New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-24
BURST IN CONEY CROWD.
M.4NHOLE COTERS Fly.
Fire Persons Badly Hurt Uhen
Ueak Police Lines GiUe UGy.

The inadequate police arrangements for hand
ling the enormous crowd at Conev Island last
night were the indirect cause Of injury to nearly
a dozen persons fve of them being so badly
hurt that they had to be taken to the Coney
Island Reception Hospital. Two rnanhole covers
over conduits owned by the Edison Electric
Light COMPANY we're blown into the air just
as the crowd broke through the thinly stretched
poH,e lines guarding the route OF the parade.
The noise of the explosion at 9th-st and Surf
ave. was heard at the hospital blocks away.
without waiting for a call the ambulance was
rushed to the scene. The persons most seriously
burned and bruised were:
cALIdHAr James A. No. 81 Village Road. sheepshead;
shou5ders and isss burned, eleofrie shock
LAW. Imtly No 2s7 Lse-avs Brooklyn right leg
pE4AI,EN Joseph F, No Al 6oth-sf. Brooklyn; fare
and hands burned electric shock
SHEPHERD. Miss Emma. Ne "a F5swes-si.- Fro'kiyn'
s1.EGER Frederick $50 3IstropoEtsn ave" FrooNl5n'
ty usnhcls cover and badly bur1el
Thousands of persons lined both sides Of Surf
ave ia watch the parade go by The police were
entirely unable to handle the crowd, and the
parade was blocked time and time again The
bows band from the St Johns Orphan Asylum
occupied a point in the parade about tWo-thTos
Of the way to the rear. 1t had just passed 9th-
St when the crowd again broke the practically
useless police lines and swarmed out into the
street behind the band.
lust as the crowds from each side met in the
centre of the street the manhoIes exploded with
a crash that was heard for blocks. The massive
covers. enveloped in a pillar of fame. shot up
thirty feet and more. Fred Sleger was standing
directly on one Of them and was thrown high
into the air As he fell he landed on Inspector
H T Ryan. of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
RYAN vas knocked down and the two men lay
unconscious side by side.
In the rear of the parade a long string Of
advertising wagons. Horses frightened by the
explosion tore through the crowd for some
distance but without hitting any one One horse
was headed directly for Ryan and Sleger be
fore their peril was noticed by the half stunned
persons about them A patrolman saw tAe
horse when it was scarcely more than dozen
yards away. He threw himself at the animals
head and brought 1t to a stop Just in time.
Those in the parade were under the influence
of the panic, which sent he crowd running
about seeking a safe place and not knowing
where to look for it. and the parade was t6en
and there disbanded. The crowd. except those
in the Immediate neighborhood dld not 1 knoN
what had happened, and all SORTS OF e6agseId't-u
rIInlors spread Ike wildfre. extending the panic
It was the widest scene Coney Island has VII
messed throughout the week. Men were Jostied
and punched and women lost children ana
~ the time the Coney Island Hospital am
buIance had reached the scene the crowd mao
recovered sufficient courage to press round anu
ea1a At the most seriously wounded who lay
Vyrithing on the ground. The police made room
for the surgeon, who after cursory ex'ulilt-
ton sent the most seriously injured 70 the nos noS-
pital The wounds and burns Of the others
we're dressed by Dr. Clay. who was at one tlme
connected with the hospital. ana was Flsitiis
the island last night.
When TIE manhole covers went up, at isdst
ten persons were blown from ten TO h1teeh Iset
into the air with them Phalen who was prcp-
bIy the most hurt with the exception OF Sleger.
vas hurled AT least fifty feet by the force Of the
explosion. Miss Law was throWh 70 one stGe
aiIst two men who broke the force Of her fall,
tSila C,aI1ihan landed with his shoulders against
one of the covers. hot from the explosion
- eoon es the extent of the accident had be-
oo,na known orders were issued to the reserves
of the Sheepshead Bay and Bath Beach stations
20 bold themselves in readiness for duty at the
t,ard The Coney Island police managed TO
rastoTe = semblance of order. at least such order
as has prevailed the last few DAYS. and the re-
ert-ee from the outside stations not called.