"Collapse of a Platform"
Dublin Core
Title
"Collapse of a Platform"
Subject
Missionaries; Structural failures; Photography--History--19th century
Description
This is an account of an accident that happened during The Missionary Conference of 1890. There were hundreds in attendance and they attempted to take a picture on a faulty tiered platform. The platform collapsed. No one died in the accident but many were injured and badly shaken by the incident. The author of the account gives a record of everyone injured and the events that immediately transpired as people rushed to help.
Creator
Noyes, Harriet Newell
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #5
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
May 16, 1890
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_misc_540
Coverage
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
[Note: +c transcribed as etc]
From the Shanghai Mercury -
[u]Friday May 16th[/u] 1890
Collapse of a Platform -
Many missionaries injured
The Missionary Conference narrowly
escaped ending in catastrophe
One of the strangest accidents that
ever occurred in Shanghai will be
associated with the Conference
of 1890. It had been arranged
that the entire Conference numbering
some four hundred and fifty
persons should be photographed
together .before dispensing agin
to their widely separated fields
of labor; and we believe that it
was originally intended that the
photographs would be take
to-morrow .But it was afterward
found that many of the missionaries
had to leave Shanghai to-day
or to-morrow and the time
was changed to the afternoon
when the entire Conference
proceeded to Saunder's Compound
in the middle of which a high
bamboo platform consisting of
[--six or seven--] ^there were 12 tiers with planked
standing places have been erected
by Mr Delorme the photographer
who had the contract. This
structure was about 18 or 20
feet high, and certainly from
the first presented a most
rickety and unsteady appearance
unsupported as it was by any
kind of stay or fastening beyond
the frail binding with which
the poles were tied together .
It had been constructed by a
Chinese carpenter who does odd
jobs for Mr Delorme - and
was to cost some 30 or 35 dollars
Some of the missionaries seem
to have had misgivings about
its ability to support the weight
about to be put upon it and
asked whether it was strong
enough and were assured that
it was. They then ascended the
various tiers to the number of
between three and four hundred
and even then the structure
showed signs of collapsing
but the less timorous reassured the
others that it was all right.
The photographer was just about
to get his camera in focus upon
the large group - the largest and one
of the most interesting ever taken
in Shanghai ,when the frail
platform with its crowd of ladies
old and young, and men of
all ages packed close together
gave a tremble and leaning
to the photographer's left-hand
side, collapsed like a bird cage
under a heavy weight. Never
was such an exciting scene
witnessed in the history of the
Model Settlement and the
strange silence which
marked it made it the more
terrifying to the onlookers in the
houses in the compound and
on the grass plot. Not a shriek
was raised by one of the two
hundred ladies who were thrown
to the ground in the promiscuous
confusion, and a great mass
of humanity, frightened shaken
but [u]silent[/u], struggled on the
ground for a moment or two.
That many were not killed
is a mystery. Those on the top
tiers mostly were thrown well
forward and most escaped
with slight injuries. Those on
the lowest tiers who had a second
or two of warning rushed out
when the structure began to
collapse but the people in the
middle rows fell together in
a composed mass. A
dozen or so went down between
the bamboos, a hundred or
2
more feel forward together in
a crowd topsy turvy. The
projecting ribs and sticks of
the umbrellas formed another
element of danger to the eyes
of the unfortunate people thus
suddenly placed in danger
of the most unexpected kind
The photographer stood beside
his camera speechless with
horror, unable to collect his
faculties and forgetful of his
profession in which an accident
had given him an unique
chance for an instantaneous
picture which would have
made his name and compensated
him for the loss which the
disaster otherwise caused him.
The victims of the accident
began quickly to pick themselves
up and assist each other and
it was seen with delight and
surprise that no one was killed.
Some of the ladies fainted after
the thing was over ,many showed
cuts and bruises on their faces
and the clothes of many were
torn. One or two were found
too badly hurt to rise without assistance
An old lady lay on the left
hand side apparently seriously
injured and was gently lifted
out by many ready hands.
