MELBOURNE’S STAR TURN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19367, 25 July 1925, Page 5

MELBOURNE’S STAR TURN

ANOTHER COLLAPSE CROWDED VERANDAH GIVES WAY. 100 PEOPLE INJURED. By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Julv 23, 10.30 p.m. MELBOURNE, July 23. A sensational accident occurred during the march of the American sailors through Alelbournc. An enormous crowd gathered along the route of the procession ami watched from windows, verandah roofs and other points of vantage. Some fifty persons were standing on a cantilever verandah at Hoyt's Picture Theatre in Bourko Street when it suddenly collapsed, just as the procession was passing. The sound of rending timber warned the people packed on the sidewalk below but the crowd was so dense that many were unable to get clear. Amid the terrified rush and screams of the spectators, the procession was stopped and seamen and marines from the warships rushed to help the injured ami assisted the police to keep the crowd back. As the verandah gave way a number of those upon it were hurled upon those below. SCENE OF WILDEST EXCITEMENT. A scene of the wildest excitement ami disorder followed. The rescuing of the victims from the debris occupied a considerable time, many of those beneath the verandah, besides those who fell, sustaining cuts and injuries. A number were removed to hospital where pathetic scenes were witnessed, people visiting in crowds in search of relatives. After the rescue work had been completed the procession reformed and continued its march. CRASH ONTO PEOPLE UNDERNEATH. Hundreds were collected directly beneath and around the verandah when it crashed and some were pinned beneath the debris and others thrown forward among the dense crowd lining the street. In the wild scatter for safety the barriers guarding the street were borne down and people tumbled pell-mell into the road. The police and men from the fleet gradually pushed back the crowds into Swanston and Collins Streets and when some order was restored ambulances and nurses were quickly on the scene attending to the wounded. Over a hundred more or loss injured were removed to the Alelbournc Hospital for treatment. Luckily no one was killed. Though the injuries of a few are serious, they were mostly slight. For an hour after the accident ambulances were removing people from the mix-up and attending to minor injuries, due to crushing mostly, when the crowd was forced back from the scene. Besides Hoyt’s verandah, that of Spencer's drapery premises adjoining was involved in the collapse. CRASH AND CRIES INSTEAD OF MUSIC. The crash came at the height of the excitement when everybody was cheering and applauding the passing procession. It was simultaneous with the blowing of a whistle for the Americans’ band to strike up. Instead, came the screams of frightened women, excited men and the cries of little children, followed by the piteous groans of the wounded. AVith military precision the .\incri cans halted, moved off the road, unfixed bavonets and with the assistance of the police quickly threw a barrier round the scene of the disaster. Others holding their rilles in front of them held back the crowd and prevented a stampede to the spot. TERRIBLE SCENES OF DISORDER. There were terrible scenes of disorder as the wounded from the collapsed verandah were carried to the ambulances. crowds rushing to the scene and impeding the rescuers. The big verandah collapsed as though made of paper. People standing on it were hurled on the heads*of the crowds below. The casualty rooms in the hospitals resembled war clearing stations, injur cd on stretchers crowding the premises. A later report states that four men and one elderly woman have died from injuries. When the verandah collapsed th. 1 stage hands and office staff of the Tivoli Theatre, right opposite, rushed to the scene and carried the injured Io the theatre, where first aid was administered. One old man died in the theatre. The paucity of details may be ox plained by the fact that many of the injured wore taken to surrounding build mgs where they received attention without being reported to the hospitals. So far. the, names of the dead are unknown. NO DEATHS. Received Julv 25, 1.25 a.m. SYDNEY, July 24. ' Advices received at a late hour from Melbourne state that there were n< deaths in the verandah crash, but three of the hundred were injured seriously.