Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-04
AN APPALLING DISASTER.

Twenty-six persons were killed, and
more than one hundred injured by
portion of the City He'll floor, in Lon
don, Ont, giving way during an after
election meeting last night. The muni
cipal election had been fought on strict
party lines, and when the returns show
ed that the conservatives had elected
their candidate for mayor, DR.. John d.
Wilson, and had secured msjority iu
the council, the victors, with some
1000 supporters, returned to the City
Hall to listen to the promises of the
newly elected officials. The hall was
iammed to the doors. People were
standing in the window seats and On
the stairs, and the floor Of the hall was
packed. The speeches had gone along
for an hour. Alderman Csrrolhers and
Mayor elect Wilson stepped to the
front OF the platform to secure quiet.
The sood-humored crowd, flushed with
victory, was josiliug and showing in
lovial mood. Suddenly there was a
cracking sound from the platform on
which the speakers of the evening were
seated. The platform seemed to pitch
forward, the floor around it gave way,
and down through The floor two
hundred people were hurled. Crash
ing down upon the hesds OF the
doomed ores came huge safe and en-
iron steam coil, which were standing in
| the southeastern corner Of the hall
Jagged beams and iimbers from the
broken floor were hurled down upon
the seething mass OF humanity. Seen
from above all seemed struggling for
life ike the crew of sinking ship.
Within twenty seconds the hall was
cleared, aad as few white faced spec.
tator:, who had rot rushed to tie
street, struggled back into the hall and
gezed down iDto the abyss, the sight
wos terrible one. Men cursed aud
prayed, wept and laughed in the de-
lirium Of terror, all the while struggling
to disentaDgle themselves from the net
work of beams and girders which sur
rounded them and crushed them to
their doom. Cries for help were ming
led with frantic appeals to those above
Tor aid. Some of those less injured
dragged themselves painfully TO tie
walls and endeavored to reach the
floor from which they had fallen. Down
10 the pit lay scores of motionless
figures. Many lads who had climbed
behind the mayors chair as q coigc OF
vantage were among the victims, and
screams for help in their childish treble
added new horror to the scene. Figh!-
ing and struggling in the ri',
frantic men beat down those weaker
and made OF their bodies stepping
stone to attempt to their own safety.
The work of rescue wss soon CON-
menced, when the most horrible scenes
were witnessed. Cooler heads, among
them Alderman Robert CaTrolhers,
giant in statue, endesvored to restrain
the frantic crowd. Bleeding from scalp
wounds, his clothes torn and hanging
from his back, Carroihers shouted for
room and refused 10 move himself un
til boy who lay in front of him had
been saved. Others showed equal
heroism, but in the general rout many
thought only for themselves. At mid
night partial list OF the victims wss
compiled. The unfortunates comprised
many of the best known men of the
city. With the first swayirg of the
floors there was rush of excited men
toward the doors. Fortunately there
were many exits, and although many
of the weaker ones were crushed down
and trampled by those fighting for free
dom and safety, no one was seriously
injured in the stampede. A couple Of
small boys rushed to safety by delit-
erately clambaring upon the heads of
the thickly massed crowd and running
over it to the doors.