Two or three gentlemen lay quite
still after the others had picked
themselves up or were by others
lifted up. When the full extent
of the damage was realized
and hats bonnets and umbrellas
had been recovered the members
of Conference regained their
composure and some one
called out for a hymn to be
sung, and all with one
accord some suffering from
severe injuries joined in the
thankful strains of Doxology.
The injured of whom there were
between 30 and 40, were hastily
attended to by the many medical
men in the ranks of the missionaries
and were carried to their homes or
temporary resting places in jinrickshas
Upon inquiring we learned that
amongst the injured are Mrs
Jenkins of Shaoshing - broken
collarbone and rib; Mrs James
Dalziel very much bruised and
suffering from the shock. Mr
Rudland severely shaken; Mrs
Dr Main bruised on the arm
severe cut on the nose. Mrs Cardwell
slightly bruised and shaken;
Miss Cassels slightly injured;
Dr E Faber cut about the face
severe. Mrs Hayes Suchow arm
badly sprained; Mr Fitch
sprained foot. Miss Knight
bruised about the body. Mrs
Judson Hangchow cut on
head and very much shaken
Miss Young badly shaken and
nervously affected. There was
no Policeman to be seen for
some time and the Chinese flocked
around the place in great numbers
and caused great difficulty to
those trying to carry the injured
away. The residents in the
locality did all they could to
assist the sufferers. We visited
the scene of the accident
immediately afterwards, and
the wretchedly inadequate
construction of the collapsed
platform was then very apparent
not one of the bamboos was more
than 3 ins in diameter, and
no precautions to keep the
structure in position by stays
etc had been taken.
We were informed that it was
when the people on the top
began to move slightly so as
to face the camera that
3
the collapse came .The bamboos
were cut sharp at the ends
which were driven a few inches
into the soft ground. The
number of umbrellas small
parcels, books hand bags and
crushed hats etc lying about
would have suggest that
the contents of a general
store had been thrown out
in a hurry. Amateur photographers
were quickly on the scene
getting plates of the ruins
which filled up the centre
of the compound. The name
of the Chinese contractor responsible
for the accident is not know
to Mr Delorme but the
Police are looking for him.
We have received several
personal narrative of the
accident but too late to give
tonight. We are sincerely
glad that the accident has
ended so lightly as it has
for it was undoubtedly due
to the mercy of God that
we have not a terrible disaster
to record tonight As it is,
it is bad enough, and it is
fear that one or two
ladies in addition to the
list we have given have
sustained internal
injuries; but we hope that
they are only suffering from
the effects of the fright
which will soon wear off.
-------------------
[注：+c 转录为 etc]
来自上海水星 -
1890 年 5 月 16 日星期五
一个平台倒塌 -
许多传教士受伤 传教大会以灾难告终
上海有史以来最奇怪的事故之一将与大会有关1890 年的。
已经安排了整个会议，
约有 450 人应该一起拍照。
然后再分配到他们广泛分散的劳动领域。
