The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-12-05
Crowd Seeks a Free View.

The game had attracted a phenomenal
ly large crowd, and those who were not
early enough at the gate were unable
to obtain seat. Previous to the open
ing of the contest a large number of men
and boys who were not willing to pay the
price of admission had obtained leave to
climb upon the roof of the Pacific Glass
works for the purpose of watching the
game. The roof was fairly well filled
when the time for the calling of play APP
preached.
When the crush at the gates became so
great, however, as to preclude all posi-
bility that all who were seeking admis-
sion could be let in, there was a STAN
pete to this building, which stands about
200 feet from the field, and many men,
prominent in the city, succeeded in climb
ing upon the roof, adding to the crowd,
which already had gone above the safe
ty point Despite the protests of those
who were already upon the coign Of
vantage more and more obtained foot
hold, until there was scarcely a spare
foot of space to be seen.
Roof Breaks with Crash.
About twenty minutes after the game
had commenced, and without any warn
ing, a corner of the roof collapsed, carry
ing with it in it's fall all those who had
been standing thereupon. Luckily the
whole roof did not give way or the disas-
ter would have been even more fearful
AS it was at least 200 fell into the inter-
ior of the works, and a few more in thu
rush that ensued in the other portion Of
the place to get down were hurled to the
ground.
Despite the proximity of the structure
to the football grounds, so great was the
noise of the shouting and the cheering
that none Of those who were interested
in watching the game were aware of the
6nnf Iolo ~
that led to a great deal more suffering
than would have been the case had the
spectators been cogniZant Of the horror
which had been enacted. This caused a
delay also in procuring physicians and
nurses to aid the injured.
Fall Into Molten Glass.
The factory has been shut down for
some months. and for the first time the
fires in the furnaces had been relighted
and in all the watts glass in it's various
forms was being melted and refined. In
to these seething pots of molten matte.
the victims of the accident were hurled,
some being bodily cast into the fires,
others falling into watts where the mat
ter was glowing, and still others being
lncinerated by falling into those huge
pots where the glass, seething and bub-
bling, was being purified. Some of these
were killed instantly and others were
roasted slowly to death, their position
being such that help could not be given
them.
The few who were so fortunate as to-
escape death by the furnaces suffered in
juries by failing upon piles of glass Stag
with sharp, jagged edges, which lay by
the sides Of the watts, or by falling upon
the floor and stunned by the shock, be-
ing scorched and burned by their prox-
unity to the intense heat. These, how
ever, were saved by the workmen of the
hninO tn
heat and to the workings Of the place,
were able to rescue those whose position
was not certain death
Seldom has an accident happened
wherein the victims who were not killed
have been subjected to such tortures, ana
the cries of those who in their helpless
ness and the inability of those to succor
them were being burned to death were
piteous to hear. The ushers Of the crowd
went through the attendance on the fields
and in the stands, asking for doctors and
nurses and fortunately many Of these
were able to give immediate assistance
To add to the terrible calamity the fall
ing of the timbers into the fires set the
building ablaze, and it is feared that the
workmen were driven out of the place
before all the wounded could be removed,
and certainly before the bodies of those
killed could be recovered. The fire was
not put out until the greater part Of the
factory had been consumed.
Many Hospitals Are Near.
The police and fire department were
soon at hand and every patrol wagon and
ambulance in the city was summoned.
But these were all insufficient and the
private carriages which were drawn ND
outside the track were called into requi-
sition, and every wagon that could be
procured was pressed into service to car
~ the dead to the morgue and the dying
to the hospitals.
The Southern Pacific railway hospital.
which is but two blocks away from the
scene Of the fatality, was quickly filed.
about forty of the wounded being taken
there. Others were taken TO st. Luke's
hospital and the city receiving hospitals.
Even when the sufferers had been taken
to the hospitals it was some time before
their injuries could be attended to by
reason of the shortage of surgeons and