Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-05
GIRLS SW0ON At
MARATHON Dance
Crowd RuSheS on Floor at
Coney and Young Women
are Hurt in Fights

NEW YORK, Aug. 3.-Three young
women were carried to a dressing
room and others were ordered off the
floor by physician yesterday during
modified Marathon" or speed
Dance" in which one hundred parti-
cipated at the SultZer Sea Beach Pal
ace, at Coney Island. The dance end.
ed in the widest confusion, more than
one thousand spectators closing it by
stampeding the floor just as the
names of the winners were announc-
ed. During the final stampede fights
started, chairs were overturned and
young women knocked about and
bruised.
The dance, under the auspices of
the Coney Island Pleasure Club, had
been advertised fer two weeks in
Coney Island and Brooklyn and was
the first event of it's character at the
resort in two years. Posters hung
about the hall informing persons who
contemplated entering that they
would be required to dance fifteen
times about the hall. or a distance
approximating two miles, and that
the couples Finishing first, second
third would receive prizes.
Fifty couples stood ready yesterday
afternoon when the band began tun-
ing up. A course vas marked around
the dancing hall by chairs on each
side of which sat floor judge" 1t
was announced that mo walking or
or rough stuff would be stood
for, and the dancers were cautioned
that in no case would there be any
appeal where dancers were ordered
off the floor for interfering. Then
W. J. Heffernan, an assistant county
clerk in Brooklyn, gave the dancers
their final orders and signalled the
musicians that they Nigh, begin.
At the word of command Bernard
Strsde, No. 1858 Twelfth street, Brook
yn. nd Miss Mary Martin. of the
same address took the lead and main
aimed it amid enthus astic cheering.
They were closely followed by Will
lam Strong and Miss Nellie Whit |
dker, with James Dunn and Miss !
Rose Lynch third. The crowd shout |
I'd encouragement, advice and ridicule !
md the three couples struggled with
'ut either of the second two being
lble to cut down the lead of Strade
Ind Miss Martin.
Ten minutes passed and many of
he girl dancers plainly were suffer.
ng from their exertions. About ten
apps of the floor had been negotiated
~ most of the dancers at this time.
md although the band still played on
most of the dancers had fallen out of
tep and with drawn faces were plod-
ling dogedly along, unconscious of 1t.
Then with long drawn moan, Miss
Whitaker fell unconscious to the floor.
Two of the floor judges carried her
o a dressing room. She was yet not
ut of the main room when Miss Kath-
rine Cooney and Miss Dorothy Jones
ell and were carried out.
At this point a young man with a
'ointed beard marched out among the
ancers. Whenever he saw girl In
anger of fainting he ordered her off
he floor. Yet despite his endeavors
o save the suffering, historical cries
7ere audible on every hand when
trade and Miss Martin and Dunn and
1iss Lynch were declared the win
ers of the first and second honors.
The young women who tainted
7hile dancing were attended by DR..
lien. Miss Cooney and Miss Jones
7ere able to go home with friends,
ut Miss Whitaker was unable to
ave the room where she was taken
ntil evening. when a physician ac-
ompanied her home in a taxicab