New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-04
CARING FOR THE WOUNDED.

MOHklN, Edward. itor of "Ih" News
CARING FOR THE WOUNDED.
How many were injured is not known. as those
who suffered slightly at once made for their
homes or were taken care of by their friends.
Those who We're more seriously injured were
carried neighboring drugstores, whence they
were taken to the hospital or to their homes.
The dead were taken TO the committeo-rooms OF
Alderman ParneIl, the defeated candidate for
Mayor, across the street.
The building was crowded to the doors, prob
ably two thousand people being jammed in its
narrow space. Just before the crash there was a
ull in the proceedings The audience called for
several of the newly elected Aldermen. and
there was some delay in securing a speaker to
address them. Alderman Carrothers joined the
Mayor in an effort to secure quiet. In response
to numerous calls r. NJ Toothe pushed
forward to the platform on which the speakers
stood AS ne reached 1t there was an ominous
cracking, and the raised platform on which
the Mayor and the newly elected Aldermen were
seated seemed to pitch forward to the floor
THE PLUNGE TO DEATH.
There was a sagging OF timbers. and the next
moment one hundred and fifty people were
hurled twenty feet 10 the floor below. a beam
running twenty feet along the centre OF the hall
had given way. and the crowded mass standing
above that section Of the floor were thrown IN
a heap through the hole. A large safe stood IN
one corner Of the hall and a huge steam coil
weighing ha,. ton came crashing down on
the heads OF the victims.
Following the crash there was Wild rush for
the doors. At the south door, wheTe the ma
iority of the crowd had entered, there was
panic Those In front were thrown down by the
oncoming rush, shrlekng and hghtlnS Tor the
door and safety. only One-half OF the rear
doors, a space Of about three feet vas open,
and H. the mad rush no one thoueh- 10 opfl,
the other half Five hundred people struggled
through the narrow space. the strong bearing
down the weaker
RESCUE WORK BEGUN
Alderman Neil Cooper was among the first to
no dragged out Of the turmoil Of broken beams
and bowling men lie was quickly carried TO
an adjoining room ana IN q moment half dozen
more were keeping him company SeNera! men
lowered ropes and endcaVorcd to haHI the
wounded out Of the pit From under the masscl
cor helI The windows on the ground npOr We're
broken in, and the living and dead tenderY
passed 10 the waiting ambulahoe.
4 glance at the wreck after the catastIolhe
disclosed the fact that whole section OF the
floor had dropped. the joists being as neatly cut
off as though the work had been done win Il
. -,
erected I'm the early nfties. and of late years
additional stories had been placed on the old
walls. .,. -
In the Grand opera House, which adj9inS me, me
wrecked building the first act Of The Girl
from Paris" had just been concluded Wheh
word Of the calamity was whispered throuGh
the theatre. panic was immncnt but was
averted by the actors and ushcis. ana the peo-
ple quietly left the bGlldlnS.
I, l. said that the death list IS likely 10 grow.
many Of the injured being In serious cond-
tion.