Evening star., 1909-05-07
TUMBLE OFF BALCONY
Sixty Injured at Seattle Indoor
Athletic Meet.
.FLIMSY RAIL GIVES WAY
Spectators Fall to Floor Below,
Knocking Over Racers.
NEW BUILDING NOT INSPECTED
Use Violated Law, Says Superintend-
ent Of Buildings-Many Sc
riously Hurt.

SEATTLE, Wash, May None of the
sixty persons injured in last nights
accident during an athletic meet in
the new National Guard armory has died.
The condition of Capt. Maurice w.
Thompson. assistant adjutant general OF
the state OF Washington, and of his wife,
however. is critical.
The armory, a huge building, had just
been completed. but had not been for
mally accepted by the state and was
used for the first time. the occasion being
an indoor track meet In which the most
west were entered. hTe audience was
large and the balcony was crowded.
There was keen interest when the ten
mile Marathon runners came out. When
this contest was drawing to it's finish.
with +. L. Jackson of Seattle and Ed
ward Crabbe Of Portland running strong
in the stretch, Jackson Just a yard ahead
the spectators in the balcony, wildly ex-
cited. crowded against a fiimsy iron pip
ing that served as the only guard around
the balcony. The whole east balcony
railing swayed outward and snapped.
Spectators Tumble OF Balcony.
The center gave way first An instant
later the entire section, fifty yards long.
went down and scores of the people fell
onto the heads of the crowd below. Then
In a moment . rush to the floor began
and there was chaos.
The fallen lay In windrows. rolling and
tossing In agony, fighting TO their feet.
many dropping back with limbs broken
or blood pouring from wounds on head
or face and spreading over the white
planks. Hoarse cries and shrill shrieks
went up over the hall.
From the armory there began imme-
diately a rush of men and women to the
outside. Many who had suddenly missed
relative or friend from their side stayed
to run blindly from one group to the
other. trying to find the familiar face.
The runners had finished between two
solid lanes of spectators. Many OF
these were badly shaken and knocked
about, as the bodies fell from above.
on in the wild and aimless surges of
500 people, temporarily insane from
fright and the sight of streaming blood.
jackson and Crabbe. the runners. each
fell under the weight of the falling
bodies from above. Neither was serious
ly hurt.
Injured Are Cared For.
A dozen physicians were in the audi
ence. They, with the athletes and guards
men, took charge of the situation, SO that
order was soon restored.
Other physicians, f1remen and police
men were summoned. Aid was given to
the injured. and the sufferers were taken
to their homes or to hospitals.
Capt. Thompson and his wife are at the
hospital. The captain suffered injuries
to his back. His wife was internally
hurt.
Mrs. o. +. Spriggs, one of the most seri-
ously hurt, is the wife of a hardware
merchant. A dozen of the injured were
students Of the State University.
City Superintendent of Buildings Fran
els w. Grant says that the opening OF the
building before it had been inspected by
his department was violation of the law.
Permission had not been asked nor had
opportunity for inspection been given.
The railing was put up most improper
ly, Mr.. Grant says.
The track meet was given under the
auspices Of the Seattle Athletic Club.