New-York tribune., 1903-07-14
TENT FALLS ON 5000.
MANY WOMEN FAINT.
Christian EndeaUor CanUaS Blo10n
OUer on Contention.

Denver. July 13.-The tent Endeavor. where
the Christian Endeavor Convention has been
held for the last four days. was blown over this
afternoon, more than eight thousand people
pelng In 1t at the time. The injured numbered
nearly score, but none of them were seriously
hurt- The presence of mind of A H. Ramsey,
OF Chlcago. who sprang to a chair and called
to the people to hold up the canvas and poles,
undoubtedly prevented many from suffocating.
AS II was. many women tainted and were eX-
trlcated from the folds of the canvas with much
dlfnculty. Mrs. Winifred Sleep, of Denver. who
was In charge of ST Marks Hospital tent, see
ing the accident at the big tent, close by, tele-
phoned to the electric light company to shut
OH the current. This prevented any damage
from the live wires that had fallen with the
tent poles. When the majority were extricated
from the canvass folds impromptu praise
service was held. led by an Eastern delegate.
The convention in full progress at the
time of the accident, and. although there were
signs of rain and some wind was blowing, no
trouble was anticipated by the management
The sides Of the tent had been raised to admit
air, and this enabled the wind to lift the big
canvas as though it a balloon. The gust
that turned the tent over came so suddenly that
no preparation could be made to forestaH the
consequences and when the wind swept under
the tent the top puffed out like immense
their places, and in a moment more the big poles
were drawn from the ground.
Immediately the eight thousand occupants of
the tent were in a panic, heightened by the
screams OF hundreds of women. 1t then
that Mr.. Ramsey sprang to chair and called
loudly on the men to hold UP the canvas and
catch the large supporting poles as they fell
Hundreds Of men sprang to their feet and car
ried out the Chicago mans suggestion, thus
averting serious consequences of the accident
More than one thousand people who had been
seated near the walls of the tent escaped the
folds. and these Immediately formed themselves
into rescue corps. Those who had tainted and
those suffering from slight injuries were quick
ly removed to the hospital tent
Among those suffering from nervous shock is
Miss BIindeck, of New-York
The Rev. DR.. Francis z. Clark. president of
the United Society of Christian Endeavor. to-day
replied to the statement made by DR.. Berry, Of
the Epworth League, that union between the
different young peoples societies is not possi-
ble.'' He said:
If Dr. Berry's remarks were correctly reported,
ready been accomplished to a large degree The
Christian Endeavor Society has already united the
in inns foFeFn a9nf and than as
have distinct young peoples societies of their own
also unite in this interdenomlnational union move
own denominational one
Every Christian Endeavor society is denomina-
tional society of the denomination the
church to which it belongs and just as loyal to
to it's Be- P ads oRa
The Christian Endeavor is, in this respect on ex-
Sunday school movement. The petition started at
Denver only asks that the young people of all the
churches Of all the denominations be allowed to
have have the freedom for fellowship which most Of
that what Mr.. Berry says will always be true and
that union with the Epworth League is utterly
impossible. Many Epworth LeaguerS have already
spoken heartily in favor of the petition.
The afternoon meeting in the tent, devoted to
consideration of great national problems. was
one of the most interesting and enthusiastic Of
the convention.
Mr.. Chivers drew from colored preachers and
professors present the admission that not one
colored preacher in the South was an educated
man. The missionary schools. he thought, were
the best means by which the colored preachers
and teachers could properly be trained.
The recent lynching of negroes was touched
on, and Mr.. Chivers got all the colOred people
present to agree with him that the outrages
committed by the victims Of mob violence were
OF the most fendish sort and called for the most
severe punishment But" said the speaker,
there should not be one punishment for q
black man and another for a white for
similar crimes"
Miss Cecil Armstrong, Of Chicago whose spec
cial church work in that city is among the col
ored people, said that she had heard the super
intendent of packing company in Chicago say
that the negro the probable solution of the
labor problem, and unless the labor unions be-
came more rational in their demands the black
men would secure the positions