The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-03-10
The Xavier Church Panic :. A
CauSelesS and Wicked AIarms.
Frantic Efforts 20 EScnDc.

NEW YORK, March 0.-At the time o
the alarm last evening In the st. Franci
Nayier Church, which resulted so disas
trously, Father LaDgCake was preaching
on 'HOll and the horrors of the damned, J
and perfect stiffness prevailed. Suddenly
as the preacher was. piCturing the tor.
ments Of purgatory, young woman ia
the nolthern corner Of the west gallery
overcome by her feelings, tainted, and
gave ntternnce TO an hysterical scream
startling The worshipers and causing them
TO spring TO their feet. The next mo.
mcnt some reckless person cried "Fire Y
and this gave rise 10 the panic. Father
Langcake, who was nearing the end Of
his sermon, stopped and implored the
people to keep their seats, as there was
absolutely no cause for alarm. Father
Merrick, the pastor, heard the screams
and rushed into the sanctuary. He called
upon the congregation TO keep their
seats, az there was no fire. The
sexton also endeavored to stop the panic,
These efforts were partially successful.
Father Langcake retired TO the yestry
room, and in few moments returned,
attired in his cape, and uttered the bene.
diction Diminishing the congregation, and
the organ began 10 play. The women in
the main body Of the church and in the
cast gallery passed out in an orderly
manner, and not single person in pof-
tions OF the church last named was in.
jurCd. The people occupying that por-
ton ol the gallery where the commotion
had begun and Centered, listened to neith.
or priest, sexton, benediction or organ.
They rushed towards the exit from the
gallery, and almost crazed with fear
pushed and fought their way into the
marrow stairway leading to 18th street.
The stairway is but four feet wide, and
within three or four steps of the bottom
makes a'short turn before it reaches the
vestibule. The crowd Of maddened wo.
men rushed down stairs and would prob
ably have all reached the street in safety,
but at the bend in the stairway an aged
and very stout woman, in her eagerness
to reach u place Of safety, fell head.long
down stairs. Before she could regain
her feet the frantic crowd pressed on TO.
ward the vestibule and came upon the
PROSTATE form and those in the foremost
ranks fell upon her. In n moment the
passoge-way was choked, and a scene Of
the widest confusion and the most in
tense excitement ensued. The crowd in
the rear pressed on with the utmost ire
sistable force and nothing could be done
to stop their advance. The crazed wo.
men fought their way toward the choked
up stairway, trampling upon those who
had fallen in front and crushing the life
out OF them. They screamed and
fought like mAniacs, and every
effort 10 hold them back so
that the stairway could be cleared was Of
no avail. Father Whyte and several
otlter priests, who were in the church
tha time the panic occurred,
rushed round TO the front OF the CnuTCIi
and, assisted by patrolmen, by main force
dragged out some women who were lying
on the stairs. A number Of women were
then got out alive and only slightly in.
jurcd. In the struggly for life they were
almost denuded OF their clothing. As
'.N tASS'H anu pullCci hlucu ny u HumDeT
oil citizens, made their way up the stairs
they found lying on the steps four other
women and small boy; they were taken
out TO the open air but life was extinct.
One woman, Ann Forbes, was brought
out alive, apparently not much injured,
and walked with the assistance OF a po-
liceman TO drug store on Sixth avenue,
near 10Th street, where she expired in q
few moments. The Assistant Sexton
says he distinctly heard the cry OF fire,
but did not sec who gave utterance to it.
A gentleman standing outside Of the
church informed Sergeant Douglas that
he saw n man in the vcstibuIe Of the
church put his head inside the door and
heard him cry fire. Father Whytc and
the other priests connected with the
church are OF opinion that the cry Of fire
was given by one Of gang Of pickpock-
cts with the intention Of creating panic,
during which they could ply their nefa-
rious vocation. ..-.--.