我们相信本来是打算明天拍的，
但后来发现很多传教士今天或明天要离开上海，
把时间改到了下午。
会议继续进行到桑德的大院，
其中有一个由12层木板组成的高竹平台，
由签约摄影师德洛姆先生竖立起来。
这个结构大约有 18 或 20 英尺高，
而且从一开始就呈现出最摇摇晃晃和不稳定的外观，
因为它没有任何类型的支撑或紧固，
超出了将电线杆绑在一起的脆弱束缚。
它是由一位为德洛姆先生打零工的中国木匠建造的——花费了大约 30 或 35 美元 一些传教士似乎对它能否承受即将承受的重量表示怀疑，
并询问是否它足够强大，
并且确信它是。
然后他们将各个层级提升到三四百人之间，
即使这样，
结构也显示出倒塌的迹象，
但不那么胆怯的人向其他人保证一切都很好。
摄影师正要将相机对准这一大群人——上海有史以来规模最大、最有趣的人群之一，
就在这个脆弱的站台上挤满了老少少妇和各个年龄段的男人。
颤抖着靠在摄影师的左手边，
在沉重的重量下像鸟笼一样倒塌。
样板聚居的历史上从未出现过如此激动人心的一幕，
而那诡异的寂静，
让围观的围观者在大院内和草地上更加恐惧。
在混杂的混乱中倒在地上的两百名女士中没有一个发出尖叫声，
一大群人类，
惊恐颤抖但沉默不语，
在地上挣扎了一两分钟。
许多人没有被杀是个谜。
那些在顶层的人大多被扔得很好，
大多数人都受了轻伤。
当结构开始倒塌时，
最底层的人有一两秒钟的警告就冲了出来，
但中间一排的人却是一个沉着的人。
十几根竹子从竹林之间下来，
还有一百两根在乱七八糟的人群中一起向前冲。
伞的突出的肋骨和棍子在不幸的人眼中形成了另一个危险因素，
因此突然陷入了最意想不到的危险之中。
其中一次事故给了他一个独特的机会，
让他有机会拍下一张瞬间的照片，
这张照片本来可以让他名声大噪，
并补偿了他因灾难而造成的损失。
事故的受害者迅速振作起来，
互相帮助，
令人高兴和惊讶的是，
没有人丧生。
一些女士在事情结束后昏倒了，
许多人的脸上出现了割伤和瘀伤，
许多人的衣服被撕裂了。
一两个人伤得太重，
无法在没有帮助的情况下站起来。
一位老太太躺在左侧，
显然是受了重伤，
被许多准备好的手轻轻扶了起来。
等其他人站起来或被人扶起来后，
两三位先生就静静地躺着。
当损坏的全部范围被确认并且帽子和雨伞已经恢复时，
会议成员恢复了镇定，
有人呼吁唱一首赞美诗，
所有受重伤的人都一致表示感谢Doxology 的菌株。
伤者有 30 至 40 人，
由传教士队伍中的许多医务人员仓促救治，
并被抬到他们的家中或 jinrickshas 的临时休息处。
经询问得知，
伤者中有Shaoshing - 锁骨和肋骨骨折； James Dalziel 夫人受了重伤，
受了惊吓。
拉德兰先生严重动摇；梅恩医生的手臂上有瘀伤，
鼻子上严重割伤。
卡德威尔太太微微受了点瘀伤，
颤抖着；卡塞尔小姐受轻伤； E Faber 医生严重地割伤了脸。
海耶斯·苏肖夫人的手臂严重扭伤；费奇先生扭伤了脚。
奈特小姐伤痕累累身体。
贾德森杭州夫人的头被砍了一刀，
使杨小姐摇摇欲坠，
精神抖擞。
有一段时间没有警察的身影，
华人蜂拥而至，
给试图抬走伤员的人造成了很大的困难。
当地居民尽其所能帮助受难者。
事后我们立即访问了事故现场，
当时倒塌的平台结构严重不足，
非常明显，
没有一根竹子的直径超过 3 英寸，
也没有采取任何预防措施来通过撑杆等将结构保持在适当位置。
采取。
我们被告知，
当顶部的人开始轻微移动以面向镜头时，
3 倒塌发生了。
竹子的末端被切割得很锋利，
被刺入松软的地面几英寸。
随处可见的雨伞小包裹、书包、碎帽子等，
足以说明杂货店的物品被匆匆扔掉了。
业余摄影师迅速赶到现场，
拍摄填满大院中心的废墟。
Delorme 先生不知道对这起事故负责的中国承包商的姓名，
但警方正在寻找他。
我们已经收到了几个关于事故的个人叙述，
但今晚给的太晚了。
我们很高兴这次事故如此轻松地结束了，
因为毫无疑问是由于上帝的怜悯，
我们今晚没有记录一场可怕的灾难。
除了我们给出的名单外，
还有两名女士受了内伤；但我们希望他们只是受到很快就会消退的恐惧的影响。
------------------
From the Shanghai Mercury -
[u]Friday May 16th[/u] 1890
Collapse of a Platform -
Many missionaries injured
The Missionary Conference narrowly
escaped ending in catastrophe
One of the strangest accidents that
ever occurred in Shanghai will be
associated with the Conference
of 1890. It had been arranged
that the entire Conference numbering
some four hundred and fifty
persons should be photographed
together .before dispensing agin
to their widely separated fields
of labor; and we believe that it
was originally intended that the
photographs would be take
to-morrow .But it was afterward
found that many of the missionaries
had to leave Shanghai to-day
or to-morrow and the time
was changed to the afternoon
when the entire Conference
proceeded to Saunder's Compound
in the middle of which a high
bamboo platform consisting of
[--six or seven--] ^there were 12 tiers with planked
standing places have been erected
by Mr Delorme the photographer
who had the contract. This
structure was about 18 or 20
feet high, and certainly from
the first presented a most
rickety and unsteady appearance
unsupported as it was by any
kind of stay or fastening beyond
the frail binding with which
the poles were tied together .
It had been constructed by a
Chinese carpenter who does odd
jobs for Mr Delorme - and
