts of the few who were
fortunate enough to escape the catas-
trophe. Cries of anguish from
women and children who were pinned
beneath heavy timbers filed the air.
The timbers gave way in the center
and fell downward, forming a huge
funnel ut the bottom of which half
q hundred human beings were piled
upon each other in struggling heap.
The injured writhed with pain, and
put forth almost superhuman efforts
to extricate themselves. Blood
streamed from the wounds Of the in
jured upon the more fortunate and
gave the impression that no one es-
capped unscathed. That anyone es-
capped without scratch seemed impos-
sible. In fact, IL is doubtful II anyone
did escape without some injury.
The waiting rooms in the depot were
prepared for the injured, and rude cots
and lounges for the unfortunate ones
to lie upon were hastily constructed.
DR.. o. L. Kerr, of Independence, who
was ut the depot, did good work in be-
half OF the injured, and rendered ma
tcrial assistance in several cases. He
was reinforced in n short time by
Drs. W. c. and Frank Iuen, c. d. Usher,
| n. A. lesson and Police Surgeons Lon
gun and Norberg.
After temporary relief had been af-
forded many were taken to their
homes and several were made comfort
able in the homes OF the people in the
near vicinity. The Metropolitan Street
Railway company provided special cars
for the convenience of the injured to
their houses, and had hacks and car
riages at Independence to await the
arrival of the victims. The police am
bulance and patrol wagon were en-
ployed in removing the more seriously
Injured to All Saints hospital.