Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-05-16
M1SOgLGA .
Terrific Scene in Church.

nesday, says: .
A scene of the widest excitement occur
red last evening at St. James (EpiscopaD
Church, in this city, which, for a time threat
ened to be very serious in It's consequences.
1t having become generally known that the
marriage Of two young ladies, both highly
esteemed and enjoying an extensive circle
OF friends and acquaintances was to take
place in the church, the one at seven and
the other at eight o'clock, an unusually lurge
congregation collected to witness the cere-
monies. Long before the'hour named for
the first marriage. the church was crowded
to its utmost capacity. The pews, galleries
and s,arways and vestibule, were packed
full Of men, women and children and by
the time the bridal party arrived many per-
sons were unable TO gain udmittancc, who
consequently collected at the windows on
the street
The appearance of Mr.. Fisher aud Miss
Diller, at about 4 o'clock, was the signal
FOR general aud disgrnccrul scramble for
available positions for Witnessing the cere-
monies. Many of those present appeared
to have no regard for their own decency or
The sacred character of the house They
stood on the seats and even scrambled on
the backs of the pews, the spectacle presen,
ted being more like what is sometimes seen
In theatre than we ever witnessed in a
church. Amid this confusion The solemn
and impressive ceremony was commenced
by Rev. Jacob W. Diller, brother of the
happy bride; but before its conclusion the
many persons becoming alarmed by the
creaking of a bench in one of the galleries
which they supposed was the gallery itself
giving way under the great weight upon it.
The ceremony being over, the bridal par
ty had scarcely retired from the church.
when an old bench which had formerly been
carried into the organ gallery gave way un
der the weight Of those standing upon it,
The crash started frighful panic. Some
person in the gallery cried out that the gal
lcry was falling, and general stampede
commenced in all parts of the church. The
lower windows were thrown up, and used
by many as means of exit One Young
gentleman was so terribly frightened, that
he quite forgot the lady he had escorted to
the church, and made break through the
nearest window, carrying with him the en-
tire lower g tion Of sash. He was quickly
followed by couple Of ladies, and others
were prevented from leaping out by those
ON the inside who had presence Of mind
sufficient to see that there WIS no real dan
ger, except that which arose from the pnnic.
Several ladies got out of one of the gallery
windows, descending on the vestry roof, and
from thence into the church yard. A num-
Der of ladies tainted, which, with the scream.
ing and praying, the rafting of blinds and
broken glass, presented frightful spectacle.
Those under the gallery supposed to be
falling, made a rush in the direction of the
pulpit, overturning and slightly damaging
the baptiSmal font, and carrying away the
banister in front of the chancel.
DR.. r.Atlec who had been sen. for to at
tend to those supposed to be injured, finally
semcwhatq quetc the tumult by announcing
that nobody was hurt and that there was
no real danger. But the crowd sill linger-
ed to witness the nuptials of Mr.. Ehlcr and
Miss Calder, until DIR Bowman announced
that the ceremony would not be performed
in the church. Even then many persons
regarded this as a ruse on the part of the
Doctor to get clear Of the crowd, ,and il was
not until the Sexton began to turn off the
gas that the church was cleared The Sec
ond bridal party repaired TO the residence
OF the brides father, where the ceremony
was performed by DR.. Bowman, and the
happy pair at once prepared 10 start on their
wedding tour in the evening train.
COOP ADVICE. The following is an ex.
tract of letter written by gentleman who
was for some gears chief of government
bureau, and who is now a distinguished
Judge in one of the northern States. Ii is
addressed TO "A youth of this city whowas
subordinate in his bureau:
"And now know you will permit me to
give you one word of advice. You are
young and have a bright prospec, before
ou. You may become useful and hap
py man, and be the means Of doing vast
amount of good, and be a great comfort to
your kind and indulgent father. You have
begun well, and only want you to perse-
we're. The danger to which young men are
liable in Washington arises from having 90
much leisure time and too many temptations
to evil. See to it chat all your leisure mo
ments are prolitably spent. Read useful
books, such as histories, Biographies, and
the like. Think of what YOU read and try
to make it of some praclical use. Above
all things shun all vicious companions rs
you would the plague. Covet the society
of the good and virLuous, and ye., cannot
fail 10 be respected and loved | have ncv.
er noticed in you any disposition to do