Evening star., 1921-07-14
BOARDWALK CRASH
INJURIES FORTY-0NE
Persons Thrown Into Water
at Chesapeake Beach
by Collapse.

six of them seriously, when the sup
ports of section of the boardwalk
adjoining the dancing pavilion at
Chesapeake Beach collapsed last
night, plunging them into the shall
low water below Women became
hysterical. children screamed and
men stampeded. creating panic
which caused injuries to many.
A vaudeville show had just ended
on the dancing pavilion. which was
crowded 20 capacity. when the ac-
cident happened. Virtually without a
warning. a section of the boardwalk
about fifteen feet square gave way.
sloping toward the water. AS it did
gap of five or six feet separated
the boards and through this about
twenty-five persons were thrown INTO
the water, about two feet deep at
this point. Others were thrown
against benches and rails surround
ing the pavilion.
All of those injured or drenched
were brought to Washington on a
special train which left the beach
at Sis o'clock. about three-quarters
of an hour after the accident. -FOUR
ambulances and two police patroi
wagons net the train at the DIS
trict line and took the injured to
Emergency and Casualty hospitais.
List OF injured.
Those seriously hurt are:
Paul Wilkerson, III 10th street, sprain
of the spine.
Mrs. L. V. Balster, 1903 2Sth street.
internal injuries and severe shock.
Thomas H. Calls. 1926 c street north
east. injuries to back and body.
Walter Poetzman, 12li Sth street,
broken ribs.
Mrs John T Ryan, 75s 9TH street
southeast. injured about head and
bruised about body and limbs.
John Goetz. 447 New Jersey avenue,
confusion of the left hip.
All of the seriously injured are in the
Emergency and Casualty hospitals today.
but are expected to recover.
Others who were injured, but not
seriously are:
Edward c, Smith. 2ss l+,h stree,
northeast. injured about legs an"
body; Miss Anna keil of North Tona-
wanda, n. Y, broken ankle: Mrs. A.
! w. Brown. 1928 Georgia avenue: Mrs.
Flora Mueller. 1115 A street: MIS-
Raymond W. Clark. 1872 Chaplin
street: Miss Lorenz Whittier, 474 F
street southwest: Mr. and Mrs: j. W.
Dick. 1919 Sth street: W. Reitmare.
Ala Sth street: Mrs. Helen Brewton.
1900 33d street; Harry Jermane. 532
Cedar street Takoma Park; Misses
Ruth and Florence Newman. 1863 f
street southeast: Mrs. A. Baur. 4102
Nash street: Mrs. Roy A. Wolf 11lo
l street; Mr.. and Mrs. Charles F.
Bechtel. 1915 Talbot street: Mr. and
Mrs R. b. Lenkin. 1884 G street
northeast: Mrs. Alma Monroe. 1241
] street northeast: David Nest, 12l6
9Th street: Mrs. F. NJ. Thring. 81 Flor
ida avenue northeast: Mrs. A. Mac
Downey, 121 Bates street; Miss Cath
crime Fenton. 474 E street southwest; +;
William L. Newber, $500 11th street:
Mr.. and Mrs John w. Dunbar and
their daughter Helen, 1873 street
southeast: Mrs. Carrie Walter. SIS A
street southeast; Mrs. E. ]. Hierling.
474 F street southwest; Fred D. Mil
ler. Capitol Heights, Nd; James
Stanley. Chesapeake Beach; Fred May,
Chesapeake Beach: c. /. Smith, 627
Keefer place: ]. Ramisch. Gil keefer
place.
! Immediately after the accident sew
eral men leaped into the water and
Tins by lifting them to the boardwalk,
about five feet above. Others who
were not severely injured climbed to
the dry section.
The portion of the boardwalk which
collapsed is just south of the dancing
pavilion. adjacent to soft drink
stand. Those standing on it were
thrown headlong into the water, and
as they struggled toward the board
walk they were driven back into the
water by other falling persons.
AS the injured were taken from the
water they were carried to police
headquarters nearby and doctors ad-
ministered first aid. The seriously in
jured were carried to the train on
improvised stretchers made of camp
ing cots and hardwood benches.
investigation Made.
After clearing the inlet of the
struggling mass. thorough investi-
cation was made by the beach author
tiles who questioned the persons who
were taken to Washington on the spe-
cial train as to whether any of their
relatives or friends had not been ac-
counted for. No reports of missing
persons were received.
The accident came at the close of
the first annual outing of the Gavel
| Club of Master Masons and other local
organizations of the National Fed
Grafton of Masonic Clubs. which was
/ held yesterday at the beach. More
| than 5000 persons attended the out
i ing.
News of the accident spread rapid
| ly to Washington. and many anxious
relatives and friends met the special
train on its return from the beach
! Police reserves from the sixth and
ninth precincts also were at the Dis
| trict line.
Policemen Injured.
Two policemen, Paul Nicholson and
IL. A. Foley, were badly shaken UP
when the patrol wagon of the second
precinct which was hurrying to the
/ District line. was struck by street
| car at 9Th and H streets north east
| Policeman Foley was cut on the right
hand, while officer Nicholson re-
| ceived a painful injury to his face
]. T. Monroe, passenger on the
/ street car, was also cut on the right
hand by flying glass.
w. F. Jones, president Of the Chesa
peake Beach Railway Company, when
| interviewed regarding the accident
said that he was present, and stated
that as soon as the accident happened
every effort was made by the officials
| of the town of Chesakeake Beach and
| of the railway company, which oper-
ates between Washington and the
| town, to assist the injured and bring
| them to Washington on a special
| train, where they could receive proper
| m edical treatment.
Declared Well Constructed.
Mr.. Jones stated that the accident
seemed to him to have resulted en-
tirely from too many people massing
| on a small portion of the boardwalk
| which extends along the whole water
front of the town Of chesapeake
Continued on Page 20. Column 81