The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1916-01-27
While Leaving lheater After Matinee Saturday Afternoon
Terrible Accident Occurs BOY Died Almost Instantly
Others Are Bruised or Injured Practically All Of Audi
ence Had Passed Out Unharmed

The entire community was shocked
Saturday afternoon when the news
flew like wildfire that portion of the
sidewalk had given away in front of
the Rex theater just as the people were
leaving after the matinee, "The Cave
Man," and that little Daniel Gill had
lost his life and others injured, among
them the daughter of the mayor Of the
city, Miss Laila Platou. So many re-
ports were heard that it was hard to
get at the facts but the following is as
nearly correct as it is possible to get
it when all are so awe stricken. There
is an area under the sidewalk, directly
in front of the Rex exit, covered by
reinforced concrete slab with glass
lights, and this through the action of
frost and the constant wear had be-
come weakened. The most of the audi
ence had safely passed out and gone,
among them Mr.. and Mrs. Sam Gill,
parents Of the unfortunate Daniel, who
was there in company with Grace
Stern, a daughter of Abe Stern, and
little cousin of the Stern children, from
Minneapolis. The children being seat
ed farther to the front were later in
coming out. When Daniel stepped on
the slab it gave way, precipitating him
and his two little companions to the
area way underneath. drop of some
eight or nine feet. Miss Laila Platou
was also a victim, and more would
probably have fallen had it not been
for the quick action of Arthur Busdick-
er, one of the ushers, who saw the acc,,
dent and quickly closed the door, thus
averting worse tragedy.
P. G. Davidson was just coming out
of the Rudolf cafe when he heard the
noise Of the falling stone and was on
the scene Immediately, jumping down
into the area and was met there by
Mr.. Burch, of the Rex, who had run
down the area stairs. They assisted
Miss Platou up the stairs and helped
the little Stern children up, not MOTTO
ing the little Gill boy at first. He was
pinned under the slab, which weighed
in the neighborhood of 300 pounds, and
with an iron angle bar crushed into his
face. He was gently picked up and
carried to the Office of DR.. Platou, by
Mr.. Davidson, where he passed away
in very few seconds. Death was al
most instant, and it is thought the
child was mercifully saved from suf-
fering as he must have been uncon-
scious from the first. After all had
been done for him, DR.. Platou turned
to find his own daughter suffering with
a fractured left forearm and an ugly
cut across the wrist which required
several stitches to secure. The Stern
children were not injured beyond a
few bruises and a nervous shock.
The mother of little Daniel has been
completely prostrated since the acct
dent and is in serious condition at
Mr.. Gill, accompanied by his
brother, who had heard of the affair
and FASTENED to the city, took the re-
mains of the child to Minneapolis Sun
day night, and burial will be made
there in the Jewish cemetery. Friends
have done all that could be done to
assist the grief stricken parents or to
alleviate their sorrow, and flowers and
condolences were sent from all direc-
tons. In this time Of trouble all hearts
are touched and everyone thinks of
their own loved ones, and their SYM
pathy goes out to all who are bereft.
The Rex doors were closed and the
evening performance cancelled. Re-
ports from Miss Platou Monday after
noon we're that she was getting along
nicely, but was feeling the effect of her
bruises and the shock quite little.
Hastings Times: The past week
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