The New York herald., 1876-12-28
A DEATH-TRAP GALLERY.
PANIC IN AN ASTORIA cHUlcH-NARRCw Es-
CAPE D RON A TERRIBLE CALAMITY.

PANIC IN AN ASTORIA cHUncH-NARRcw Es-
CAPE RON A TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
One OF the alarming incidents that ever startled
the good people OF Astoria occurred Tuesday night
The children OF the Dutch Reformed church. Rev. J. N.
IIaiDcs pastor, we're holding their annual Sunday
school Christmas festival, and Santa Claus as Is usual
these occasions. was eagerly anticipated. As it was
the chdrcn's festival they provided with seats
Ia tho front part Of the church, and the congregation
and visitors distributed IN tho remaining pews,
passsgeways and gallery. The church has seat
ng capacity of about $50 people, there could not have
been less than 700 souls in tho edice. The Sunday
school, as the pastor announced, numbers about $50
scholars and they nearly all present The school
room this church is in tho basement. and the cbil-
Lren were marching up stairs into Tho body OF the
church when the alarm was raised that Tho gallery was
falling aud an onpOus, cracking sound Was heard IN
its direction Several asserted that they saw the ioor
failing and indceda portion Of the woodwork IN front
oi tue gallery actually did bulge out several inches.
a ExcITEMENT.
The scene o terror that ensucd when the cry was
scribablc. Women tainted, Others sprang over the
pcws, Jumping over tho occupants heads and shrek
ing as they ran IN Their mad effort 70 reach the ono
small passagcway that led to the man entrance OF the
church. Men shouted and children screamed, yet
above all the noise aud tnmult ihat prevailed the Itch,
pure notes OF the organ rose and swclled throughout
The sacred cdcc as there was no struggle Tor lille or
death gong Oh around
The cooIncss and so posses ION OF The organst md
the efforts of the pastor. aided by tho elders of The
cnurcn. notably Mr. j. NJ wnitncy and the precenior,
Mr. syphcr, at last prevailed 10 cheek tho panic that
threatened the destruction OF hundreds al livca
Several persons were taken home signify INJURED but
none suffered any injuries OF n serious character
ALucky LsrafE.
There seems To have been direct interposition OF
Providence IN bebai OF those in The gallery and un.
dcrneath u, Tor lis floor yesterday morning had a
pcrccpibc sag III tho middle, as y the weight OF
people III the ccntre had been 100 great Had the
gallery iacn the loss OF lite Would have been terrible
The exis very badly arranged, ana there would
undoubtedly have been "A general rush Tor tho open
As was, the rush OF those IN the gallery bocStd
the STAIRS and II required tho most strenuous cx.
crtions the part oI the pastor ana the moro COL
leCic portion al the congregation on the floor OF the
church 10 cxtricatc those IN danger ann calm tho ex-
cit-mcnf.
The ron cause OF the weakness OF the gallery was
but the faulty construction OF the entire cdihcc.
The floor OF the church, upon which the gallery
rests has "sageed so much out Of ITS proper level
that II resembles large how Ii Is evidently not
capable OF bearing such neavy strain was put
upon IT, although tn's strain is not at all unusual
TINS church Is frcquctty the scene OF lectures and
snch entertainments during the winter, anu unless the
floors properly siren hened and the entrances and
Inhabitants IS hat terrible calamity will yet DO re-
corded over 150 people were crowded into this gall
lery, while II is not capable OF bearing the weight OF
twenty with any degree O safety for them
TIM MEANS OF EGREsS
The main entrance Is about scven feet wide This
leads to the body Of tho church the mort hwesery
side by door iour feet wide. A small passageway
on the main entrance leads along the so1thcrly sidc
where another iour cet ;oor admi,s to the church.
From this passageway spring the starways loading to
The gallery Thus there arc tour exits each our feet
wide, ccntrng at one po,n ami The entire audience
must pass this point to reach The main entrance In go-
ing out The gacry-whlch IS just over The VISITORS
head as he enters the churchhas only ono support,
thin column IN the centre OF ITS outer edge In add.
ton he weight Of the gallery which this column
has to support balcony hns been tackled on It
wc.c, the front gallery, but provision has
been made for extra supports either for the gallery
the balcony Over year ago officers OF ':e church
acknowledged that this gallery was darg0rous
needed bracing TO render II safe, but no precautions
have yet boon taken.
no INSPECTION.
There IS an Inspector OF Public Buildings In Long
Island CITY, but The residents there say that hc was
known inspect any Of the public buildings in
hs district. He has salary, but receives pay the
shape OF ices. Whatever the tacts may be the ex-
istcnco Of this death trap gallery is Without excuse