Harper's Weekly
Journal of Civilization
Vol. XXVII, No. 1381
Saturday, June 9, 1883
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Harper's Weekly Journal of Civilization Vol. XXVII, No. 1381 Saturday, June 9, 1883 |
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THE DISASTER ON THE BRIDGE.  THE TRAGEDY ON THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE, MAY 30 Drawn by C. Graham and W.A. Rogers |
The sad catastrophe upon the Brooklyn Bridge on Decoration-day will become a painful tradition. The day of the opening was so fortunate and successful in every way that it is unfortunate that its associations must be darkened by the melancholy loss of life that followed. It is the more painful because it was evidently avoidable. Nothing, indeed, can stay a crowd in the frenzy of panic. But it was evident after the first day that a vast crowd, a blockade, and a panic were not only possible, but extremely probable, and this being apparent, it was an imperative duty to provide for it. The conditions of the safe passage of a huge crowd across the bridge were as plain before the disaster as they are now. The two currents should be kept separate, and the police force should be adequate to keep them constantly moving, and to clear the approaches from loiterers. Peddlers and every kind of obstruction should be summarily moved on. This will he now probably done. But it is humiliating that it should have needed so terrible a spur. Of course no such event can occur again without bringing the management under universal public indignation. Those who have to deal with crowds are bound to know that a crowd is easily panic-stricken, and that when panic-stricken it is uncontrollable. The problem of safe passage across the bridge is certainly not a difficult one, and the lamentable disaster is not only irrepaable to the victims and their friends, but it is a disgrace to those who should have prevented it. |