The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-20 00:00:00

[PRICE 4D- STAMPED

inn the immense size of the place, there was nut sufficient
room for a dozen more to enter, and when the seats were
filled there wore some two or three thousand persons who
were content to stand in the massages, and there were con-
siderably snore standing on the green sward outside, look-
ing through the windows ; but whether they were able to
hear anything v. hich the rev, gentleman propounded is
unfortunate
to
thewwihein the ,b
was fortunate
atle. h enoug —or what
would perhaps under the circumstances be butter to say',
A hymn was given out, and the sermon commenced.
After dilating at considerable length ur.on the Gospel, an-
other hymn was sung. when Mr. Spurgeon offered up an-
otherprayer in which ho alluded to certain persons wheatOe
knew, he said, to be present, who had backslided from the
house of God, when. he said he could see present mealy
females who 'had departed from the paths of virtue, and
were bringing thole fathers' grey hairs with sorrow to the
grave. The exciting manner that the preacher was in the
act of delivering the prayer appeared to rivet the attention
of all present, and many an eye could be seen shedding
tears, when all of a sudden a cry was raised, " The place
is on fire." Such a scene as then ensued would be out cf
the question accurately to describe. In an instant the
screams of the women rent the .building, thousands made
a rush to the doors, and in their anxiety to get out many
womea and children, not even excepting men, were forced

down and trampled. upon. The persons on the platform
in vain tried all they could to induce the congregation to
understand that no clanger was to be apprehended pro-

vided the parties kept their 'daces,' but such was the ex-
citement consequent upOn the sudden alarm thus. raised
that men, women, and children were forced down in ter-
rible confusion and being trampled upon. It will be seen
from the following that several lives have been lost, and
vast 'numbers seriously if not fatally injured. • ,
The preacher, finding that it Was utterly incriessiblel6
quell the disturbance, called upon those under the pulpit
to sing" Praise God from whom all blessings flow." The
choristers immediately did as they were desired, but
without the least beneficial effect, and men in the upper
galleries commenced breaking the -windows and jumping
oat. At the same time a general rush was made to run
down stairs, and in doing- so so great was the pressure
against the banisters of the staircase leading to the north
gallery that the same were forced down, and as the par-
ties made a rush to escape. they kept falling over each
other and alighted upon the ground, a distance of at least
7 or S feet. Here,the poor sufferers laid, being trampled
upon by those who were more fortunate to escape with
their lives.

At the same time a general onslaught was made on the
glass doors on the ground floor ; and after demolishing the

doors and large sheets of plate glass, parties near crowded
through the apertures thus made the best way they could,
but in so doing many persons' heads were much cut, and
several received broken legs and arms, and they were un-
able to move either one way or the other owing to the
serious nature of the injuries they had received, and
after being trodden upon by numerous parties they were
extricated by Mr. Superintendent Lund of the P division,
an a powerful body of constables, whom ho immediately
sent for. Had it not been for the aid thus rendered there
is no doubt that the loss of life would have been far more
serious than it really has been.
Mr. Spurgeon, finding that it was impossible to obtain
any thing like quietude, commenced singing again, in which
the congregation on the platform joined most fervently;
but even this had no effect, and doors, windows, chairs,
rand benches could be heard breaking, which had all
the effect of inducing persons in the place to believe
that the building really was on fire. This caused another
general rush towards the doors, and a scene equally
as bad as the former ensued, and men, women, and
children were again cast down and trampled upon. The
shticks and screams again became fearful ; and in spite
of those on the platform to convince the congregation
that the building was perfectly safe, the rush continued,
and as the parsons came clown stairs they continued to
fall over that part of the staircase that had been Rimed
away, by which it is roughly estimated that upwards
of fifty persons were injured. We regret to state
that from the official information furnished to the re-
porter by Mr. Lund, the superintendent of police, not
fewer than five women and one man are known to have
polished by the melancholy catastrophe. One tk the de-
ceased was named Grace Skipper, of No. 40, Dobson-
street, Kennington; another was named Harriet Johnson,
but her residence could not be learned. The names of
other persons who have thus been prematurely hurried
into eternity could not be ascertainted during the intense
excitement which prevailed.
Upon inquiry at Guy's Hospital last night at eleven
o'clock, it was learned that three men and a female had
been received into that institution, most of whom were
suffering from fractured thighs and broken heads ; nurse
Patience, of the same hospital, has been so trampled upon,
that she vomits blood.

A great many other persons, both male and female, have
been also so seriously injured that they have been obliged
to be removed to their respective homes, but it is impos-
sible to tell whether they are fatally hurt or not.
The damage done to the grand hall is extensive, and will
probably amount to some hundred pounds sterling.
Whether the directors will allow the same proceedings to
take place next Sunday is exceedingly questionable ; but,
if they do, it is to be hoped that each door and window
will be unloosened, so that on the sudden alarm of fire,
the congregation may be enabled to effect their escape
without resorting to the fearful expedient of breaking the
windows and jumping out in the fearful manner they did
last night.

The Rev. Mr. Spurgeon, and also Mr. Olney, the great
linendraper of the Borough, who had hired the hall, upon
hearing that a loss of life had taken place, and so many
others injured, were visibly affected, even to tears.

Too much praise cannot be given to the police, under
Mr. Superintendent Lund, for the admirable manner in
which they exerted themselves under the trying and heart-
rending circumstances.