was to cost some 30 or 35 dollars
Some of the missionaries seem
to have had misgivings about
its ability to support the weight
about to be put upon it and
asked whether it was strong
enough and were assured that
it was. They then ascended the
various tiers to the number of
between three and four hundred
and even then the structure
showed signs of collapsing
but the less timorous reassured the
others that it was all right.
The photographer was just about
to get his camera in focus upon
the large group - the largest and one
of the most interesting ever taken
in Shanghai ,when the frail
platform with its crowd of ladies
old and young, and men of
all ages packed close together
gave a tremble and leaning
to the photographer's left-hand
side, collapsed like a bird cage
under a heavy weight. Never
was such an exciting scene
witnessed in the history of the
Model Settlement and the
strange silence which
marked it made it the more
terrifying to the onlookers in the
houses in the compound and
on the grass plot. Not a shriek
was raised by one of the two
hundred ladies who were thrown
to the ground in the promiscuous
confusion, and a great mass
of humanity, frightened shaken
but [u]silent[/u], struggled on the
ground for a moment or two.
That many were not killed
is a mystery. Those on the top
tiers mostly were thrown well
forward and most escaped
with slight injuries. Those on
the lowest tiers who had a second
or two of warning rushed out
when the structure began to
collapse but the people in the
middle rows fell together in
a composed mass. A
dozen or so went down between
the bamboos, a hundred or
2
more feel forward together in
a crowd topsy turvy. The
projecting ribs and sticks of
the umbrellas formed another
element of danger to the eyes
of the unfortunate people thus
suddenly placed in danger
of the most unexpected kind
The photographer stood beside
his camera speechless with
horror, unable to collect his
faculties and forgetful of his
profession in which an accident
had given him an unique
chance for an instantaneous
picture which would have
made his name and compensated
him for the loss which the
disaster otherwise caused him.
The victims of the accident
began quickly to pick themselves
up and assist each other and
it was seen with delight and
surprise that no one was killed.
Some of the ladies fainted after
the thing was over ,many showed
cuts and bruises on their faces
and the clothes of many were
torn. One or two were found
too badly hurt to rise without assistance
An old lady lay on the left
hand side apparently seriously
injured and was gently lifted
out by many ready hands.
Two or three gentlemen lay quite
still after the others had picked
themselves up or were by others
lifted up. When the full extent
of the damage was realized
and hats bonnets and umbrellas
had been recovered the members
of Conference regained their
composure and some one
called out for a hymn to be
sung, and all with one
accord some suffering from
severe injuries joined in the
thankful strains of Doxology.
