The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-02
WANTED TO SEE ETHEL.
Crowd at Army-Navy Football Game
Started a Riot.

Philadelphia, Dec. Ethel Roose-
Welt, daughter of the president. was
the innocent cause of an 1nc1p1ent riot
and crush at the Army-Navy foot
ball game Saturday afternoon. Like
wise did she aid in the rescue from the
panic stricken mob of a girl friend. As
the young woman, nearly fa1ntlng, was
pressed against the wall surrounding
the boxes, Miss Roosevelt seized one
of her arms and Miss oliver, daughter
of the assistant secretary of war, the
other, the two together raising her
clear of the six foot barrier and to
safety inside the box.
Indignant men, reused by the Situa-
ton, beat with heavy canes the head
or one OF the many stupid pollcemen
who were blindly obeying orders and
fence which separates the promenade
from the football field proper, and in a
manner. relieving the pressure Of
panic stricken crowd that was crush
ing men and women breathleSs.
Meanwhile, although the football was
in play, the occupants of the boxes
overlooking the scene Of danger were
Mortified and fearful Of tragic inter
derbilt and Mrs Willie Carter. who
occupied boxes very near, were IN
tensely apprehensive.
When the first half of the game end
ed thousands of persons left their seats
upon the stands and descended to the
wide promenade in front of the boxes
to scan the Stupendous gathering, OF
social and official notables. Inc one
person who commanded greatest atten-
ton was the young daughter OF PreS1-
dent Roosevelt. Seated in the box with
her were the acting secretary of war,
General Robert S. Oliver. and his two
daughters; the assistant secretary of
the treasury, Beckman winthrop and
Mrs. Winthrop.
The crowds started in both directions
and met in front of the box in which
was Miss Roosevelt. For some unknown
reason 1000 or 1000 persons became
front of Miss Roosevelt's box. The col
liding masses came to a Standst1ll,
while the crowds at each end continued
to push forward. The result was that
tho nress1Ire became dangerous AT
first there was a mild protest from
those caught in the crush, but as IT
continued moment after moment ana
the pressure from every direction pc
came greater, women and girls caught
in the crush began to cry and scream
because of the pain they were enduring.
Then came cries of "climb over the
fence" But upon the other side of the
fence was a line of policemen who
would not permit anyone to climb the
fence. Miss Rebecca Randall of New
York, a friend of Miss Roosevelt, was
caught in the crush. She made every
possible effort to get back to the front
box but it took her fully five minutes
to 90 so. EV0nIudlly sic gu pcaSh ~
the wall. Miss Roosevelt called to her
to stretch up her arms. A man and
young woman upon the ground lent
their assistance as Miss Randall was
drawn bv Miss Roosevelt and was pull
ed up in the box -,--s---
This was the. signal for others to at
tempt to scale the wall Several wo-
men were pushed psone Of them literal
" climbing upon Sthe shoulders of the
men with them and then reaching the
wall, ran along it's top until they came
to IN aisle where they waited until the
Jam was released before returning to
their seats upon the stands.
The relief from the pressure made by
the women scaling the wall was very
slight, and there were still cries from
those near the fence to climb it. The
policemen valiantly held them back and
were deaf to the cries for relief. The
men near the fence began to belabor
the policeman on the head with their
canes. They smashed his helmet down
over his eyes, and before other police
men could interfere hundred or more
men jumped over the fence and told the
policemen how their stupidity was like
" to cost several lives. Finally by the
combined efforts of the police and
few cool headed men the panic was