, 1873-01-04
THE CHURCH ACCIDENT.
Account by nm Eyc-1Vifness.

ACCOUNT ny 2lU Eye. ~ 1tNCHb$
from hs lFilliamsport (Pa.} Gazette, DEC. 2s.
A gentleman who was presont at, anl nlHo .
partial sufferer by, tue late fearful accident.
furnishes US with the following description Of
the why in which It occurred, aud the frightful
Tho upper chamber OF tho church was crowded
TO its utmost capacty-not only wore the seats
filled, but tho aiHlos donaoly packed; small
space occupied by tho Christmas, tree, and its
richly ladon boughs, was tho only spot that did
not TEEN with joyous lifo, hope, and expectancy.
The occasion was intendol as q church family
gathering, and as only thirteen families aro
represented In tho church organization, thoao
engaged In gotting up tho cntertainment wore
surprised to find so large an audience present.
Toars Of calamity wero entertained by some
at the commencement, but as tiu1e woro away,
aud the pleasing Bcenos around woro inspiring
and happifying, hope took the place Of foar, and
tic whole was 4 scono Of joyous foativlty. Had
1t been possible to communicate those feals
without croating panic, and titus bringing
about tho calamity which 80 suddenly oyorcamo
us, it would have been done.
The opening exercises and nddroaa Wero con-
clulod, probably two-thrds Of tho gifts had boon
distributod-anlong them mnny costly nnd waltz
ablo presonts-when, without q moments warn-
ing, there was peculiar tremor or slako-a
qulvoring Of tho tinlbors-a fearful crash, nko
tie falling Of troos and the breaking Of limba,
and in moment tho ontiro audience wore forced
toward the centre Of tho building, In q funnel
elapo, Or rathor long open trough, and procipi-
Hn1otllcring those who woro Immediately in tho
| contro Of the room or trough. Tho crfes and
groanB at this moment, with tho crash and
noiso Of the hroaling timbors, wore heard
Scarcely Sci " had "'N tho pooplo 'N 1oaclea the the
floor until tue ceiling of tho second story foil
! upon tho, struggling oneg, exsinguialing tho
| lamps, and covering tho ontiro mass Of humanity
with lime plaster laths joiuta aud ether debris
moments; oyes, mouths, throats wore filled with
limo and sand, aud it was sutfocating in the o1-
trono. For moment it appeared al though tlo
ensiro multitude precptatod below woro suf-
focated Or killed by tho fnlling imbers, scarcely
moan, Or groa,l, or voice could bo heard.
aTho buildings on tlro il and as tho
blaze ran up tho, side Of tho building, or
won't up from hundred hoarts, and despair
or desperation waB written Oil many face.
While to some tho blazo was tho tokon Of a pure
aud awful death, to otlors 1t was beacon-light,
showing to bowildcrod ones whore there was
succor ind aatoty, and tho way IN which It could
| bo reached. Soon aftor this, those upon the
| upper or outsilo began to reach tho windows and
break them out, when the frosh air swooping
ovor the struggling nnd uutfocating maas, amoro
| hopeful piotnro was presented. Boulo Wero ca
| Gaping by tho windowB on tho ellos and roar,
/ othcrH, ngain, woro escaping BY tho front door,
| md altogotl lor tho gce1lo was encouraging, aud
it was thought not moro than half would De do
About this time pooplo from tho outside
reached tho econo and rendered efficont atd.
solnn ladders mud boards woro put up to the
second story windows, md some siid down,
roucucd by the ladders. As parents aud loved
ones rushed to tho Bcone und in tho bttornoss
and anguish OF tllcir souls, sought out tho
81 absent loved ones" the picture waa beyond
will ever live in mo1nory's casket.,
! Those at tho rear of tho building or nearoBt
the sides or entrance farcd best, gonorally, aud
were tho first to mako thoir oHcapo, while thoao
in tio ooutre Of tie room, or neck Of the funnel
or trough, wore most seriously injured or lost
their livoH.
h1r. E. D. Campbell Was among thoao who
wore 30 fortunuto o. to carly escape from tho
cloor did many i,eart good. Ho was constant
aud tlntlriug in hiB efforts to saye and hiB OIL
deayors to minister to tho wounded and Aufror-
fng, und to provide for those who noedod imno-
| diato lolp. uo was cool, oalm, and collected,
anu gavo directions with = mind md hoart that
Boo,hed largely to comprehend tho fearfnlnosa
Of tho situation. Othors many otlorH, proved
themselves heroos md loroinos, md their re-
| ward will bo In lloayon.
From tho entro surroundings, tho number
loaping from tho Hocond-story -wndows-tllo
fcarfnl condition Of tlloso coyorol with seats,
tinlbers, limo and mortar, tho number pifod a,
wonderful providence that ono-hAlf the people
escaped, mud NO wore aHtouBhod to 500 and
learn that 80 many woro unhurt.
AA Hoon ~ possible masHongors Wore dos-
patched to tho CITY for medical aid, and It was
not long unti not only tho physicians, but hull
t1yods OF others weyo among III to minister to
tho moody, and ronslor such aid and comfort as
will mt soon bo forgotten by tho au1foring aud
| bereayod.
Whlo those kind frionda wore using ovory
neAnH to comfort and holp, naothor olayH, H,--fow
IL number, llowoyor.-woso also on hand, and
tho bodias OF tho dead, dying, mid auaal!ns
wore not all removed from tho building until
theBo yandals bogal their work OF carrying Oh
Goats, shawln hats, bonnets fnrB, soarfa, watcli-
Oh, jowolry, ho., woro soattorod all around, and
many OF tiloHo hayo boon carried away, wililo
those that laye hoen gathered up are covered