Women Faint in Jostling Crowd

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 428, 9 August 1928, Page 11

Women Faint in Jostling Crowd

CLEARING CARLAW PARK A DISGRACEFUL SCENE “A woman has fainted here: try and make room for her.” “Go on, lift her over the fence.” ‘l’m suffocating!” “You’re crushing me!” Amid a babel of cat-calls and screams, with these remarks risingover all, two or three thousand members of the crowd that went to see the (Auckland v. England game at Carlaw Park yesterday, endeavoured to force their way simultaneously through a gate built to admit three abrea,st. Imbued with the scrumming spirit of the players whom they had just seen using, it legitimately, the hooligan faction in the crowd found itself in its element. With cries of “Get down to it, boys”’ these admirable young men surged into the crowd, crushing many against the high fence, while those who were fortunate enough to be near the tiny gate shot out into the open like peas from a pod. More annoying even than the offensively high spirits of the young “bankers” was the fact that a large gate fully five, times wider than the wicket gate beside it, was firmly locked Came ugly shouts of “Smash it down'” but the presence of a good-humoured though determined, constable, prevented anyone from acting on this excellent advice. Finally, when the game had been over 13 minutes, and two-thirds of the crowd had emerged, shaken but free m the Domain Drive, a custodian ar ’ ™7® d with key of the big gate. Those who were still imprisoned rushed forward with a mild cheer while outside two men anxiously watched the deadly pale face of a woman who lay back on the turf—still unconscious.