New-York tribune., 1922-06-12
Five Killed as
Gale Topples
Ferris Wheel
tcen,lru.d 'rV- 81" ssO

ueUTl. ANhih' VI h'"'N'NN
entered against him ht the Simp-
son street police station. pending an
investigation Of the accident by As
sistant District Attorney William J.
Quielcy Of Bronx County.
There were sixteen cabins in the
wheel. which lowered on the shore Of
tho Sound in the amusement park. Each
held four persons. Thirteen Of the
cabins we're occupied at $40 p. mr
when the wheel began to turn for the
last time. More than fifty persons
had embarked for the ride.
The sky was darkening and sharp
little breczes sent eatspaws tanning
out across the Sound. Then. with a
crash Of thunder and a roaring gus. OF
wind and rain, the stohn burst. The
second gust tore the slowly revolving
Ferris wheel from is axle, and II
leaned 10 the north.
Bolts Light Scene
For a moment II toppled while the
screams Of ITS terrified occupants cut
through the turmoil OF the storm. Then
Il crashed down across the beach, bury
ing beneath the wreckage a house
boat owned by Captain Oscar Johnson.
The upper part OF the great wheel
landed in the water and the rest was
shattered upon the beach a dozen or
more persons were flung clear OF the
wrcckagc and out into the Sound.
Employees toii55 through the DARK
ness Of the storm TO the scene OF the
accident with electric torenes in their
hands. With the illumination given By
these and the lightning flashes they
began 20 hunt for the injured AID carry
them 20 payilions nearby.
OTc.ais OF the PARK rushed 20 the
tolenhone. only 20 find that it had been
nut ont Of commission by the storm.
They had % drive two miles through
the rain and hail 90 find a telephone.
Arabulanccs we're despatched by Lin
coin ind Tordham hospitals. zoo police
ncr SCI out In automobiles from vafi-
Gus Bronx precincts ara Deputy Cher
Inspector Ncnsy started from Eoilee
Headquarters TO take charge
Saved b. Cries
In the meantime several physicians
Rad been found among the crowd az the
part md we're busy IN the pavilions,
q-.is.ed by volunteer nurses Priests
frnm II newly organized Romln Catholic
cts-cb ~ Clason Pom: passed along
the lines Of injured administering the
Last rites % those VINO desired them
AID aiding the physicians. -
Campers from a.gss bcaeh joincc
the rescrcfs. although mos; o. Their
oua fimsy sulamcr homes had been
Aattened by the storm. Rowbonis ana
motor boats put out INTO the sound
wL.rped info a lr0ta ~ the Squalls.
and picked I'D ;hose who had peen Hung
.nio the water from the collapsilg
wheel.
IL was feared tia. al the occupants
~ the LousoDoat across when the
Ferris wheel crashed had been killed
ba. c-.cs were heard within and i was
found that. although the wreckage iay
directly across the cabin. not peiloh
inside had been hurt. They called foi
help because the door had been jam4aec
bv The impact o. the heavy weight ana
thev were prisoners They were hFs.
Marie Goldberg. OF so East le0in
Street. the Bronx. her eight months
old child and Mrs. Hello Lorgin. o.
1871 Webster Avenue, the Bronx.
Panic Subsidies
Another who mad an almost miraea-
lous escape was George Hirsehmann'
o. IS Adams Street Long Island Nity'
a friend OF Simon, owner Of -. terr.s
wheel. Hirschmann had parked ms
automobile directly beneath the curve
Of the big wheel and was talking 10
Simon when the storm blew up.
Simon asked hlM 20 shut the WIN,
dows OF the iitt'c engine house and
Hirshmann had departed on this CT
rand when the storm broke ana &c
heard the wheel above him give way.
He saw il sagging far out OF true above
his head and divcd heaelong INTO ms
automobile. An instant later timber
carns crashing down upon the motor
car. IL wrecked the top OF the car, Dut
Hirschmann crd w!ed out unhuri.
The first policeman 10 arrive found
that the panic among the pleasure
seekers which followed the collapse Of
the wheel had given way 70 an earnest
desire 20 help, and that women and
men and even children were searching
for the injured or ministering 70 those
who already had been found and re-
moved 70 the payilions.
Inquiry Is Started
In spite OF the downpour throngs o.
curiosity seekers we're pressing in upon
the rescuers and the efforts OF the
entire 200 police were required 10 hold
them in check.
Assistant District Attorney Quigley
and Deputy Chief Inspector Henry
started an inquiry on the spot, ques-
tioning witnesses and recording their
names for future reference. On the
advice Of Quigley the owner Of the
wheel WAS placed under arrest. He has
been proprietor Of il FOR six years.
Experts will be called to-day 10 ex-
anime tho wreckago and determine
whether there was defect IN the axle
which should have been discovered.
According 20 the information gath
cred By the police and the District
Attorneys Office the wheel was equipped
with sixteen carriages, or gondola cars.
accommodating four persons each. All
were filled with the exception OF three
carriages. which. the officials estimate
made about fifty persons aboard the
vehicle.
When Simon saw the storm ap-
preaching. he told the police. he ordered
the passengers % leave the wheel.
Ernest Clark. Of 2i0 West Sixty-third
Street. who, it ia believed, will lose
one Of his eyes as the result OF in
juries he suffered, told the police he
noticed the approaching storm and
endeavoredto alight from the wheek
and alleges he was told several times
by Simon 20 sit STILL"
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