The injured of whom there were
between 30 and 40, were hastily
attended to by the many medical
men in the ranks of the missionaries
and were carried to their homes or
temporary resting places in jinrickshas
Upon inquiring we learned that
amongst the injured are Mrs
Jenkins of Shaoshing - broken
collarbone and rib; Mrs James
Dalziel very much bruised and
suffering from the shock. Mr
Rudland severely shaken; Mrs
Dr Main bruised on the arm
severe cut on the nose. Mrs Cardwell
slightly bruised and shaken;
Miss Cassels slightly injured;
Dr E Faber cut about the face
severe. Mrs Hayes Suchow arm
badly sprained; Mr Fitch
sprained foot. Miss Knight
bruised about the body. Mrs
Judson Hangchow cut on
head and very much shaken
Miss Young badly shaken and
nervously affected. There was
no Policeman to be seen for
some time and the Chinese flocked
around the place in great numbers
and caused great difficulty to
those trying to carry the injured
away. The residents in the
locality did all they could to
assist the sufferers. We visited
the scene of the accident
immediately afterwards, and
the wretchedly inadequate
construction of the collapsed
platform was then very apparent
not one of the bamboos was more
than 3 ins in diameter, and
no precautions to keep the
structure in position by stays
etc had been taken.
We were informed that it was
when the people on the top
began to move slightly so as
to face the camera that
3
the collapse came .The bamboos
were cut sharp at the ends
which were driven a few inches
into the soft ground. The
number of umbrellas small
parcels, books hand bags and
crushed hats etc lying about
would have suggest that
the contents of a general
store had been thrown out
in a hurry. Amateur photographers
were quickly on the scene
getting plates of the ruins
which filled up the centre
of the compound. The name
of the Chinese contractor responsible
for the accident is not know
to Mr Delorme but the
Police are looking for him.
We have received several
personal narrative of the
accident but too late to give
tonight. We are sincerely
glad that the accident has
ended so lightly as it has
for it was undoubtedly due
to the mercy of God that
we have not a terrible disaster
to record tonight As it is,
it is bad enough, and it is
fear that one or two
ladies in addition to the
