The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-10-21
STAND COLLAPSED
AT COUNTY FAIR
Scores Injured But No Fa.
taIities
IMMEDIATE AID
RENDERED INJURED

the Ring Began, the Long Stand
Went Down. Miraculous Escape by
Many. Fair Continued to its Con-
cluSiOn.
Full enjoyment of the county fair
yesterday was largely marred by the
collapse of the ccwly built grandstand
just at the beginning of the exhibition
In the show ring. Almost filled to
capacity with its human burden, the
large frame structure weakened and
without moments warning crashed
to the ground with its precious load.
Wild confus ION reigned for a few mo-
ments while those who escaped injury
rushed to the rescue of those lying on
top and between the heavy timbers.
scores of people were at first unable
to free themselves without help and
numbers were seriously injured. For
some time e was thought that several
persons hai been killed and many
considered IL miracle that more Sc
rious results had not followed AS it
was about half a oxen people were
very seriously though not fatally in
jured and many more suffered painful
wounds.
The more seriously wounded are
Mr.. Means Knight, Of Barksdale Sta
ton leg broken and bones shattered:
Mrs. J. l. Sanders, internal injuries;
Mr.. w. II Barksdale, rib broken;
Royes Todd. young son Of Mr.. ID. e.
Todd. Of Iiarksdale Station, calf of
leg badly laccratcd and chin cut; John
Glenn, about egiht years of age, head
and back injured; Mrs Sam Williams.
OF Exon, injury in the back; Mrs. Joel
Smith, Waterloo, ligaments in the hin
loosened and other internal injuries;
Mrs. j. r. Ellis. Laurens, shocked and
internal injuries; Cal Bryson, ID years
Of age, leg broken; Harold Hudgens,
young son Of Mr.. j. NJ. Hudgens, Lau-
rens, three ribs broken and painfully
bruised.
Among those who were less serious
~ injured ore: Miss Flora Bennett of
Laulens; Mics Bernie Wallace, teach.
er OF Poplar Springs school; Miss An
ME Bell Jo! dan. Of Donalds, teacher
OF Shiloh school; Louis Solomon, son
I Mr.. VIII! am Solomon. Iaurens;
small sen Of Mr. G. II. Gasque; Robert
Sullivan Son OF Mr.. J. G. Sullivan;
Miss Louis Richardson, of Mountville;
Wyatt Waldrep, Laurens Mrs. ]. r.
Satterwhite and child; Morris Comp
ton, young boy, I.aurens Mill: daukh
ter of Mr.. Ben Duffy, Of Watts Mills.
There were number Of others
wounded WHO left for their homes be-
fore any record OF them could be Sc
cured. This list, however, about Gov
ars the seriously injured.
Various estimates have been made
as to the number OF people on the
grard-stand when Vt fell, but the num-
ber must lave been between 750 and
1000 composed mostly OF women and
children. Norris Compton, the little
Laurens mil boy, was the only one 80
far known Underneath the stand.
where usually large number of peo-
pie rest: He escaped with minor in
jurlcs. Lumber was lifted from of
demolished baby carriage by rescu-
ers Immediately after the crash with
great trepidatiop, hut there was sigh
of relief when It was found that the
little one had been taRen out and was
safe in ita mother arms. The baby
carriage WAS completely demolished,
as were many other things under
meath. John A Franks, the carriage
dealer, had an excellent display of his
wares here, but he sustained but lit
tie injury, the tough material in his
goods withs:anding the strain admir-
ably.
! The absence OF more serious in
jdrtas to the occupants of the grand
stanG Is asc: ibed to the fact that it
fell with slanting movement, rather
than directly dvWaward. Tho collapse
was not due to any breakage in the
timber but to weakness in the struc-
ture itself. Wren the fall came. the
whole stan clumDledNto one side and
fell fat Those On the stand exer-
cisea presence OF mind and raised
their hands and feet so that they
would not tet caught between the tim