The New York herald., 1875-03-19
ST. PETERS CHURCH.

THE REPORTED PANIC DENIED POSSIBLE
DANGER FROM INWARD OPENING DOORS
On Wednesday evening last an exhibition or
panorama Of scenes in Ireland was gwen in the
basemaDt OF Sc. Peters church, Barclay street. at
which 1t was yesterday reported q panic had sud-
denly occurred while the performance was going
ON, whereby number OF persons were severely
injured; tnat the gas was turned OF and a num-
Der OF benches broken. From an actual investi-
CATION at the scene OF the reported trouble well
as inquiries made OF Father Farrell, the pas
tor OF ST. Peters church, and police station
house In Chambers street., however, there appears
TO be but little doubt tnal there was no panic at
There were however several of the 6encnes
broken by the pressure OF the crowd which
time previous tickets mad been sold by the chill
dren attending the school attached 10 tie church
sucn numbers that would, II the purchasers sn ud
all attend, over1ood the capacity OF the bas eme Mt
where the exhibition Was TO take place. SO 1t
proved. At the appointed hour for giving admit
tance to the ucketnoiders one door ON the alley
way, between the church and schoolhouse, was
opened and the people admitted. so last dld they
seek entrance ana such was the crush that 1t
was thought better to seek aid from the police In
order 10 preserve order. messenger was sent
TO the Chambers street station house, IN answer
To which Koundsman Halpin, with nve Datrolmen,
appeared on the scene and soon secured order.
TIE performance began, under the supervision OF
Father Hayne, the assistant pastor, when from
the seats IN % tine iroat being occupies
view oil tue younger members OF the audience,
q rush was made by the latter to get to the lront
while many stood up on the bencnes aud some
forced their wav even on TO the platform or stage.
1t was during this rusn that some Of the backs or
the seats were broken put nothing like panic
occurred. The police managed alter lew mo-
ments to again secure order, while Father Hayne
from the Platform called upon all present to 0e
seated and not push to the ironf. The exhibition
then proceeded until the end without further dis.
turDance, NOTWITHSTANDING the fact that the num-
ber OF people present was slch as to I'LL every
nook ana corner OF the ro0m which on ordinary
occasions 1t Is calculated can seat l,COO to l,20O.
On this occasion IL Is thought that there could
have Deen not less tnan from 300 to 1000 men,
women and children present.
THE DANGER IN CASE OF PANIC.
From inspection OF the premises IL IS easy TO see
that IN case panic had occurred there mustlnev
taby have been great loss ol life, Ior all the doors
On the Church street side, four In number, were
locked, while thele was only one OF the doors out
OF the iOur on the aeyway previously referred to
open at the time the people were ADMITTED,
although su Dsequently two more on this side were
opened TO give egress. AS ali these d. Ors open
inward, and two or three OF them are protected
inside again with glass box.like partitions, with
one door each opening inward, had there been
rush to get out there would have been no poss-
biIty OF opening these doors, and hundreds or
persons might have been trampled or crushed to
death. Fortunately this did not occur on this
occasion, but tile Department OF Public Buildings
should see to 1t that these doors are made to open
outward before another exhibition is allowed to
take place in The basement OF this church,