list we have given have
sustained internal
injuries; but we hope that
they are only suffering from
the effects of the fright
which will soon wear off.
-------------------
[注：+c 转录为 etc]
来自上海水星 -
1890 年 5 月 16 日星期五
一个平台倒塌 -
许多传教士受伤 传教大会以灾难告终
上海有史以来最奇怪的事故之一将与大会有关1890 年的。
已经安排了整个会议，
约有 450 人应该一起拍照。
然后再分配到他们广泛分散的劳动领域。
我们相信本来是打算明天拍的，
但后来发现很多传教士今天或明天要离开上海，
把时间改到了下午。
会议继续进行到桑德的大院，
其中有一个由12层木板组成的高竹平台，
由签约摄影师德洛姆先生竖立起来。
这个结构大约有 18 或 20 英尺高，
而且从一开始就呈现出最摇摇晃晃和不稳定的外观，
因为它没有任何类型的支撑或紧固，
超出了将电线杆绑在一起的脆弱束缚。
它是由一位为德洛姆先生打零工的中国木匠建造的——花费了大约 30 或 35 美元 一些传教士似乎对它能否承受即将承受的重量表示怀疑，
并询问是否它足够强大，
并且确信它是。
然后他们将各个层级提升到三四百人之间，
即使这样，
结构也显示出倒塌的迹象，
但不那么胆怯的人向其他人保证一切都很好。
摄影师正要将相机对准这一大群人——上海有史以来规模最大、最有趣的人群之一，
就在这个脆弱的站台上挤满了老少少妇和各个年龄段的男人。
颤抖着靠在摄影师的左手边，
在沉重的重量下像鸟笼一样倒塌。
样板聚居的历史上从未出现过如此激动人心的一幕，
而那诡异的寂静，
让围观的围观者在大院内和草地上更加恐惧。
在混杂的混乱中倒在地上的两百名女士中没有一个发出尖叫声，
一大群人类，
惊恐颤抖但沉默不语，
在地上挣扎了一两分钟。
许多人没有被杀是个谜。
那些在顶层的人大多被扔得很好，
大多数人都受了轻伤。
当结构开始倒塌时，
最底层的人有一两秒钟的警告就冲了出来，
但中间一排的人却是一个沉着的人。
十几根竹子从竹林之间下来，
还有一百两根在乱七八糟的人群中一起向前冲。
伞的突出的肋骨和棍子在不幸的人眼中形成了另一个危险因素，
因此突然陷入了最意想不到的危险之中。
其中一次事故给了他一个独特的机会，
让他有机会拍下一张瞬间的照片，
这张照片本来可以让他名声大噪，
并补偿了他因灾难而造成的损失。
事故的受害者迅速振作起来，
互相帮助，
令人高兴和惊讶的是，
没有人丧生。
一些女士在事情结束后昏倒了，
许多人的脸上出现了割伤和瘀伤，
许多人的衣服被撕裂了。
一两个人伤得太重，
无法在没有帮助的情况下站起来。
一位老太太躺在左侧，
显然是受了重伤，
被许多准备好的手轻轻扶了起来。
等其他人站起来或被人扶起来后，
两三位先生就静静地躺着。
当损坏的全部范围被确认并且帽子和雨伞已经恢复时，
会议成员恢复了镇定，
有人呼吁唱一首赞美诗，
所有受重伤的人都一致表示感谢Doxology 的菌株。
伤者有 30 至 40 人，
由传教士队伍中的许多医务人员仓促救治，
并被抬到他们的家中或 jinrickshas 的临时休息处。
经询问得知，
伤者中有Shaoshing - 锁骨和肋骨骨折； James Dalziel 夫人受了重伤，
受了惊吓。
拉德兰先生严重动摇；梅恩医生的手臂上有瘀伤，
鼻子上严重割伤。
卡德威尔太太微微受了点瘀伤，
颤抖着；卡塞尔小姐受轻伤； E Faber 医生严重地割伤了脸。
海耶斯·苏肖夫人的手臂严重扭伤；费奇先生扭伤了脚。
奈特小姐伤痕累累身体。
贾德森杭州夫人的头被砍了一刀，
使杨小姐摇摇欲坠，
精神抖擞。
有一段时间没有警察的身影，
华人蜂拥而至，
给试图抬走伤员的人造成了很大的困难。
当地居民尽其所能帮助受难者。
事后我们立即访问了事故现场，
当时倒塌的平台结构严重不足，
非常明显，
没有一根竹子的直径超过 3 英寸，
也没有采取任何预防措施来通过撑杆等将结构保持在适当位置。
采取。
我们被告知，
当顶部的人开始轻微移动以面向镜头时，
3 倒塌发生了。
竹子的末端被切割得很锋利，
被刺入松软的地面几英寸。
随处可见的雨伞小包裹、书包、碎帽子等，
足以说明杂货店的物品被匆匆扔掉了。
业余摄影师迅速赶到现场，
拍摄填满大院中心的废墟。
Delorme 先生不知道对这起事故负责的中国承包商的姓名，
但警方正在寻找他。
我们已经收到了几个关于事故的个人叙述，
但今晚给的太晚了。
我们很高兴这次事故如此轻松地结束了，
因为毫无疑问是由于上帝的怜悯，
我们今晚没有记录一场可怕的灾难。
除了我们给出的名单外，
还有两名女士受了内伤；但我们希望他们只是受到很快就会消退的恐惧的影响。
------------------
Original Format
Essay
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Harriet Newell, “"Collapse of a Platform",” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 26, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/597.