The New York herald., 1875-02-27

beams had 70 be PRED into the spaces Tor them,
and the pressure OF nrying Increased me weak
ness the walls, especially that OF the wall
wnlch overhung an0 menacei the chureh. l 90
not think thar Mr.. shaw Snew of the weakness OF
his building. don't know nm personally, Dut l
tnnk II ne mad been oil tnat his sturenouse was
a continual threat 10 The lives of many people ne
would nave gladly rebuilt A.. There was some
thing wrong' in tas whole ma ier. II the De-
partment OF Buildings had wished the upper
stories to be taken down II would not nave
allowed 1t 10 be practically reou.lt. lt ~
ali very good to say nov that it was
necessary TO put flooring beams Into the
burned parts OF the building IN order TO use
them or the supports OF scanolds necessary In
taking the bricks down; but the TACT Is that the
condemned portions OF the building could have
been taken down III u week II ordinary scan0lds
dld not sui, and believe that it was intended to
shore up the building 70 put be ms INTO IL and
finally TO ROOF u oyer quietly SO as not to excite
remark. don't know who IS 10 blame for the
occurrence OF the catastrophe II not the officials
OF the Department OF Buildlngs.n
STATEMENT OF FATHER CARROLL.
The wriier casually met 10 Father Curran's
house yesterday morning the priest. Father car
roll, whose name wll be connected for all time
with the memory OF what happened In ST. An
drew's churcp. Upon being asked 10 tel what he
knew Of the tragedy IN which lie is grand figure
Father Carroll replied mat he lett mat he had
been spoken Of too much already. He claimed
notnng 1 ior himself The ,T reports o. ms
Tor although he mad said In substance
that "Chrstans ought continually to scan
not person vas prepared TO meet Him." he had
not SAID these tnlngs at the moment OF the caras-
trOVHe. ne Sdlu tHaL lie Hdu Deeu sDtdkluB eA-
tempuraneously, and, therefore, could not lecol-
lect the exact words he used: but tnat at the
had remarKed, IN effect, "The carelessness Of
CHI istis Is deplorable. Perhaps you may iulnk
my view ol lie g oomy. bat ask you to reflect
upon the number of people who are not pre-.
pared tor death. How many OF you before
me can say that they are prepared to meet
their Creaturg LOOK into your consciences and
answer. Hell Is no myth. IL Is reality as great
as God Himself 1t Is 1ed with misery, scorpion
nre and eternity OF woe' l remember" said
Father Carroll. ''that as pronounced he words
scorpion fire. the great gust OF wind came up.
and ratified tue windows and made sucn q commo-
ton that / became startled. For moment |
hesltated almost unconsciuusly. My hestancy
disappeared quickly, however and went on TO
words AN eternity OF woe.' AS completed them
there was a thunderous sound; then the roof
crashed In and eve ything in the church became
tumuli uous. IIeilly dld not know what had hap
pcned. went into the oody OF the chul ch. but
soon returned into the sanctuary. Having heard
that some persons had Teen nult in the irenzled
rusn 10 the doors, prepared the necessary artl-
cles and, leaving the church. went to the PARK
Hospital, where renamed Tor some time admin
isterin2 the rites OF religion to the sufferers
who were brought to the institution.
FATHER FLYNN,
the curate of ST. Andrews church, perhaps did
more to aIlay the alarm OF the people 10 the
cnurch than any other person who retained his
presence OF mind. lie was In the CHOIR wnen the
root was crushed in. AS soon as he saw that tue
stricken he Jumped into that part Of the
church in order 10 CAIN tnem But the panic had
an effect too sudden. When he had got among the
people the staircase was already 1ammed, ana
others were madly throwing the nselves forward
upon those VINO preceded them; number
and, being trampled upon, were moaning
and pieously calling Tor aid. Several OF
appealed TO Father Flynn to extrcate tneu Tne
cool-headed young clergyman called upon several
men wno were calm calm to push with him through
place they could drlve back the crazed people.
Tne party thus formed followed MN TO the point
indicated, anu together they succeeded in push.
ing the peape back. Tue sgnt OF Father
Flynn's face inspired some OF the panic.
and they took seats at the curate's bidding.
The rushing, sureing multitude was soon quieted
and moved back upon the ga,lery; Father LYNN
from Its human encumbrances He soon
effected TINS. and then began to allow
1t was only the energetic action OF Father Flynn
tnat probably prevented several II lives from Delng
as occurred on the eastern.
another example OF coouess and courage was
HIS action undoubtedly saved several lives.
AN UsHER's STORY.
He was standing near the altar at the left hand
side OF the church when the great gust OF wind
as ii with hail stones. lie said:-"I heard shorl
opposite TO which | stood. Then rumblng
and crasn quickly succeeded by another rumoie
had occurred and noticed some irIgniened people
rushing toward the vestry thought OF unbolting
the door that opens into the area on City Han
closely followed oy fne people. I mad the
door open when they reached 1t. AS soon as the
saw an old man strike upon the stone steps, as
II ne had leaped from tue vestry widow did
nHI nim ""s ump 'UpA up ana Al run no down City City
Hail place. started TO run through the area, SO
passed beneath the second window of ne church,
counting from he rear. a woman Jumped out. Sne
struck me, throwing me against the stone wall un-
der the railing that DIVIDES the area from
the Sidewalk. Then sne eli upon the pavement VI
the area recovered my balance, ano nlnued
to ard the lront OF the churcn. 1 found an im-
mense jam OF people at the right hand doorway,
inside tue vestlonle Tney could not move
quickly through because oae OF the doors was
at the. door trying to heip the people
out. Win his help tue people were
opened. Then the crowd struggled out. Every
body seemed to be crazy. Nobody appeared 10
Know anything except the necessity TO get out
OF the cnurcu.'
DANGERS TO CHURCH ATTENDANTS.
Among the matters Tor seroNs public and gene
raj consideration suggested by the calamity OF
taXen by persons in cnar2e o. places OF worship
and other buildings IN whLsn numerous assemblages
III tue haOit OF meeting together. In large
eolces, particularly III tue ngnt time, there IS
always danger RON sudden alarm o. fire, tue CIV
follow, wGere lie Is too frequently sIcritced.
Tne means OF lngress into churches Is
sMa' sus those % ior up egress. seem to ea.' oe as
a general thing, overlooked. The architects.
and, coming lower DOWN the sections. no. men.
tionlng at all the clergy pay TOO little atten-
tion 10 the proper means OF exit Tor congregations
when unexpected aiarm arises, ana What must
be cOnsidereG not u ttIe strange Is that habltnal
attendants appear to pe indifferent as to tue
means SAFETY ana escape. III cases OF peril,
wnen once seated comfortably In their peW5. This
Is Ill Condition Oi affairs and requires that
there should be general waking ~ on all sides
10 the proper protection OF human life wnen
people are either attending dlvine service or In
otncr places wAefe thousands are collected tOge-
taer. Inc persons responsible 1or the proper
OH nj n nf al IA an
as the superintendent OF Buildings, must Oe neld
TO account, not lar as the former are resp pOnSt
Dle or the dangerous condition Ol buildings I'M
mcdiately adjoining, but Tor the fullest and IN st
commodiOuS means OF the attendants at once
reaching the streets III case oil danger or alarm.
CHURCH PANfCs.
Panics In churches wneu filed with crowded
Congregations are not unusual, and melancholy
loss oi lie mas been very often chroncled. Sncn