Milford chronicle., 1903-08-14
HORRORATBALLGROlND
Failing Balcony at PhiladelphiaPar
Kills Nine and Injuries 800.
AN AVALANCHE OF HUMANITY
Sudden Crash Let Fall Hundreds Of
shrieking Persons Into the Street.
a Distance Of 20 Feet - Disaster

SnTieNln9 PERSONS lnto bhe Slreeti
a Distance Of 20 Feet - Disaster
ce,,s~A Lu RottAn Tinahers.
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Philadelphia, Aug. 1O.-Nine peo-
pie We're killed and 300 more or less
Eeriously injured, a score perhaps Ia
tally, by the collapse of a rotten bal
cOny at the Philadelphia National
League Base Ball Park. The bal
cony overhung the high wall on the
Fifteenth street side of the park, and
sudden pressure at a weak point
caused a sharp break, which preojpi-
tated an avalanche of struggling,
shrieking humanity into the street.
fully 20 feet below. Among the scores
Of bleeding men and boys quickly
taken to hospitals it is feared that
fully a dozen will not be able to sur
vive their terrible injuries. That more
were not killed outright is little short
of a miracle. The nearby hospitals
were unable to care for the many pa
tients rushed into their wards, and
some seriously injured, had to be
LaAEu W QUIET luSlilullOuS DtluIt lutlI
bleeding wounds could be treated.
Rotten timbers were responsible for
the accident, which occurred during
the second game between Boston and
the Phillies. A drunken mans attack
on little girl started a fight in Fif-
teenth street, and the crowd in the
ball park rushed to the overhanging
balcony, all yelling excitedly. With a
loud report one of the joists gave way
in about the centre of the structure.
Instantly the joists started breaking
toward Huntingdon street and also
toward Lehigh avenue simultaneously,
and at least 1000 persons were hurled
to the ground. a distance of about %
feet. The yells and screams of the
injured and the falling were appalling
The first line of spectators against
the railing quickly plunged to the
ground, and those behind came tum-
bling after showed forward from those
behind
The scene after the accident was
fairly indescribable 1t was literal
fact that blood fairly flowed in the
gutter. Many of the injured fell from
the top OF the wall face downward and
it is thought that there were scores
of fractured skulls.
Scores of homes are grief-stricll-
en- Three hospitals are crowded
with patients about the bcdsides Of
whom are witnessed a countless num-
Der of pathetic scenes. 1t is said 13 of
the patients are dying.
Joseph McDOnough, who is at st.
Lukss hospital with a fractured skull.
became delirious. and springing from
his bed threw a glass at DR.. c. W.
Thomas. The patient then kicked a
screen out of a window and attempted
to jump to the street, but was held
back by attendants.
Frederick Baumann has never re-
gained consciousness since he was hurt.
Attended by the young woman to whom
he is engaged, he lies at the point of
death in the Samaritan hospital.
Another man. similarly attended, is
James Douglas McCauley, who was the
first patient received at St Luks's after
the accident. He has a fractured skull, |
and is in a very critical condition. He /
is engaged to be married.
Edward Hedley. a member of the
Vesper crew that captured the worlds /
championship at Paris, may never pull /.
an oar again. One shoulder was dislo- 1
Gated and one wrist was fractured dur
ing the accident and he is now at St. /
Joseph's hospital. He also suffered Sc
we're bruises on his knees and head.