The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-22
Wind TumbIeSSectlon of Grand
Stand Over in Greek and Sew
eraI Have Narrow Escapes
From Death.
SCORE BOARD AND PART
OF FENCE BLOWN DOWN
George swanton Took Refuge Under
the stand From the Rain and Was
Plnloned In Water--Ground.
keeper Cook Injured.

George Swanton, 12-year-old boy, was
crushed to death in a section of the
grandstand at the baseball park which
was demolished by the storm yesterday
afternoon. Henry Duncan, lad about
the same age, was slightly bruised about
the body and Groundkeeper NJ. s. Cook
sustained painful scalp wound, inflicted
by falling piece Of timber.
When the storm came UP Policeman
Mullen, players Frank Smith and Camp
bell and Groundkeeper Cook with num-
Der of boys took refuge in the stand
known as the smoker" part of which
was only recently constructed. In de-
scribing the affair Policeman Mullen said
that the wind lifted the stand up In front
once or twice and everybody made a
dash for the exit. He got out safely
and ran along the fence, sections of which
we're constantly falling. The officer en-
| braced a friendly telephone pole until the
wind had spent its force.
Outfelder Longley was underneath the
Smoker" when it began to tremble and
he made a dash for the dressing room
about Is feet away. He arrived there
just as the stand collapsed.
Groundkeeper Cook was hit by piece
of timber just as he was about to emerge
| from the stand. He said that he hardly
knew how 1t happened. There was much
confusion and everybody was looking out
| for their own safety. Henry Duncan was
pinioned by heavy timbers and was res
cued by Frank Smith, Pitcher Campbell
and Manager Halter. He was able tc
| walk no.
! The lads escape was miraculous He
| was covered with one of the angles IT
the grandstand floor which formed seat
He was imprisoned on both sides but thu
rectangular shape of the lumber saved
him from being crushed. board wa:
torn off and he was pulled out, suffering
only slight injuries.
Was Under the Stand.
The "smoker" is at the southern ex
tremity of the main stand and was or
the edge of the small creek which circles
the west side of the grounds. The wine
hit the stand in front and toppled 1
over into the creek. George Swanton ant
a number of other boys took refuge from
the rain under the stand. 1t is not known
whether he was killed instantly oil
whether the rapidly rising water in the
creek brought DEATH In few minutes
the stream was two or three feet deeI
and the boys body was completely sub
merged No marks or bruises were found
on him.
The lads remains were laid on a play
ers bench and his mother who resides or
Avenue C, near Eighth street was sum
moned She sat over the body wringinG
her hands and crying until an ambulance
| arrived. The boy is the son of George
Swanton, a steel worker, who is at pres
ent In Youngstown, Ohio. No funeral ar
| ther Is heard from.
Had the storm been 20 minutes later
many would have been killed or injured
The smoker" Is always packed and the
storm came about 20 minutes before thu
crowd usually begins to gather. A ma
jority of the players were In the dress
ing rooms under the grand stand at the
| time.
A long stretch of the fence on the wesi
side of the grounds was blown dowr
and the score board was RACED. 1t wa:
literally twisted off the heavy supports
The local baseball management esti
mates its loss at $1,000. 1t will cost severa
hundred dollars to repair the stand ant
fence, besides the loss resulting from
the postponement of the game.
For some time 1t was thought that an
| other boy was killed and a force OF
hands was put to work cleaning away the
debris. The cap of the dead boy was
found and In a short while all who were
known to have been under the stand were
accounted for. The smoker" will be re.
paired as quickly as possible.
Trees Blown Down.
The baseball park suffered the only
serious damage from the storm, and trees
were blown down on the southsde of the
| city and several houses unroofed.
| A black cloud blew up from the south
east about $40 o'clock. 1t was intensely
hot and when the rain began to fall il
came In torrents. In the center of the
city there was very little wind. 1t was
noticed that the wind suddenly veeret
from east to west. and the old timers re.
marked that there would be damage
somewhere. At the baseball park and OF
the South Highlands hail came with the
rain, but none fell In the center of tn,
city. One man coming IN from Wood
] Alabama Brewing Co.