Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-11
Floor CoIIapses and 200
People Go With It.
Three Seriously Injured and Is
Bruised and Scratched.
Entertainment in Sckoo'house at
Blackstone, Mass.

Woonsocket, Il. l., Feb. 1O.--By the
collapse OF q floor on the second story
Of 4 school building, where an enter
tainmcnt was being held tonight 200
persons We're thrown to the floor below
but with the exception of three, all
escaped severe injuries. twenty-five
others were some what bruised and
scratched, but meme required the
attention of physicians. The severely
injured:
Miss Ida Paradis, aged Il. of Wood
avenue Woonsocket conclusion of
critical
Mrs Lorenzo Bachaui Eathburn
street, Wo0n:ucke,. right leg sprained.
MIS-. DAVIS Morse lsathburn street
Woonsock,t. right knee AMI ankle
gpraincd and other injuries.
All the injured were removed to their
homes.
The entertainment was under the
auspices of the Independent Club, Il
political organization of Ward of
WoonSociit t. ana il vas held in a school
house situated just across the town line
in blackstone. The building is Il two
story frame structure on ItathDurn
street. 1t was constructed about two
years ago bat had never been fL.ly
completed, only the lower fiGor being
used for school purposes while the g
ond story was in an unfinished on,itli-
ticn.
For tho entertainment tonight the
room Was fitted with seats consisting
Of long planks on supports of q tempo
rary nature, and the 200 people who
made up the assembly nearly filed the
little room. Suddenly in the midst of
talk by Rev. Modcrick Roberge, pastor
CT st. Louis church OF Woonsocket the
cracking Of tinlbcrS was heard and the
aCxt instant the floor began to sag III
the middle. The frightened people be-
gan Il scramble for the doors. ana a
panic was threatened, but Rev. Fr. Ro-
bnrec. taking in the situation at once.
managed to calm some of the frishten-
Cd ones by assuring them that they
would be safer to remain where they
were.
All this time the floor was settling
slowly, carrying with it all the people
who We're unable to attach themselves
To the sidewalks, and it continued to
Gag in the middle until it rested in V
shape on the tops OF the school desks in
the room below, the sides of the floor
remaining attached to the walls.
~ the rrour Of people tumblCa to-
Cethcr II the bottom of the Y, it seem
III hours before IL way was cleared 50
that they could make their exit. but it
was really only few minutes. Headed
by Father it0bcrge, the men got al Inc
women out safely, passing some
through the windows and guiding 9TH
CTS out under the rows Of desks on
which the tinlbcrs of the fallen floor
rested.
Physicians were summoned to the
scene and arrived quickly. but found
that only three persons required their
attcntion, all tho others being able TO
proceed unassisted to their homes.
1t is believed that of the injured ali
will recover, except possibly Miss Para
dis who is suffering from brain con-
cuSSion.
The collapse of a post under the mid
die OF The floor is said 10 have been the
cause of the disaster, but more care
full inspection than was possible tonight
will be required to determine that. 1t Is
said also that the flooring was not de-
signed for so large an assembly as that
Of tonight.