Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-17
"a Are Injured,
Two Seriously
At Regatta Here

gineer of the National Capital
Parks, which put up the stands,
said the cause will be sought out
to prevent recurrence. It was
the first accident of its kind in
the many years the agency has
been erecting stands.
OfncialS were taking pictures
OF the damage this morning. II
necessary, they will order the
stands rebuilt to find the source
or trouble. Edward P. Rennie.
safety engineer for the agency.
took part in the investigation.
About 600 spectators were in
the wooden stands when the third
and final heat of the feature
powerboat race got under way
about 4 pm.
Rose to Watch Race
AS they rose simultaneously TO
watch the getaway. the stands
began caving in at the north
END, the direction toward which
the boats were moving.
| Observers said the stands
settled rather slowly, but there
was a great tumble of sprawled
spectators. broken lumber and
overturned metal chairs as the
wooden treStles gave way.
The stands were about so feet
long. They had solid board floor
ing, standing 80 inches high at
the front and rising in two six
inch steps to AZ inches in the
rear.
In the roar of the speedboats
most of the $4,000 spectators in
the park were unaware of
the near-disaster. But officials
quickly began calling police
ambulances and volunteers to
help those caught in the debris.
Eight ambulances began NOV
ing the injured to hospitals.
Nineteen were treated at Emer-
gency Hospital. Thirteen of
them were X-rayed before being
released. Thirteen were treated
at Red Cross first aid tents at
Hams Point, and two others
drove to Georgetown University
for treatment. Several others
suffered bruises but were not
treated.
Two Remain in Hospital
Only two remained at Emer.
gency today. They were Mrs.
Patricia Becker, rs, of TOO r
street NV, with a compound
fracture of the right ankle, and
Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, so, OF
3548 South Stafford street, Ar
llngton. with a fractured left
arm. Mrs. Becker is a secretary
lof District Commissioner Rob-
iert E. Mclaughlin.
The collapsed stands are adj
Ijacent to the judges stand at
the starting and finishing point
OF the races. The spectators.
invited guests of the regatta as
ISOLATION, had been enjoying
ringside seats OF the races,
seated comfortably on metal
folding chairs.
One of the spectators, Mrs.
Donald Fuss, "a, of 1907 Good
Hope road Sc. said the sensa-
ton was like we were floating"
when the stands collapsed.
Il landed on my back and it
still hurts today" she said. Mrs.
Fuss went to Emergency Hospi-
tai, but was soon released.
Confusion Mild
The confusion was relatively
mild. Because of the large
crowd, Hams Point had been
closed to traffic and the ambu-
lances had unimpeded access to
anu 4AOAAA Vic
Some OF the spectators in the
collapsed stands were so excited
about the race they were reluc-
tant to move out. Police cleared
the wrecked boards as soon as
possible to determine whether
any one was trapped underneath.
No one was, although several
children had been playing under
the stands few minutes earlier.
Henry Burroughs, chairman Of
the regatta, issued statement
lof regret, and qualification that
the accident was no worse. He
said the stands were covered ny
public liability insurance. Off
Gals said indications were that
medical expenses of those in
jured would be covered by the
insurance.
Injured Are Listed
Those treated and released
from Emergency Hospital we're:
/ Mr.. and Mrs. George Bene-
ridge. 306 Waterford road. Silver
Spring; Robert Pierce, 1920 Mer-
rimac drive. Hyattsville: John
Marques. Wilmington. Del: Mrs.
y. D. Butler, Monterey. Calf;
Jean Thompson, Hillcrest
Heights. Nd.
I Also, Margaret Drews, Al, 4337
HALEY terrace Sc Sadie Bum.
SIS, 470l Green Chapel terrace
NE; Grace Byrne. so. 728 Dart
mouth street. Silver Spring.
+ Also. Mimi Martin, 10, 10509
Sweetbriar parkway, Hillendale:
Alma Carmichael. 40, Of Q Kent
bury way, Bethesda: Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles F. King. 1896 Sig
tenth street NV: Robert Lives,
5. Of Washington; Joce Fuss. "A.
Of 1907 Coca Hope road Sc;
Berniece Randleman, 81. Of 1908
Kipling parkway. District Heights
and Helen Sunderman. 4s. Of
1900 Quebec street NV.
Treated and released at George
Washington Hospital we're Sophie
Sismis. 1855 Sixteenth street
NV. and Milton NJ Gordon. S.,
Of 1912 " street NV.
Hospital officials said the IN