New-York tribune., 1877-03-09
STATEMENTS OF THE PRIESTS AND OTHERS

STATEMENTS OF THE PRIESTS AND OTHERS.
The Rev. d. Merrick. rector Of the St. Francis Xavier
Church and head of the % priests attached to that
church. made the following statement to reporter of
THE TRIBUNE last evening shortly after returning from
the station-house where the killed persons were taken
Twas not in the chapel al the time OF the disaster but
heard the noise. aud knowing by its peculiar S0hd tat
an accident had occurred, rushed Ill TO re"der Wcat
assistance might Dc necessary The confusion was all in
the northwest corner OF the gallery Tor henetl We
calming voice OF Father Langcakc, added | doubt
regatiOn Iuieted down. and ath0ugl showing Signs OF
fright remained until the end or inc serFlcc aud
throughout the bcnediction, which tho choir sang
bravcly, and which lasted fully - mnntGS after the
panic Al the close OF the bcncdiction tod the people
10 20 out quietly by the midll" door and they Obeyed
me implicitly Indeed considering tho character Of the
audience composed ~ was thtltciy OF women, u vas
wonderful to how ObCdient they were 70 the voice OF
reason. There general paulc IN the church, al
though the beginning OF rdsi for tile door was made
and numbers OF women tainted Nor there, far
am able 20 learn any serious injury sustained except
hr story Of the rush and crash is very simple
The church wqs full OF w9e , i 0ng women Gos IN WfGS tex
side OF the gallery was taken with Mysteries
tin e front door and cried Fire" and am iucIirei to
believe its truth Instantly the panic seized those already
frightened by the SCREAMING woman. ana they rushed
hcadlOng for the stairs Al The elbow OF tc sails TWO W0-
men, weighing about 250 the 0tEer about i3opound
became wedgcd and fell. Others fell upon theG,, and
they with four other and the little child, were
suOcatod TO death 1T the beginning OF tie panic when
Fnther iangcake Who was delivering the sermon cried
out " Sit down, there is nothing the natter ana rs
made appearance ana lhO,IOntu 10 titH 10 Dt quiet,
they obeyed with few exceptions anu returned to their
places ,.
and appliances for putting out tires. We have IL wide
doors all opening outward our stars are vide, with
only one curve and our cD1es are %idt. IItPe , are
buckets. never without good supply OF water;
The buane-st calamity, and during the excitement
that time we were conpi;mentcd upon the efficiency OF
our at ali Of the ked cane from somewhat
distant quarters of the city, and found that none Of the
faces were familiar 10 me. But this is not strange.
Francis Xavier not Only from a parts OF the city but
times that panic the gallery would nure only those
who are not frequent attendants upon our church The
am time and we have absoutely prevention except
TO teach the people never to be panicetrcken.
Tie Rev Fathers White and Prcndcrgrast made state
meuts 10 TRIBUNE reporter which differed in no esscu
tial particular from that Of Father McIrck
TIE OFFICIATING PRIESTS ACCOUNT.
Father Langcakc had retired when TRIBUNE reporter
called as he wls completely out with the excite
mert Of the evening. lie gave the following story
/ had begun last Sunday to give "retreat," or
series OF spiritual exercises, to the women Of the
morrow evening Tho subject | was discussing
this evening Heli" and in my remarks strcyc 70
tuIiug to trcln tie rrorS OF the damned. Ii was
the cosc OF nv when woman who as b,ieve,
scream There was 4 momantary silence at tfS " men
so,ucbody cried Fire" FEW persons repeated the
cry
the galleries which were dcnscIy packed. the
occupants rushed 10 the doors, all In
stat OF the most nncontr"labe excitement. The
woiri in body OF the cauych were more cain aud
thou,l unable what "a do still did not act with
mucn excitement TIE people in the galleries. cucd
on; 60 them Ia be calm that there was No fire; but my
c.horlations but slightly needed. IL was thcn
dercrndcd from the pulpit. A moment after
rtther Merrick appeared on the altar, and again
eAhoricd the people to be q,hct, az there
80 on. as there would Dc bcncdicton. The organist
oheyed and began 10 play the nalItais and shortly
-, ruftu ft4 fip
peopc having DccOm" quet IN the meanwhile, ana when
The services were over they quietly left Tic chulci
AN EYEWITNESS STATEMENT.
J. g. Haggerty, young man about 23 years Of age,
stated that he WAS sitting in the front section OF the
lery on the sixthve side Of tie church when the panic
bcsan. who sat in a seat beyond him attracted
attention by fantng Several sprang 10 her assistance
and this something oI STIR AT this time the
sermon was beng preached the priest having spoken 10
or II minutes Suddenly a cry OF fire raised and in
a moment pane was caused At one OF the exits to
ward sxtive very large tried Ia rush out The
rest crowded upou her and she was thrown down and
crrisged, with Uany Tho panic was chiefly con
fined to those III gallery aud when the rest OF the
audience had been assured repeatedly that there
fire nor any danger, they became quiet while the bcne
dctlon was pronounced and dismissed In orderly
n manner az possible MANY bruised and had their
clothing torn who taken away by their friends be
foIc tncr names could be Learned.
wOMAN's STORY OF rIE PANIC.
Mrs Hannah MastcrsOn. wife OF John Mas;eTsOn
carman Of No 4Os seventG-ave is the sisteIinaw OF
the deceased Eliza Masrson, and with her at the
time OF the panic Her story OF the disaster follows:
went to church with Eliza, and the Mission
crowded that had to- SIT In the gallery. was sitting