The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-14
From the Os,ceqo Palladium, March IOl
FALLING OF THE FLOOR OF ST. MARY'S
CHURCH

Inc most awful calamity occurred last evening
at ST. Marv's (Catholic) church that has ever trons
pired in this city.
A mission was opened at the church on Sunday
last by missionaries belonging to the order of Re-
demptorists, and the congregations have been i'm
mense every evening since, every seat being crowd
ed and the aisles also, with interested listeners of
all classes OF citizens. Last evening another over
whelming audience had assembled to listen to a
discourse on the subject of "The Last Judgment !"
The church was literally packed with people The
exercises of the evening had just commenced or
were about to commence, when about one-third of
the floor, Immediately in front of the altar gave
way, from the immense weight, and fell to the base
ment, precpitating about nethird of the audience
In an indiscriminate mass into the abyss below.
The scene that ensued is beyond the power of
language to describe. The groans, shrieks PRAYERS
and supplcations Of the mass of human beings thus
thrown into confused heap into the chasm below,
as well as the horror stricken beside in the
other part of the house, were awful beyond ,ieS-
criptiOn. Those who were uppermost in the pre-
cipitated mass struggled to escape by climbing
up and over each other, trampling under those be-
meath.
A universal panic seized the whole of the assem-
blage instantly. A terrific rush was made by those
that part of the floor not fallen to escape from
the house, amid the shreks and groans of those be-
ing trampled under foot
The alarm was soon spread by the shouts and
lamentations of the frantic crowd and the bells
were rung, supposing it to be fire, and the iremen
all turned out.
AS soon as tle mass oil people had lett the church,
a number OF men, together with Mr. Guardet and
the redemptorist priests, Joel H. Warn and others.
rushed to the relief Of the unfortunate people, who
were lying diving, and even dead. Many women
were taken out OF the church insensibe--some with
broken limbs, some dead How many were actu.
ally dead or died subsequently,, or how many were
seriously injured it was impossible to tell last eve
nlng, as numbers were carried away by friends and
acqualntances of whom nothing in particular could
be learned, except that several were known to be
in an unconscious state, and many were seriously
injured One man, Lawrence Murray, brother-iri-
law OF Luke Rattigan, member of the OswcpO
Guard, was taken out dead; also Mrs. Mary Cariin
and Mrs. Bridget LangdOn, who were conveyed TO
the house of X. H. Martin, Esq, opposite where
both soon expired. Another woman, Mrs Marga-
ret HenneSsy, was taken to the residence of Mr.
Kane, where she also expired in a short time.
GREAT WINprALL.-The Lockport (N. W Adrer-
t.scr has story Of a young man, confined in the
Erie County Penitentiary, having fallen heir to an
immense estate and title, as follows: ''Some two
weeks SINCE young man of gcntlemanlv address
and who from appearance bore evidence of having
seen Detter days, arrived at ToDawanda and call
ing at the house OF Mr.. Browning, of that place,
begged for something to eat and asked for situa-
tlon. He gave history of his circumstances as
follows: He said his father was wealthy lived in
France, and that he left his home in that country
on a pleasure trip to the United States bringing
with him S63, 900 for spending money and other
purposes. On landing in New York. and after So
journing in that City short time he deposited
$50, 600 with banker, who a jew. He was
then led by some new-made acquaintance into
scenes of dissipation and gaming, where he lost
the remainder of his money. To add to his misfor-
tunes, the jew banker also failed, swindng him
out of the money he had deposited with him. His
father, he said, had brother in New York from
whom he might have obtained assistance, but he
determined, from motives of pride and chagrn n5t
to appeal to him in his extremity, by giving a
statement of his condition.
On receiving with some doubts as to its truthful
no abnvn Cta M l. Al
young man into his employ for a few days and
set him to work ''packing shingles" He after
wards went to Buffalo. Mrs. Browning however,
IN the meantime, out OF motives of CURIOSITY wrote
letter to the above mentioned banker whom the
young man stated doing business for his father
nquiring of him in regard to the truth Of the mat
ter. The banker on receipt of Mrs. BIS letter, i'm
mediately repaired to TOnawanda and confirmed
the truth of the statement, and also related other
facts in connection with the more wonderful
still. lie stated that he had recently learned of the
deceaSe OF the young mans father who had died
leaving the young man heir to So, 900, and also
that 100000 had already been remitted and was in
the hands of himself. The banker on receiving the
news and not finding the fortunate inheritor of this
vast sum, advertised for him in the papers. The
banker then gave Mr.. Browning $25 to prosecute
the search for him in Buffalo, where it is supposed
he had repaired. After two days spent, the object
of the search found in the Erie County work
house, where he had been committed few davs
previous as vagrant. He very sick and his
disease was pronounced by the doctors to be incur
able.
The Adrcrtiser says that he still remains at the
house of Mr.. Browning, in Tonawanda where he
was removed when released from confinement. He
has received large remttances from his banker, and
1T is not at all probable that he will ever enter
penitentiary again as vagrant.
EopEIrN