Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-08-14
CRASH At BASEBALL PARK
The Collapse of a Walk Crowded With
Spectators.
FOUR KILLED, OTHERS INJURED.
A Hundred and Fifty More or Less Seriously
Hurt-The Terrible Accident Due TO the
Curiosity to See a Quarrel Between Drunk
en- men-Panlc on the Stands-Streef
Looked Like Field of Battle.

Philadelphia Especially -Four per-
sons are dead, at least IL are thought
to be fatally injured and fully $50
others hurt some seriously, as the re-
suit of an accident which occurred at
the Philadelphia National League
baseball park. A boardwalk which
overhung the left field bleachers fell
to the street, carrying 200 spectators,
Two games we're scheduled between
Boston and Philadelphia, and the at
traction drew over 10000 people to the
ball park. The accident occurred at
$40 o'clock, while the Boston team
was at bat and in its half OF the fourth
inning OF the second game, and was
indirectly due to quarrel between two
drunken men in the street. The Ma
tional League stands are built OF steel
and brick. the brick wall extending
entirely around the grounds. AT the
top OF the leftheld seats and extending
from the grandstand to the end OF the
bleachers there was walk about three
feet wide, which overhung the street
1t was this walk which gave way under
the heavy weight.
Men who were standing on the walk
were attracted by disturbance in the
street. They leaned over the side OF
the railing to see what the trouble was
and this drew the attention OF other
spectators sitting on the top rows OF
the bleacherS. Then occurred what IS
seen almost every day at a ball game
"a rush to see what the other spec
tators were looking at. The walk be-
came overcrowded, and without mo-
ment's warning 200 feet OF it fell to the
sidewalk 20 feet below, carrying all
who were on it. There were probably
,3oco persons sitting in the leit-heid
bleachers, and the roar made by the
falling timber created a panic. In
stantly the spectators rose en- masse
and made a rush down the stand into
the playing field. 1t was one great
black wave of humanity. Men and
boys climbed over one another in their
effort to escape from the grounds. Not
knowing what had occurred, the ball
PLAYERS and others tried to stop the
mad rush. but they were swept aside
in their unsuccessful efforts and sew
eral persons were badly hurt in the
crush.
Outside the grounds the scene was
one OF horror For an entire block on
Fifteenth street-from Huntingdon
street to Lehigh avenue-men and boys
we're lying writhing in agony. Some
were buried under the wreckage, others
were lying in the cutters and dozens
were stretched out in Fifteenth street
on the car tracks. Some lay uncon-
scious. others were rolling over suffer
ing great pain and others attempted
to get up and walk only to. fall again
The 10000 persons within the grounds
left the place and crowded about the
injured. of whom there were more than
100. Indescribable confusion reigned
for a time because of the great crowd.
Fortunately there we're at the game
several city officials. AS soon as they
saw what had occurred they telephoned
to the city hall, and general ambu-
lance call was sent out.
While waiting for cOnveyances to
carry the victims to hospitals thou-
sands OF willing hands looked after
the injured. They were carried from
the street and laid on the sidewalk,
and some were taken into nearby prl-
vate houses. All the houses in the Vi
cinity were thrown open to the VIC
tins. One of the largest street-car
barns in this city is situated across the
street from the ball park and all the
wrecking cars and teams were gotten
ready to transport the injured to hos
pitfalls. One wrecking car was quickly
filled with helpless men and rushed
south OF Fifteenth street to- St o.
seph's Hospital, more than two miles
away. Others were quickly loaded in
to wagons OF all descriptions belonging
to the street car company and rushed
to the Samaritan. St Mary's, the Jew
ish or St. Luke's Hospitals. Nearly
every injured person taken away. was
covered with blood and the street look
ed like a field Of carnage.