Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1895 — FALLS LIKE A TRAP. [ARTICLE]

FALLS LIKE A TRAP.

Grand Stand at Louisville Gives Way ( Injuring Many. Many persons were injured Thursday night by the falling of the section of the grand stand erected on the river front at Louisville, Ky.. for the purpose of witnessing the fireworks in honor of the G. A. R. The portion of the grand stand whfc-h fell was about 400 feet long and sixty feet wide. It wus the lower part, and only elevated about two feet. Immediately behind this part were seats elevated eight to twenty feet. On the entire stand there were 50,000 people. That no one was killed is one of the marvels. As the stand careened the planks were forced together, and the feet and legs of hundreds of spectators were caught as in a huge trap. The noise of the exploding bombs and the fireworks and the cheering of the crowd was so great that only those adjacent to the portion of the grand stand which fell could hear it. Had it become generally known a panic would have followed. As to the exact number of people injured it will probably never be known. Four policemen who were standing at that part of the stand say that they saw front fifty to seventy-five persons taken away by friends in vehicles. They assisted at least as ninny more to got back on the street behind the stand. All the ambulances and patrol wagons in the city were sarumoned, and those only slightly injured were taken to the hotels at which they were stopping or to their homes. • • On tlje portion of the grand stand which fell there was a scene of horrifying c6nfusion. Mr. Vreeland, assistant city editor of the Courier-Journal, was present when the accident occurred. “It was awful,” he said. “I saw men and women falling everywhere. Whether they were fainting from ffight or pain

I could not say. Then a panic followed. Those who escaped being caught in the trap made a mad rush for the entrance, trampling over those who had fallen, while those who had been caught screa med for aid. Meantime the vast multitude on all sides continued to cheer and applaud the grand fireworks that continued to explode and light up the sky.” A number of Grand Army veterans who were witnesses of the accident said they aided a large number of people who had been bruised and injured about the legs to carriages and sent them to their hotels and homes.