Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-03-03

TLEEIrLE y, CIpE>r.-T Thursday 81. An
drew CATHOLIC Church in Dame $:
New York. WA, tn. scene of a >ad di>a,-
ter. Adjoining the church was hi4h
brick wall belonging to a block which was
burned six weeks arc The weakened
walls had been lief, unsupported. save hv
some llalf-burncI bram-. and the hril
gale from the east that prevailed. Thurs
day evening. striking the west wall hl on l.
side, blew it down upon the roof of ST
Andrews church. in which some POO
persons We're crowded to take part in one
of the service, Of Lent. Father Carroll OF
st Stephens was preaching upon the ne
cc>>ltN of being prepared for death at any
moment. and was closing Il stern rcbul>t
10 the clrrlc>~nr~> of men with rrrar,l to
heir spiritual welfare. when they know
not whether they can look forward to tin,
, morrow. -Whrn the tremendous crash OF
the tumh.in~ wall came is if to cmpha -iz,
his words. In an instant, almost hcfor,
any one could stir, tha eastern wall fell
/ crashing in, and 4 mass of bricks cam,
tumbliny through the ceiling, carving
gll CIV. which sustained the burden. au :;
cloud OF dust arose which hid the scene.
But few of the audience. however. saw
what happened. The priest observed il
from his desk. and policeman in tn,
body of the church. AMI Il few others. but
upon most L sudden madness to escape
seize, and then cn>ucd a tramplng, mcr-
cil,>S. selfish crush for the doors of the
j, h.,
Lad not been injured climbed over the
gallery front, fifty or more of them, and
hung by their hands. shrickinr for help.
Those in the west gallery. who were in no
danger AT all. were rs panic->tricken as
the others. and ru>hel out by the narrow
doorway to the Stairways, which were
even more narrow, and after descending
about half Il dozen steps turned sharply to
the left, Before those who had started
down first could reach this turn, the mass
that crowded after threw them from their
feet, and in Il few minutes the whole pas
sagrway from the foot of the stairs to the
main doorway was blocked up with men
and women. lying i'll heaps. while Il strug-
Cling mass of people were shouting from
Tie stairway for cyre>s. Only one of the
double doors of the main entrance was
CI'cIi- 'til'i tilt NlpNt W HlCI tIllS,
IN their efforts TO escape. prevented those
who had fallen from rising to their feet.
those in the east gallery who happened
to he near the door also made Il rush down
Il similar narrow stairway; but before they
could reach the bend the partition, which
acted i'll the place of Il balu>trade. gave
way, and precipitatcd them into the pas
sagc-way below. Before they could rise to
their feet. those who followed fell upon
them. Those in the body Of the church
added to the crowd, and it was only bv the
most strenuous cNCrtlOns that the priest
and policeman above referred to, kept any
back from the unreasoniEg rush, or could
lift up any of the fallen. The fall of the
bricks and roof killed six people, and in
Iurci other inmates of the eight pews
crushed, but there were over fifty men,
women and youth, kicked. tramplcd and
injured in the panic, some of
them being fatally hurt. The matter is
under the investigation of the coroner