The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-07-27
MANY PERHAPS FATALLY IN.
JURED IN ACCIDENT.
Thrown Into Deep Rasine and Fe~
Escape Without Many Cuts
and Bruises

Thrown Into Deep Ravine and Few
Escape Without Many Cuts
and Bruises
Mrs. Hsrkins. Of Martins Ferry.
who was one Of the most seriously
Injured In the accident. regsined con-
seiousness at an early hour this morn
ing.
Mrs. Little, OF 6enwood. who was
thought TO have been fatally injured.
was resting as we'll as could be es-
peeted this morning.
II was rumored around the city last
evening that several OF those who
were Injured would institute suits
against the park owners for damages.
II was also stated that architects had
been employed TO inspect the plat
form TO determine whether II was un-
safe.
II was rumored in the city last even
ing that an Injunction would be asked
for to-day TO prevent the park owners
from making any repairs. II this is
true n number OF damage suits will
probably be filed.
With a deafening crash that could
be heard for several hundred yards.
followed by means and shrieks. from
a tumbled mass OF humanity, a large
portion of the platform In front OF the
open air theatre at Wheeling Park
gave way yesterday afternoon. pre-
cipitating two hundred Masonic Cub
picnickers into a ravine eighteen feet
below. injuring. as far as can be as
certained. forty-three persons Al
though the full extent OF the injuries
received by many OF the unfortunate
ones has not yet been determined; the
accident will probably claim one vic
tim, Mrs. Elizabeth Little. OF Main
street. Benwood. whose condition at
midnight was critical. Three attend
ing physicians were in consultation
late last evening and they stated after.
that ii will be impossible TO predict
the outcome of the unfortunate wo-
mans injuries. until twenty-four hours
have passed. a score of others are
in serious condition. suffering with
internal injuries. and one victim. Mrs.
Minnie Harkins, OF Martins Ferry. is
still unconscious. Many OF the in
1ured were unable 20 get medical aid
last evening and for this reason the
seriousness OF the Injuries sustained
by many is n matter OF conjecture.
So panic stricken were many Of
taken from their perilous rusition in
the breach. they were p1>ced in au-
tomobiles and rushed 10 their homes
in the city, and for this reason tho
names Of many were not secured
Cooler heads controlled the situation
and the pandemonium which broke
out after the accident was soon quiet
ed. Such scenes have never before
been Witnessed in this section as oc-
CURED az the pit When the accident
occurred some busted themselves to-
wards getting the men. women and
children out Of the pit, while others
summoned Out-the-pike and city ply
sicians. Together with those already
on the ground a score Of doctors set
20 work dressing the wounds OF the
injured. Many were suffering from
their bruises. cuts. sprains and brok-
en- bones last evening. several being
unable TO get physicians Immediately.
The Accident
The crash came about 4.15 lust as
The curtain was rung down on the
afternoon performance of the Sunny
South minstrel company. The space
In front OF the open air theatre was
crowded. II being estimated that fully
six hundred people were seated on
the platform which covers a rayine.
just after the curtain had been drop.
ped. Manager Moore announced that
the races would be started on the ball
grounds in the rear Of the theatre.
Following the announcement "A mad
rush WAS made bv the crowd for q
small gate AZ the south end o. the
theatre not four feet wide Onicer-
attempted 20 keep the large crowd
back. but their efforts we're IN vain.
When fully Two hundred and fifty PEG.
pic were In the neiEhborho0d ~ forty
feet % tho safe the f0rr began 20
crack. n started sinking slowly and
when The women and children feI.
Il giving a rush was made % got
bacH The sudden jar caused the
floor 20 crack in several places and
down into a Nshapcd Dir fumifoI the
two hundred mon. women and slu.
drer The breach ans 10 laa4f forty.
i've feet long and thirty fref wide.
ard in one place VAS 90 least tReatr
feet deep
Psthstie scene
While H.~er -rI.-ff f.I -r..-lf
an hesraf 'I b. extracted from fra
heap ar" r..rr ..lr.r .f aU ae..
with h-.r I... ar .a.rf...
bruised bodice ta rr tHa
fmwf. sf- .rr ..r. a.rmrraI
ard g'rrrf .t r.rs G...rF ono u-