Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-07-16
STORM WRECKS TENT.
The Last Day of the Christian
EndeavOr Convention Has
Sad Ending.
PRESENCE OF MIND SAVES MANY LIVES.
Wind Swept Under Tent Swapping
Ropes and Drawing Poles from
GrOund-Eight Thousand Persons
in Panic-Wild Scenes Heightened
by Screams of Women.

Denver, Col, July 1.-THE big tent
Endeavor, where the Christian En-
deavor convention has been held for
the past three or four days was blown
over Monday afternoon at four
O'Clock, while more than eight thou
sand people were attending the pro-
ceedings. The injured numbered
of them was seriously hurt. Miss Jes-
Sic M. ~Thornburgh, of Denver. was
the most seriously injured, her nose
being gashed and her scalp suffering
several wounds. The presence of mind
of Mr.. A. NJ. Ramsey, of Chicago, who
people to hold up the canvas and
poles undoubtedly prevented many
from suffocating. AS it was many
women tainted and were rescued from
the folds of the canvas with much diff.
ficulty.
Mrs. Winifred Sleep, of Denver, who
was in charge of the St. Marks hos
pital tent, seeing the catastrophe at
the big tent close by, telegraphed the
electric light company to shut of
the current. This prevented any dam.
age from the live wires that had fal.
len with the tent poles. A feature
that showed the religious nature OF
the participants was seen when the
majority were eXtricated from the
canvas folds. Led by an eastern dele
gate, all gathered around in the open
air and an %impromptu praise service
was held.
The convention was in full progress
at four o'clock, and although there
were signs of rain and some wind was
blowing, no trouble was anticipated
by the management. The sides of the
tent were up in mid air, and this en-
abled the squall to lift the canvas as
if it were a balloon. The gust OF
wind that turned the big tent over
came so suddenly that no preparation
could be made to forestall the conse.
quences. The wind swept under the
tent, the roof of which Immediately
belched out like an immense sail. Tit
smaller guy ropes were pulled from
their places, and in a moment more
the big poles were drawn from the
ground.
Immediately the 5000 persons were
in a panic, which was heightened by
the screams of hundreds of women
1t was then that Mr.. Ramsey sprang
to a chair and called loudly upon the
men to hold up the canvas and catch
the large supporting poles as they
fell. Hundreds of men sprang to their
feet and carried out the Chicago
mans suggestion, and thus averted 8
calamity. AS the poles fell more than
one thousand people who had been
seated near the walls of the ten es'
capped the folds and these immediate,
" formed themselves into a rescue
corps. Women who had tainted anG
those who were suffering from slight
injuries were quickly removed tc
the hospital tent.
The injured:
Miss Tornburgh, Denver, very bao
wound in forehead; very serious.
Allella Murdoch, Denver, arm frac,
tured.
J. C. Peters, Alamosa, Col, scalp
wound and shock.
Miss Mary Ellis, Denver, bruised
about body.
Miss Powers, Trenton, Nsb., knee
injured, body bruised.
Mrs. L. n. Johnson, Denver, badly
bruised and tainted from fright.
X. c. Patterson, Alamosa, Col, head
hit by electric lamp; bad scalp wound,
Miss Eta Ward, 1915 West Taylor
street, Chicago, large pole fell across
back and badly bruised her.
Among those who are suffering
from severe nervous shocks are:
Miss Blanche Fearer, Oregon, Ill.
Miss Mindeck, New York.
Miss Nipher, Pueblo, Col.
Miss Myrtle Moore and Miss War.
nj