Brooklyn Bridge stampede

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The Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 Bird's-Eye View of the Great Suspension Bridge, Connecting The Cities of New York and Brooklyn - From New York Looking South-East.jpg
The Brooklyn Bridge in 1883

The Brooklyn Bridge stampede occurred on May 30, 1883, one week after the Brooklyn Bridge opened. Twelve people died and 36 were seriously injured. [1]

The stampede occurred on Memorial Day (which at the time was always observed on May 30 [2] ), and a large crowd flocked to the bridge, causing a pedestrian bottleneck. When a woman fell down the stairs, another woman screamed, inducing panic in the crowd. [3] According to the New York Times , "In a moment the whole stairway was packed with dead and dying men, women and children piled upon another in a writhing, struggling mass." [4]

References

  1. ↑ "Brooklyn Bridge, Fanfare and Fatalities: Topics in Chronicling America". LOC Research Guides. Library of Congress . Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  2. ↑ David McCullough erroneously gives the date as May 31. David McCullough, The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge . p. 543.
  3. ↑ McNamara, Robert. "Brooklyn Bridge Disaster". ThoughtCo . Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  4. ↑ Frishberg, Hannah (21 June 2016). ""The Bridge Is Falling": The Story of the Brooklyn Bridge's Deadly Stampede". Brownstoner . Retrieved 25 February 2025.
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