Stories

More than 100 persons were injured Thursday when bleachers on both sides of the Nowata high school football field collapses, dumping 1,750 spectators to the ground.

Two minutes before the start of the Verdigris Valley championship game between Nowata and Claremore, the west bleachers gave way under the weight of 1,000 persons, sending almost 100 of them to local doctors with broken bones, bruises and scratches.

Order was maintained despite the accident and the game went ahead on schedule. In the fourth quarter, the east bleachers collapsed under 750 spectators and about 25 were injured.

After the west section fell, the fans were advised by school officials to evacuate the east bleachers, but did not heed the warning.

"It had been raining here for a week," said School Supt. B.R. Nichols, "and the bleacher supports evidently were weakened by the excess amount of moisture in the ground."

"It's a miracle that nobody was killed," one school official exclaimed. An immediate investigation was started.

Most seriously injured were: O.A. Mitchell, Nowata, sprained back; Fred Crum, Nowata, broken ankle; Raymond Minniear, 13, Alluwe, broken leg, Mrs. Pearl Walton, Childers, broken toe; Dr. W.L. Stevick, Nowata, wrenched back; Mrs. J.W. Hendrickson, Nowata, leg sprain.

Published in the Daily Oklahoman on November 29, 1940, page 1.