Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-27
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Six Persons Killed in a Catholic
Church, and Several Persons
Seriously Wounded.
The Orders of Stupid Coroner Come
Near Resulting IN Another Acct
dent-FuFther Particular
Warnings.

NEW YORK, February 26.-Y Yesterday
evening, shortly after seven o'clock, the
congregation of st. Andrews church, on
the Duane street corner Of the City Hal
place, were assembled at evening ves-
peTs. The church WAS well filled, the
congregation for the most part consist
ing of women and children. Adjoining
the church are the bare walls Of Shaw's
crOckery store, which was burned few
days ago. The high wind which pre-
vailed, with the heavy rainstOrm, bat
tered against the unsupported walls,
and about eight o'clock the west wall
gave way and went crashing through
the church roof, falling on the east gal
lery, principally, which was crowded
with people, killing six persons and Sc
riOusly wOunding twenty-five others.
While the fremen were taking down,
early this morning, the dsngerous walls
of Shaw's burned bui21hg, which did
the damage last night, the coroner in
terposed and prevented further removal
until his jury should inspect the prem.
ises. At the time the walls on the east
side were tOttering over toward SWee-
ney's hotel, and about seven o'clock
this morning portion of the rear wall
fell over and carried away part of the
skylight over the washrOOm Of the hO-
tel. AS the firemen were picking off the
west side wall, with the view of remOV-
ing it from doing damage, consider
able portion fell over on the church and
caused about half a dozen within the
building to beat hasty retreat.
LATER.
A great crowd continues to linger in
the neighborhood Of st. Andrews
church, but only reporters and officials
are permitted to enter the sacred edifice.
Shreds of lathing scattered through the
church bear testimony to the. terrible
nature Of the panic which seized the
congregation, and through the holes in
the roof brick and plaster continue to
fall.
When the dying and wounded had
been removed from the church Thurs
day night, the tiremen turned their at
tention to the other walls Of ShaW's
burned building, which threatened to
tOpple, and began to take them down,
but soon desisted under the orders Of
Coroner Ekhaff, who said they should
not be demolished until the jury sum-
mOned for inquest had viewed them.
This morning portion of the dangerous
wall tumbled down, smashing the roof
of the washhOuse of SWeeny's hotel,
and crashing again through the roof Of
the church. The vestry is piled high
with collections of umbrellas, overcoats,
shaWls, prayer-books, and other arti-
cles, which were abandoned by their
owners in their terror. A few coins and
medals were also picked up, though no
claims for any Of the valuables have yet
been made. OF the wounded, Patrick
Lavelly is said to be the only person in
immediate danger Of death. James M.
Shaw, owner of the burned building,
has been arrested and held to bail by
the coroner. The condition of the walls
Of the burned building had given the
pastor of st. Andrews church some
anxiety; but he was assured, the sex.
ton says, that the forms required
by law had been complied with by the
architect before he had attempted to un-
dertake to rebuild them. On the other
hand it is said an engineer Of the fire
department warned Father Curran that
the walls of the burned building were
unsafe, and that no one should be
allowed in the gallery endangered by
their fall. A deputy superintendent of
the building department says no COM
municatiOn of any kind in relation to
the condition of the walls was received
from the fire department., and adds that
neither he nor any other person in the
building department saw any indica-
tiOns of weakness in the wall which rem
dered its fall likely or even possible.