New-York tribune., 1877-03-10
PANICS SEVEN VICTIMS.

sING-TBE NUMBER OF THE INJURED VERY
SMALL.
Yesterdays inquiry showed that the account
OF the panic Francis Xavier Church on Thursday
night "a published in THE TRIBUNE was very complete
few additional facts Of interest were brought out after
the excitement had partially been aayed. The dead
have all been recognized, and are found to number
seven-sx women and one boy-as at first stated Sew
eral who were bruised and trampled upon and were
taken home state of prostration do not appear TO
be seriously injured, and seem to have suffered most
from fright
great throng Of people attracted to the church
yesterday forenoon merely out Of curiosity But In the
afternoon Sixteenh-st between Fifth and Sxt-aves,
everyday appearance, except when the snort
visit of the attracted small crowd Mass was
celebrated as usual in the morning. and well at
tended the church being comfortably filled with women
and girls. Father Langcake, the missionary, VINO was
conducting the services at the time Of the
panic, addressed the congregation on the subject
calamity He said the priests connected with the
church and college had that morning celebrated mass
for the injured and invited all to unite in prayer. The
whole kne and this part OF the service
was very impressive Before concluding, Father Lang
cake said he wished to offer word Of advice which he
hoped those present would treasure up and act upon
occasion again arose. When in crowd, if cry OF fro
or any other alarm should panic, they must keep
cool the best for safety do as those in charge
should direct and all would be well with tbem
Confessions were heard yesterday, and viii be heard
to-day There was service last evening, OWES TO the
excitement. brief instruction will be given this morn
ing and at 10 O'Clock mass will be celebrated for the
repose of the souls OF the dead and the funeral services
of some of The victims Will be conducted. All of the
pricsts-23 IN number-cOnneced with the st. Francis
Xavier community will to-day offer mass, ana the pupils
will devote themselves to prayer
The officers of the Department Of Buildings examined
ST. Francis Xavicrs Church, shortly after the Brooklyn
Thcater disaster, and pronounced the means OF exit
ample and the church safe. They visited the church
again Yesterday and said that they reason for
changing their previous Judgment. The church has
three side doors opening outward SlXteenths four
rear doors and two doors opening out OF the sanctuary
Before the Duanc-st accident, Father MeIIick SAID the
officers of the church had taken extra precautions py
purchasing several Babcock exnsuisherS, which were
distributed through the church and college, and in differ
ent parts of the church twenty water-pas were
conveniently placed and kept filled with water. The
stairs leading from the galleries are narrow only in one
angle near the landing place.
Father Merr!ck pastor OF the church said yesterday
that the priests had been apprchensve OF panic Tor
some tine. The church not large enough for the
congregation Three thousand people could be packed
in IT, and there nearly that number of women and
girls in the body OF the church AID galleries when the
panic took place. Tie in his confessional when he
heard the peculiar sound Intensified which accompanies
the rising and seating OF the congregation. Father
Iangcake had been speaking than % minutes,
and he knew there must be a panic lie ran mo rue
sanctuary and great comInotion, which fatheF
Langcake had done much to quc. He raised his voice
above the tunult succeeded in scCdng e majority
into their reason. lie demanded how they dared to
shOat 50 and 10 make q tumult in the house OF God
Those who were running through the sanctuary he coz
uellcd to stop and kncc and he did not dare To tell
the people 10 out except IN The usual way The nnc
dction was said and the organ poured forth the lie
Deum," after which lie charged The congregation 10
move ont quietly by the conter door on SNtcenth-st,
BY this time tn Of frantic excitement III the north
wc.i part Of the gallery over. and quiet and order
prcyaed He was thankful, he said that there were no
men in the congregation. lie felt that ho lad power 10
control a congregation OF women by the influence OF
command, hut three four frightened ana selfish men
would have rendered great catastrophe inevitable.
lie Ola not tnmk the subject Fa-Her IN''lfes
Inon Hell and Death" had any influence IN causing
the panic. Father Llngcakc not preacher VINO
excited deeply the CIaotions OF congregation.
Father Langcale said ne had not proceeded far in his
Sermon which listened to with marked Stiffness and
was orlv Just referring to the sudlnnness OF death, when
he.hcard sod gguan the west gallery, followed by
. chld's voice crying twice 4" ANNA" aud Immediately
another voice calling "Frc Fire.! The congregation
on that side of the church by common impulse.
Hc quiatcd them by telling them had tainted,
and bcseccng them to be seated Scarcely had he re-
srned his discourse when the people near the exit OF the
west gallery rushed out together ranicstric6en and
l,d the church with the noise OF their struggling ana
screaming
TIE BODIES OF TIIT DEAD.
Coroner EHinger yesterday impanced The following
Jury 20 investigate the disaster: Commissioner Jnmcs
Lynch OF the Bureau OF Emigration jams, = Walsh. -.
II. Helms William Bergen. Nicholas Hamcrich William
Leonard Robert Mcintyre Edward ". Hughes, Joseph
Mcdonald, Hugh Fitzpatrick, Charles CummihE' and
Robert Iaughln The coroner and the jury inspected
Tie church. ana especially the stairway ON which tho
seven lives were lost diagram OF this part Of the
buldn to he made to make clear the explanations Of
persons tcstifyng at the inquest Arrangements were
made with Capt. Williams 10 subpoena the necessary
witnesses such time the coroner may deem best to
continue the inquest. The jurors were taken 10 The
place. 10 which the bodies OF the victims had been re-
moved and atcr they had reviewed the seven corpses.
the inqucs, wa adjourned until fu6urc date.
The body OF Mary Casey had been removed to No 229
West Ei.htccnth-st An examination showed that she
ad died Of conclusion Of The brain There large
confusion beneath the left ear and her right leg was
badly bruised aud crushed. If It had been douDci
beneath her body ThcE0usc was filed with friends and
iu0urncrs who were holding wake. The remains are 10
be taken to the church in Sxtcent-st this morning at
10 o'clock when the funeral services win he conducted.
Dr. Cushman was unable to find any mark of violence
upon the body Of Mary Cougan, wife OF John Coughlan
and was the opinion OF the assembled physicians that
her death was due TO shock. Her body had been
taken L. her home al No 202 West TwcnyhftSi, after
recognition ana the funeral il to be held there at
O'coc, sunday afternoon.
Ann Forbes not q cook 1t No. 81 West Nineteenth
st. the residence OF j. King first reported Her body
was taken to No 40 East Nnetoenth-st. her former
home Dr. Cushmdn ascer;aned that she had died wholly
Of shock. ply ysca Injury being found upon her. The
remains will be taken ST. Francis XayeTs Church for
the funeral.
Eliza MastcrsOn found To have received fracture
of the skull through the base Tns had caused prOse
bleeding from the ears and together with the shock must
have resulted in speedy death, Her body was taken
10 No iOs scvcnthaye., where she had lived on
d hr1Lhnr and acll mnILnr Tic