The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-24
moment AIRY PANIC At
CHRIS MAs FESTIVAL
CHILDREN, FRIGHTENED B!
FLAsHLIGHT, STAMPEDE.
Photographer Neglects to Warn Audi
ence and Serious Accidents Threaten
Cool Heads Triumph and Most JOY
GUS Event in Lives of Many Poor
Children Follows.

What threatened to be serious panic
was narrowly averted at the Volunteers
of America hall yesterday afternoon.
About 800 young children and their
mothers were crowded into the small
hall at PAS Hennepin avenue, for the
| distribution of Christmas gifts. The
Tribune photographer attempted to
take fashlight photograph of the
gathering. He neglected to warn the
children, as he should have done, and
the flash and report of his powder threw
the crowd into confusion. The major
ity of the children and many of their
parents had never seen fashlight be-
fore and were badly frightened. Those
in the rear Of the room made frantic
stampede for the single narrow exit and
several children had narrow escapes
from being crushed against the wall
and under foot. . "
Fortunately those in front had been
able to see what was coming and did
not Join in the rush, so the crush at the
door was not great enough to cause any
serious damage. The panic was mo-
mentary and the children soon forgot
their fright in their eagerness to re-
ceive the presents awaiting them. Had
the reckless use Of the fash powder
caused real panic the results would
have been horrible, as the small hall
was packed and the only exit was, mar
row and opened upon steep fight of
stairs. .-.-.
1900 Get. Presents. -
It is estimated that 1900 children
were provided with Christmas gifts
The more useful articles, such as cloth
ing and shoes, were handed to the moth
ers, but the children were made happy
with bags of candy, handkerchiefs
dolls, books, games, toys, chairs an(
many other articles dear to childish
hearts. When the session was ovel
1900 bags Of candy, 1880 handker
chiefs and 1900 other presents hat
been distributed, and Major. Andricl
said that this had been the most sue
cessful Christmas tree in his expert
ence. The greater number of these
gifts were purchased with money col
lected upon the street corners, bu
, many Of them were paid for by thu
various fraternal orders or contributed
by the Y. P. S. G. E. and Epwort]
/ leagues of the various churches.
Not all the children could be accom-
modated in the hall and an overhoy
a, meeting was held on the curb below
, Here the excited children formed
. small but turbulent mob about the dis
!. tributor and he had much difficulty i
: maintaining any sort of order: Prio
E to the distribution inside musical an
:. literary program, prepared by Mrs. v
: Fl. Cooke, was given.
: The opening number was a song b
/ the children led by Howard Hare, Fo
lowing this Mrs. W. H. Cooke gave
recitation, entitled ~"Naughty Litt1
Girl.'' John Suffer sang "'Mother.
Maude Ulmer Jones sang two Chris
mas carols, which were highly appr
ciated and held the attention of the e1
e tire audience. Guy Wilson sang oh
Was the Prince.'' Miss Osias and Mis-
Kennedy sang a duet and the Rev. M
: Hogg concluded the exercises with
n n few remarks upon the Christmas sto1
J and it's meaning.