The Leavenworth weekly times., 1875-03-18
4 DEATH TRAP.

ADEATR TRAP.
ST.. Andrews Church, New York, Crushed b
falling Wall. The Frishtful Panic. Een
Women ard Children Trampled to Death.
A terrible and fatal accident occurred
last night n: the Catholic Church OF St
Andrew while the congregation were Assem-
bled for the pcnitential service of the Len.
ten season. In the midst Of the service the
wall OF an adjoining house fell, crushing
in the roof of tine church. and killing and
woundins a large number Of the cOngrcga-
tion. A panic Immediately ensued: and. in
the wild rush Of the people to save their
lives, men, women and children were tramp
led TO death. From the accounts We pub
li.h If seems that a good deal OF the res
possibility of this catastrophe must he laid
at the door OF the department Of buildings
Had the officials done their duty the un-
sound wall. which has caused such reareita-
bic loss Of life, would have long since have
been removed; but with the recklessness or
carelessness which 50 distinguish official. in
this city whose duty ii is TO secure the pub
lie safety, this wall was allowed to stand,
with what terrible results we now know.
THE CHURCH
is an unpretentious brick building, situated
on the corner OF Duane street and City Hall
place. 1t nesties.in sheer humility beside
the tall building lately occupied by Mr.. J.
shaw, dealer in crOckery ware, which Sc
parates II from Sweeny's Hotel. Some
time ago this many-storied building caught
fire, but apparently was not sufficiently
damaged TO render the taking down of the
walls absolutely necessary. 1t is very pro-
bable that the matter was never sufficiently
inquired Into Tor though the walls appear
ed bulged, the reconstruction Of the interior
portions Of the house was proceeded with.
The house remained in an unfinished state
up TO yesterday evening, when it was des-
tined 10 play so sad a part in the impending
tragedy.
AT she time the fire occurred in the pre-
mlses OF ar. Shaw some apprehension ex-
listed IN the mind Of the pastor of the church
from the proximity of the charred walls,
but this feeling Of insecurity died away as
time progressed, and the condition OF the
neighboring house was forgotten. Ii re-
mains 10 he explained how the Department
ot Buildings 80 failed in their duty as TO
allow the wall TO stand, and the public have
night TO demand that this matter should
be strictly examined into and the blame
put upon the shoulders of the officials upon
whose heads must rest the responsibility for
the heavy loss Of lie which resulted from
their failure To perform their duty. Last
night the congregation of ST. Andrews as
sembled tor the Lenten exercise prescribed
by the Roman Catholic Church for this
period oi contrition and satisfaction. Thir-
teen hundred persons of all ages were gath
cred IN the humble church, and there was
nothing to warn them of the dread fate that
was about to descend on them.
THE ROSARY OF THE VIRGIN
had been devoutly repeated by the assem-
bled worshIpers, and Father Carroll. of St.
stephens, was engaged exhorting his hear
ers TO repentance and contrition. The con-
gregation, reverentially silent. listened TO
the lmpassioned words of the preacher.
Outside the storm came down. and windy
gusts swept over the buildings of the citv,
but within the church all was peace and
quiet. The preacher had selected for his
theme solemn subject only too appropri-
ate 10 the sad scenes he was destined to wit
ress. death and the necesSitv forIrapara-
non was his theme, ard the truth Of his
argument was on the point of receiving an
Illustration so terrible that the lesson must
have startled the teacher. With fervid eIo-
-quence the priest held up TO view the un-
certainty OF life and the pressing need there
was TO be prepared TO meet Judgment.
Examine your conscience" he exclaimed.
"ior God alone knows if you are prepared
10 meet Him" At that moment a heavy
gust OF wind strnck the charred. gaunt
looking building that overtops the church
and the weakened wall gave way. A mass
OF brick and mortar
FELL WITH 4 CRASH
through the roof OF the church, crushing to
death and terribly wounding a number of
people in the right hand gallery. A cry Of
terror arose from the frightened congrega-
tion, and, losing alllpresence of mind. they
rushed from their seats to escape the i'm
pending doom. Those in the gallery who
were by where the mass OF brick fell in,
rushed for the marrow stairway, blocking it
up, and with the madness of despair strue-
gled TO escape from the building, which
their imagination pictured as about to tum-
BILE down and bury all in the ruins 9th
ers, bolder IN their frenzy, jumped over the
balustrade into the pews beneath, and 80
the terror was communicated from one to
another until the whole congregation Joined
in wild stampede, in which the strong
used their strength to preserve their own
lives with the
SUPREME sELFIsINESS OF HUMANITY.
The majority of the congregation was
composed OF women and children, and was
naturally subject to sudden terror. So in
the list OF casualties We find that nearly two
thirds of those injured are women, with
some boys and girls. In the rush from the
galleries two women and boy were killed
thrown down and trampled 10 death bv
the escaping people. With such awful
suddenness did these events transpire that
even the assistants were scarcely conscious
how the fright or how the outrrlsh from
the church began. The startled cries of
women and children were unheeded and
the weak went down with their PRAYERS for
help unheeded-in the blind impulse which
urged every httman being TO escape from
out OF reach Of the crumbling walls Wo-
men, pale with fear and breathless with ex-
citement, gasped out PRAYER for aid and
sank exhausted, 10 he
TRAMPLED TO DEATH
IN the rush OF the panic struck. In vain
the devoted priest from the pulpit appealed
to the people 10 be calm and keep their
seats. They heard nothing but the wild
promptings of their fears. Here and there
the few gallant men that ever rise with oc-
casion, eNhorted their less firm brethren to
have Courage and not 10 add to the horror
OF the situation by giving away to blind
fear. These exhortations were made in
vain, and the mad rush continued with IA
tai result. Over fifty persons were crushed |
by the falling walls or thrown down and |
trampled upon by the fleeing crowd; and |
when the church was cleaned of the panic |
stricken people, the victims were thickly |
strewn about, some with life still remaining. |
Others had already passed into the presence |
of the being they had assembled to worship.
1t was heartending sight. Aid was
promptly given TO the sufferers, and the
priests glided among the wounded, giving
the
LAST CONSULTATIONS OF RELIGION
TO those who were conscious. The police |
and firemen were on hand with their usual |
promptness. Some of the wounded were at |
opea removed Ia SwoaprIs Ho,or IL