THE QUIRINDI BALCONY DISASTER

Lake County Press, Issue 977, 29 August 1901, Page 2

THE QUIRINDI BALCONY DISASTER

| A TERRIBLE SCENE. 150 PERSONS AFFECTED. The hotel at Quirindi, the balcony of which gave way on the night of the Bth inst., was situated away from the main street, at a place where there was not much traffic. Darkness bad fallen for some time. The 150 people, more or less, who had assembled on the premises to witness the presentation of the prizes won by contestants at the gymkhana and polo matches were protected from the wind and from the public view on the balcony by tarpaulins, which were stretched between the balustrading and the verandah roof. The interior of the balcony was lighted mainly by hanging kerosene lamps. There had been no premonitions of a collapse, either appealing to the eye or to the ear. It was with absolutely normal confidence therefore that the whole gathering became engaged in the business of the evening. Gentlemen were in the proportion of more than two to one. Everyone was standing around a table, on which glittered the various trophies in contiguity to a lamp, the most prominent ornament being a large silver cup, which was the chief prize for the polo competitions. The company included about fifty visitors from Sydney and a few men well known in amateur sporting and athletic circles. Interest in the proceedings was just reaching its culminating point. Several of the trophies had been handed over, and the time was approaching when the cup was to be awarded. Mr W. G. Dodds, of Sydney, who had been a judge during the day, had been asked to say a few words in connection with the giving of the prize for the best four-in-hand turn-out. He advanced through the throng to the table, noticing as he did so that the bulk of the, people were in the centre, of the balcony floor. Just as he posed himself to speak there was a great crash, followed by darkness. Even the most vivid impression of the moment that nan be recalled by anyone involved is of a confused character, partaking of a chaotic dream picture in which a well-ordered and intelligent scene suddenly disintegrates before the eye, and horror supervenes on a process of ruin which is too swift to be realised and understood. For, following the noise, there was a slipping away of indistinct surroundings, a fall accompanied by bruising contacts in sudden darkness, and then a sharp sensation of arrest at a lower level, accompanied, perhaps, by the painful breaking of a limb.

No one knows definitely how the structure collapsed. The balcony was one of those very wide constructions which are frequently erected around country hotels to serve as an agreeable lounge, a promenade, a banqueting space, or a dancing floor, as may be desirable from time to time. Strong i iron pillars on the street kerbing supported it on one side. 18ft above the ground, and it was connected with the hotel building on the other by heavy joists or beams which were cemented" into the brickwork. The experiences of several participants in the affair may be cited. They assert that immediately before the event they were aware of a momentary swaying sensation. This was followed by the cracking of timber near the hotel w'all and the instant falling in of the floor there, converting the whole timbered area on which they were standing into a steeply inclined plane, slanting inwards, down which, in the swiftly following darkness, everyone slid into a rapidly widening chasm between the wall and the receding flooring, of which they only became aware as they fell through on to the hard footpath below. Everyone on the balcony seems to have shared in the disaster. ' The occurrence took place so precipitately that there was no chance to make for safety. Those who were leaning against the wall fell through feet first. Others were shot up against them or on top of them, or came down in groups, falling on one another’s limbs. The trophies, the table, and the odd chairs and lamps on the balcony came with them, striking men and women impartially in the darkness. Over all fell the verandah roofing of corrugated iron and light woodwork. The ladies exhibited remarkable courage in most distressing circumstances, for they shared to the full the tortures of the situation. and scarcely murmured. The prevalence of sprained and broken ankles in (he list of injuries is due to the large proportion of people who fell more or less on their feet. Cut heads, broken arms and legs, and internal injuries suggest alighting under other more or less complex conditions. Mr Suckling, an old gentleman, a squatter in the neighborhood, stout and below the middle height, exhibited the qualities of a

hero. With both n. c .> ; the ankles, he got upon his knees and used his arms to hold up a great section of the roofing so as to prevent it falling on some helpless ladies and gentlemen who were round about him. Mr Dodds says that Mr Suckling actually cracked jokes to keep up the spirits of the company whilst engaged in this occupation, until he was relieved by men who hastened to his assistance. Mrs Suckling, who had sustained a broken ankle, sat near him all the while, and made complaint. She seemed more anxious others than herself. *

At the moment of the collapse Mr H. C. M’Dougall, of West Maitland, was standing in a doorwav leading off the balcony into the hotel. He, of course, escaped. One of the kerosene lamps which fell with the company did not go out, but lay in a very dangerous position amongst the huddled ruins. Mr M'Dougall ran downstairs and secured it, thus preventing perhaps one of those petroleum holocausts which are too frequently reported from America. The risk of this had been keenly apprehended by the injured people near the lamp, and they had vainly endeavored to extricate themselves in order to reach it. It was not long before a sufficient number of persons, having arisen and shaken themselves and felt their- limbs all over, found they could be of service to others. Mr M'Dougall had taken away the light in obedience to the suggestion made to him, so rescue work was commenced by the aid of a dim illumination from the hotel windows. The assisting companions of the sufferers were, of course, soon reinforced by townspeople attracted to the spot by the noise created by the collapse of the balcony. Injured people were carried into the hotel until all the accommodation was taken up. Every bedroom arid sitting room had its groaning occupants. The worst scene was observed in the billiard room. One of the sufferers was Mr R. A. Allen, of Quirindi, who had both legs so badly broken that the bones protruded through the flesh. He bore his sufferings with extraordinary fortitude. Mr Willis, representative of the ‘ Herald,’ had concussion of the spine; Mr R. Carson, a leg broken; Mrs W. MacDonald, an arm injured and her nose broken ; Mr Hugh M’Master, leg broken ; Mrs J. F. Cramer, ankle and hip broken. A number of ladies who had been hurt were plac din the middle of the road. Dr Scott, of Scone, a well-known Australian cricketer, who was at the gathering, was temporarily disabled bv an injury to bis knee, and Mrs Scott fractured her ankle.

The silver cup, which was the great trophy of the day, and was about to be presented when the disaster took place, was picked up afterwards in a damaged condition with its bottom knocked in. Of the Sydney polo team at Quirindi, Richards escaped altogether, not being at the hotel at the time. Mr H. Parbury sustained cuts about the head. Mr W. H. Watts fell through the opening the falling balcony and the hotel wall on to his feet and got off with some trifling grazes, but Mr Hawley remains at Quirindi with a bad cut on his head. Mr W. G. Dodds slightly crushed his foot, hurting the right heel rather badly. Mr Watt says the balcony had been used before for quite as large gatherings as this one with every appearance of perfect safety. The scene which presented itself was awful from every point of view. There was a struggle to get into the hotel. Many ladies, with blood-stained faces, and blinded with dust, were moaning. Across the vestibule a young lady walked with her hair falling down her back, whilst she gasped convulsively until she staggered and fell unconscious. Against the outside wall was Mr W. Cadell, completely dazed, and Mr Thomas Finlay was found with a broken leg. It is estimated that eighteen persons sustained broken legs, forty-nine seriously injured, and that a good many suffered minor injuries. Next morning as the work of removing the debris proceeded it made one marvel that the injuries were not more serious. Huge rafters on being turned over disclosed clots of blood and hair, whilst the ground was literally covered with blood. It is miraculous that there was no loss of life. Portion of the timber was saturated with kerosene, but luckily a fire did not start. Onlookers, who desired to do their best, in the confusion did not know whom to attend to first. The sound caused by the collapse resembled the report of a cannon. The noise of the falling roof was distinctly heard a mile distant.— ‘ Sydney Morning Herald.’