Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-16
A PANIC In CHURCH.
Three Women Crushed Ia
Death-TwO Others Fa-
tally Injured.
Thrilling Details of Peril
I and Suffering. I.

- a., 4,
While our community Is yet thrilled
by the still fresh accounts OF appalling
disaster and loss Of life by the burning
Of. the steamer Sea Bird, another fright
full calamity has burst upon us In the ca
lamity of last evening at the Roman
Catholic cathedral, st. Mary's, on the
corner of Wabash avenue and Madison
street, where the impressive and solemn
evening service OF Good Friday had
called together an immense concourse OF
worshipers. The great interior was
closely packed, both pews and alsles'
below and above, being tiled with the
throng, which extended out into the yes
tibule.
The church thus packed with its wor-
Shipping throng, sharp crack and sink
ing of the floors startled every ear. sew
ersl cries of /" fire" were heard, and In
an instant all were In motion and rush
ing for the doors, the panic being hight
ened by the crash Of one or two broken
benches, as the seats gave way before the
rushing throng The widest confusion
prevailed, but most portions of the house
were cleared without difficulty, save at
the south end OF the vestibule, where,
unfortunately, the double doors opening
inward, one of them, that nearest the
wall, was shut and held fast by the strug-
Cling and frantic crowd pouring down
the stairs. In an instant those on the
floor pressed against the door, ana were
overwhelmed with the throng behind,
shrieking, praying, frantcally pouring
down to the destruction OF the untortu-
nate sufferers beneath.
Save in this part of the church, the
panic seems to have been brief. Sew
eral Of the clergy and others In the au-
dience preserved their presence OF mind,
and put forth prompt exertions OF voice
and action to allay the excitement, but
this could not avail in the part OF the
audience where already anguish and
frantic terror had created new reasons
for panic Meanwhile, outside the
church, on the first cry of lire an
alarm had been sounded from the ad-
joining fire alarm box, and this signal
from the 18th fire district caused rapid
assemblage of the fire department, and q
large concourse of citizens, among whom
for a brief period the utmost alarm
and excitement prevailed. Several OF
the police were rapidly on the spot, and
lent their exertions to restore order and
aid in the rescue. The corner of the
yestibule presented frightfully heaped
mass of struggling and perishing human
ity. One by one these were removed,
the bodies of the dead and severely
wounded being taken to the Convent OF
the Sisters of Mercy, next adjoining on
the south. Three lfeless bodies of fe-.
males were borne thther, and several
believed fatally wounded. The very
many less severely hurt we're taken i'm
mediately home to their friends. The
church, the theater Of the calamity, was
then closed and the scene of the most in
tense interest was transferred to the
Convent. ~
The regular officiating clergy at St.
Mary's are Rev. Fathers Halligan, Nolan
and Butler, assisted on this occasion by
Father Tanning. The evening services
opened at seven o'clock. The services
of Good Friday are most solemn and
impressive. The altar is draped in mourn
ING. and entirely devoid Of ornament
The church throughout presents sad
and desolate appearance, as though the
temple of the Most High had been visited
by death. On this day every good Cath
olic feels, when listening to the ceremo-
MES that he is indeed commemorating
the death of Him who died, cruci6ed,
for the salvation of man.
In-the morning, the passion of our
Lord is sung by three chanters--one re-
citing the narrative by St. John, the
High Priest chanting the words of the
Savior TO the people, who kiss the feet of
the Savior. This is called the venera-
ton of the cross, after which the cere-
monies of the morning terminate.
In the evening, the office OF the Iene-
brae is sung, the choir singing the re-
sponses. The priest holds the cross In
his hands, aud as the chant, Ecce sag
mum crucis," begins, the head OF the
cross is unveiled. Alter the chant mas
proceeded little, the arms, and hnaliy
the whole of the cross is exposed to view
The cross is then laid upon a cushion IN
front OF the altar, and the priests and
attendants taking off their shoes, pros
trate themselves In auoration Deiore 'ne
emblem of their salvation.
At this point the congregation. proceed
toward the altar, and kneel at the sane
tuary rail, when the priest, raising the
cross, submits it. The chanting of this
Office constitutes the most feeling and
impressive part Of the ceremony. AT the
right of the altar is placed a triangle Of
wood. upon which are placed a number
of candles. which are lighted. As the
psalms are chsnted, these candles are
put out one by one, on alternate sides,
denotinQ, as the word "tenebrae will
convey. that darkness has fallen upon the