SENSATIONAL SCENES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16113, 30 April 1923, Page 3

SENSATIONAL SCENES.

INVASION OF FOOTBALL GROUND

PANDEMONIUM REIGNS

ONE THOUSAND FIRST AID CASES

WOMEN SERIOUSLY INJURED

KIXG'S ESTIII • SIASTIC RECEPTION

(Elec Tel Copyright— United Press Assn.) (Australian and N.Z cattle Association.! LONDON, April 28.

In the Gup final Boston Wanderers beat West Mam United by two goals t,.' nil. One of the mosl sensational serenes in the history of the Cup final was witnessed at Wimbley. Thousands broke through the gates and jumped the rails, swarming over the pitch, until (he whole green was covered. It- was impossible Io commence the game, on time. Mounted polite were summoned to the ground to aid 'he helpless foot police, who were overwhelmed by the huge mobs. At 3 o'clock forty thousand were unable to gam admission. Thirty thousand- broke in, without paying. The first indication of trouble was when the turnstiles were closed at 2 o'clock. The crowd forced through the. main staff entrance. Simultaneously those inside leaped the rails and swarmed over the pitch. The ground was, soon covered by twenty thousand people. Tho police .gallantly endeavored to restore order. Once the situation was so alarming that, bolstered revolvers were handed round to the police. Tho mob rushed pell inell all over the ground, and pandemonium reigned. Scores of women and girls fainted. Finally tin 1 police were compelled to give up the unequal struggle. The crowd thereupon took charge. The King arrived at 3 p.m., and was greeted with a deafening roar and an amazing outburst of patriot-ism, a. crowd of two hundred thousand singing the National Anthem. When large bodies of mounted men rode on io the. ground the crowd was gradually forced off. It is estimated that two hundred cares were attended to by ambulance men. Many ambulances were requisitioned to handle the injured. Stretchers were continually being carried off the playing field. At 3.10 the teams took the field and endeavored to persuade the crowd to withdraw. Not until 3.40 was the ground sufficiently cleared to allow the game to commence. Ten minutes later if had to he stopped twelve minutes owing- to more rushes. The people were still breaking in at the gates. An official statement by the controller's offices says the turnstiles were closed after 69,000 passed through, although there, is standing room for 80,000. It is estimated that 30,000 with tickets were unable U> eider and that 200,000 were on the ground altogether. LONDON, April 29.

First aid dealt with one thousand caws. There warn a number of broken legs and serious, eye injuries. Sixtywere sent to hospital. A number of women were badly crushed against, the railings, and one is unlikely to receive)-. The stadium authorities' explanation is that an inspection was made at 1.30 when the 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 summoned, but tho crowd broke through the barriers at 2.15, and thence until the King's arrival it is estimated that one bundled thousand through without payment. The total who paid, or broke barriers L* estimated to exceed 200.000. Mr Wall, secretary of the. Football Association, assured the public that the arrangements were not in their hands, and he will not. accept responsibility.

CROWD'S ALL-NIGHT VIGII.

[Renter's Telecrram.) (Received April 30, 9 a.m.) LONDON, April 29.

Spectators for the Football Cap final commenced to arrive on Friday night, and \var<} rein fenced all night long by a stream of new arrivals. Many travel led hundreds of miles. There were weird .scenes outside where groups sal round tires attempting to keep- warm. The. crowd was largely composed of Lancastrians, fancifully attired. Numbers of ticket-holders and later special ticket, holders' trains en route to London stopped and sent back.