HUNDREDS FALL INTO CELLAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 231, 27 September 1905, Page 3

HUNDREDS FALL INTO CELLAR.

COLLAPSE OF A PLATFORMTHREE RABBIS SERIOUSLY INJURED, r PITTSBURG (Pa.), August 20..... More than 500 men, women and children were precipitated 15ft into a ceUar by the collapse of a platform to-day during the exercises incident to the laying of the corner stone of the Beth David Russian Hebrew Orthodox Synagogue on Miller-street, near Washington. Nearly all of them were cut and bruised, but it is believed no one was fatally hurt. Three rabbis Were among those who went down, and although injured they continued the ceremony after the panic had subsided.

Among the more seriously injured are Rabbis Ashinsky, S. Giatfman and A. Bloom, Abraham Xathan'son, pastor of the congregation, and Policeman Adam Lefteweski.

The platform, which was 50ft square, had been constructed over the foundations wall 3 for the accommodation of the rabbis, officers of the church and invited guests.

Just prior to the corner stone mony a brass band leading 800 Zionists arrived. When the Zionists were invited to pass over the platform in border to sign their names to the roll to be placed in the stone, a mad rush was made by the thousands- of persons gathered to secure the same privilege. The policemen were overwhelmed. in a moment the platform was packed and the frail structure collapsed.

The panic that followed attracted thousands of persons to the spot, and the police had great difficulty in extricating the screaming and groaning victims from the wreckage.

When the cellar had been cleared it was found that scores were hurt, their injuries consisting of bruises and cuts about the head and body. Some of the injuries were due to the panic that followed the crash, many being trampled on in the wild rush to escape.

Rabbi Ashinsky was trampled *upon and suffered severe injuries, but continued the services after some order had been restored. The fact that there were no fatalities is a marvel, as when the platform broke it -closed up like a knife, throwing the people into a struggling mass in the cellar. The policemen had an exciting time in handling the great crowd. A rumour gained credence that several children were buried in 1 the ruins and frenzied fathers and mothers who could not locate their children were restrained with difficulty.