SURGING CROWD

Evening Star, Issue 18262, 30 April 1923, Page 5

SURGING CROWD

BREAK IKTO FOOTBALL GROUBD, SCENE AT CUP FINAL. ONE THOUSAND INJURED. Press Association —By Telegraph Copyright. LONDON, April 28. In the Association Cup final, Bolton Wanderers beat West Ham United by 2 goals to 0. One of the most sensational scenes m the history of the cup final was witnessed nt Wembley. ThoiifwiTids broke tbiough the gates and jumped tho rails, swarming over tho pitch until the whole green was covered. It wnr. impossible to commence the game time. Mounted ponce were summoned to (he ,‘pound to aid Lie helpless foot polite, who were overwhelmed by huge mobs. At. 3 o’clock 40,030 were unable to gain admission. Thirty thousand broke m without paying. The first indication of trouble was when the turnstiles woie closed at 2 o’clock. The crowd forced a way through the main staff entrance. Simultaneously those inside leaped Lie mils and swarmed over the pitch. Tho ground was soon covered bv 20.000 people. The police gallantly endeavored to restore order. Once the situation was so alarming that bolstered revolvers were handed round to the police. Mobs rushed pell mcll all over the ground, and pandemonium reigned. Scores of women and girls fainted. Finally the police were compelled to give up the unequal struggle. The crewd thereupon took charge. The King arrived at 3 o’clock, and was greeted with a deafening roar. There vis an amazing outburst of patriotism, the crowd of 280,000 singing the National Anthem. When the large bodies of mounted men rode cn to the ground the crowd was gradually forced off. It is estimated that 200 cases were attended by the ambulance men. Many ambulances were requisitioned to handle the injured, and stretchers were continually being carried off the playing field. At 3.10 p.m. the teams took the field, and endeavored to persuade the crowd to withdraw, but not until 3.40 p.m. was the ground sufficiently cleared to allow the game to commence. Ten minutes later it had to he stopepd for twelve minutes owing to more rushes of people, still breaking in at- tho gates.

An official statement by the controller’s office says that the turnstiles were closed after 60,009 people had passed through. Although there is standing room for 90.000 it is estimated that 30,000 with tickets were unable to enter, and that 200.000 were on the ground altogether.

First aid workers dealt with 1,000 cases, including a number of broken legs and serious eye injuries. Sixty were sent to hospital. A number of women were badly crushed against tho railings. One is unlikely to recover. The Stadium authorities’ explanation is that an inspection was made at 1.50 p.m.. when tho standing accommodation was found to be nearly full, so orders were given to close all tho gates. Thousands continued to arrive and mass round the entrances. Police reinforcements were r.uminn’ied, but the crowd broke through the harriers at 2.15 p.m. Thence until the King's arrival it is estimated that 100.300 got through without payment. The total who paid or broke the barriers is esthmited to exceed 200,000. Mr Wall, secretary of (he Football Assort'd mu, assures tho public that the arra”ecmcnts were not in its hands, and lie will not accept responsibility'.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ALL-NIGHT VIGIL. LONDON, April 29. (Received April 30, at 9.25 a.m.) Spectators for the Football Cup final commenced to arrive on Friday night. They were reinforced all irght long by a .stream of new arrivals. Many travelled 100 miles. There were weird scenes outside tho ground, where groups sat round fires attempting to keep themselves warm. Tho crowd was largely composed cf Lancastrians. Many were fancifully attired. Numbers of ticket holders and later special ticket holders’ trains while en route to London were stopped and sent back.—Reuter.