Rensselaer Union, Volume 12, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1879 — THE ADRIAN HORROR. [ARTICLE]

THE ADRIAN HORROR.

Adman. October A This wm the great day of the Lenawee County Fair. The weather wm all that oould have bean desired, and the city wm early crowded with a greater number of visitors than ever assembled here before. This afternoon at three o’clock the grounds were a perfect jam, and the grand stand, newly erected, wm packed with people to witness the exercises on the track. ▲ class of gentlemen’s driving bones, double teams, had just been sent around the track, and the band, occupying the front and center of the grand stand, had just begun to play, while the judges were affixing premium ribbons, when, with a terrible crash, the stand Broke down. It gave way first in the center, then the front fell outward to the track, and the back fell into the river. At once ensued a scene of indescribable confusion. Buggies were overturned, horses dashed frantically up the track, only to meet a crowd of people flocking to toe scene of toe disaster. Those who were only slightly injured came crawling out of the mass of ruins, showing numerous contusions, and then began the work Qf dragging from the debris those who were more severely injured. There were in the neighborhood of 2,000 people on the grand stand, and a large crowd were in toe space beneath. As soon m possible the Opera House wm opened, and many of the dead and wounded taken there. The following is a list of the casualties as far as can be ascertained, but many of the injured were taken directly to their homes: DEAD.

M. M. Merck, German, city ; Mrs. John Hubbard, of Jasper; Hyde, a boy about twelve yean old; Mosher, a boy about the same axe; David Plumadore, Peteroburg, seed eighteen; Wm. Mulle, city, aged about twelve. WOUHDXD. Laura Lambkin, Franklin, badly hurt In both limbs; Jack Wenn, city, hurt about head and arm. not fatally; Mrs. Velder, living five miles north of the city, leg broken; Justus Wright, Fairfield, badly bruised; J. B. Goheen, leg broken; George Carter, Fairfield, external bruises; Jerome Camp, Fairfield, back injured; Walter Merritt, Franklin, badly bruised on left temple and Internal injuries; Lewis Adams, Mad Cion, leg badly broken; Will Cramer, bead out badly; Miss Callahan, city, leg broken; James Hyae, Palmyra, toes broken and hurt on cheet: John Hurl but, lower part of leg crushed; Mr. Hunt, Fairfield, hurt about the bead; B. F. Reynolds, Franklin, badly hurt,but nature and extent of Injuries not known; Mr*. Robert Carpenter, Madison, arm broken; Ed Hume, Medina, hurt In hip; his wife was bruised; but not seriously; Maria Hume, Medina, hurt badly In shoulder; Henry Hart, cUy, left shoulder believed to be broken, head bruised, and thought to be badly injured Internally: Miss Stuart, aged fifteen, severely Injured internally, unconscious and could not give residence; Unknown, a man about thirtyfive, terribly wounded internally; Frances Gimbert, city, Injured about head severely; Burt Morey, of Macon, badly hurt on tne head and body; Robert Me William, Ridgeway, leg broken, injured internally and about head: Jesse Warren, city, leg broken-; a daughter of the same, badly hurt; Mrs. William Hhcnhard and her son, seriously Injured; Mr. Frank Chamberlain, city, leg badly hurt: a daughter of Martin Holloway, city, badly Injured; Mr. Crossler, Fairfield, badly hurt In back and Injured internally; Henry Bowen and Messrs. Burdan, Nichols, Russell and Snow, of the band, more or less injured; Mrs. Hiram Burt, Medina, and daughter, badly hurt; 8. Bradner, Clinton, Injured In the shoulder and across the chest; Miss Rachel Mosher, Springfield, badly bruised; Joseph H. Claysen, Cambridge, hurt badly on knee; H. S. Cole, Morend, arm broken and hurt in limb; Mrs. Mary Perkins, Rollins, hurt badly across lungs; -Charles Smith, Fairfield, dangerous scalp wound; two painters engaged in lettering the back of the stand were buried beneath tne debris mid badly injured; Miss Lillie (Jrendorf, lives east of the city, very badly hurt on tbe back and shoulders; Mrs. J. H. Gates, Morenci, limb dislocated; Jk H. Gates, slight bruises on head; Maggie Ctcotte, Raisin, shoulder and back bruised: George Hirsch, city, hurt inwardly; Colonel French, hurt across the chest; Mrs. Hoyt, city, back and internally; W. H. Taylor, city, cut In bead; Woolston Comfort, Raisin, arm broken; W. 8. Stow, city, arms and legs bruised; William Kcdzte, son and two daughters, Deerfield, ail Injured; Josiah Wes term an, ltign, shoulder broken; Miss Hedflcld, Cambridge, leg broken. This does not comprise over one-half the casualties, as many wounded were carried off by their frantic friends as soon as could be, and until nightfall carriages containing injured men, women and children were noted passing out into the country. The excitement in the city immediately succeeding the accident was indescribable. Parents were frantically looking for their children, and children looking for their pqyents; women went into hysterics, and strong men cried on the streets as they heara the terrible news. Many of the injured are among our best citizens. A grand concert was to have been given at Floral Hall this evening, but that, of course, is abandoned, and the gloom cast over the city by the sad occurrence is heightened by a heavy storm which has set m since dark. Up to this hour, eight p. m.. dragstores have been busy with all available volunteer help filling prescriptions and meeting the wants of the wounded, withont question or compensation. Rumors are rife as to the insecurity of the structure, and rigid investigation will be demanded.