Evening star., 1903-07-14
TOSSED BY THE STORM
BIG ENDEAVOR TENT IN DEN
YER THROWN TO EARTH.
Several People Bruised and Shocked
but No One Killed by
Accident.

DENVER, Col. July 4-Those persons
| injured by the collapsing of Tent Endeavor
| in windstorm yesterday afternoon are
reported to be resting easily and all, it is
| believed, will quickly recover.
The tent, which was go feet long by 1SC
| wide and 56 feet high in the center. was
owned by the United Society of Christian
Endeavor. and was sent here from Boston
| 1t is complete wreck.
Improperly Erected.
1t is said by an experienced circus can
vasman who examined the construction OF
the tent that 1t was not put up as it
should have been. The work was done
by local tentmen, who are not accustomed
to handling such large structures. Much
credit is given Percy s. Foster of Wash
| ington. d. c.. Rev. E. ]. Horsefield of
Bristol, England: L. M. Lewis. assistant
chief usher and Miss Winfield Sleep,
whose presence of mind and prompt action
prevented the disaster from becoming much
more serious than 1t was
The big tent Endeavor. where the Chris
tian Endeavor convention has been held
for the past four days, was blown over
late yesterday afternoon, more than 5000
people being in the tent at the time. The
injured numbered nearly a score but for
tunately none of them was seriously hurt.
Mrs. Jessie NJ. ThOrnburgh of Denver was
| the most seriously injured. Her nose was
badly gashed and she suffered several
scalp wounds.
Presence Of Mind.
The presence of mind of A. NJ. Ramsey
of Chicago. who sprang to chair and
called to the people to hold up the canvas
and poles. undoubtedly prevented many
from suffocating. AS it was, many women
tainted and were extricated from the folds
of the canvas with much difficulty. Miss
Winfield Sleep of Denver. who was in
charge of St. Marks Hospital tent. seeing
| the accident at the big tent close by, tele-
phoned to the Electric Light Company to
shut off the current This prevented any
damage from the live wires that had fallen
with the tent poles
A feature that showed the religious ma
ture of the participants was seen when the
majority were extricated from the canvas
folds. Led by an eastern delegate. all
gathered round in the open air and an
impromptu praise service was held
Rose in the Air.
The convention was in full progress at
the time of the accident, and although
there were signs of rain and there was
some wind blowing, no trouble was antici-
pated by the management The sides of
the tent had been raised to admit air. and
this enabled the wind tC lit up the big
that turned the tent over came SO suddenly
that no preparation could be made to fore
stall the consequences. and Wsasn the wind
swept under the tent the top Ned out like
an immense sail. the smaller guy ropes
were pulled from their places. and in a mo-
ment more the big poles were drawn from
the ground
People in Panic
Immediately the 5000 occupants of the
tent were in panic, heightened by the
screams of hundreds of women. 1t was
then that Mr.. Ramsey sprang to a chair
and called loudly on the men to hold up the
canvas and catch the large supporting
poles they fell. Hundreds OF men sprang
to their feet and successfully carried out
the Chicago mans suggestion, and thus
averted serious consequences of the acci-
dent. More than 900 people who had been
seated near the walls of the tent esca ped
the folds, and these Immediately formed
themselves into rescue corps. Those who
had tainted and those suffering from slight
injuries were quickly removed to the hos
pltal. Among those suffering from nervous
shock is Miss Mindeck of New York.
The most seriously hurt are:
Mrs. Thornburgh, Denver; lad wound in
forehead; serious.
Alicia Murdoch, Denver; arm fractured.
Miss Mary Ellis, Denver: bruised about
the body.
Mrs. 1. N. Johnson, Denver; badly
X. c. Patterson Alamosa Col: head cut
by electric lamp: bad scalp wound
Miss Eta Ward, Chicago; badly bruised
by falling pole.