The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-09
A DISASTER IN A CHURCH.
SEVEN PERSONS CRUSHED TO DEATH IN
ST. FRANCIS xIVIER'S.

81. fhdNCIS AIblEHS.
The Awfui Consc auences OF n Panic In n Con-
gregation OF Women - n Life Destroying
Effort to Escape from Imaginary Danger.
There was mission for women In st.
Francis Xavlers Catholic Church in Sixteenth
street last evening. Aisles. galleries. and ves-
tibule were crowded with women and children.
and the churchyard and sidewalk beyond were
thronged with those who could not obtain
standing room In the church. At 8 :25 o'clock,
when Father Langcakc was drawing near the
conclusion Of his sermon. the shrek OF faint
ing woman distracted the attention OF the con-
gregation. The voice came from the west gal
lery. Many persons there seated stood up
to see the cause OF the trouble. A boys
shrill voice piped out Fire, Fire." and
in an instant wild panic took posses
sion Of the gallery occupants. who started
tcrror-strickcn toward the exit from the gal
lery-a narrow staircase that emptied hto one
of the three front exits from the church. Eight
wooden steps led to the first floor vestibule. and
eight stone steps thence into the churchyard:
but. before the gallery was emptied. six women
and one boy lay dead in the vestibule and the
yard.
Three thousand persons, so the priests est-
mate were in the church. and nearly all of
them were women. After the cry OF " Fire"
many arose. but Father Langcake continued
his cxhortation. The collegiate fathers. trained
to timely mlnistration. were out Of their ora
tories and into the church before half the wor-
shippers knew that there was danger. The
sound Of tramping feet coming from tn gallery
was fast working panic among those sitting
in the body OF the church but the preacher still
talked on. and ii was only when brother priest
urged his closing that the bcnedcton was
pronounced. BY this time half the congregation
We're in the aislcs, and pressing toward the
prOmptness. had opened every exit; and
the narrow pcws and narrower aisles
did more TO prevent greater fatality
than any human agency could have accom-
plished. Tho panic In the body Of the. church
was wild; and the rush as unconirollable but
wide and straight steps at the main entrance
fast as they came After those able TO get 9ut
had reached safety not less than twenty-five
women were left in the pews. frightened to
faIrnting 10y the cries Of terror. .,- -
appalling. Many women had tainted on reach
ing fresh air. They fell anu were trodlen un-
der foot by their nceing fellow .wQrshippcrs,
until they had reached their homes. Then the
recolections OF friends and relations. from
whom they. had separated in the panic, sent
Officers stationed at the entrance 5, Mt for help
as soon as they saw II VAS needed. and very
tieth street police were nt the church door. Be-
fore they came the streets were bio kei with a
missing relatives could scarcely force way
The street. once cleared Of those not personally
Interested. account was taken OF the Killed and
injured. The priests OF the college were
already busy IN royiving the faiutng, and
send ng home the wounded who could
tell their residences. The police. as soon
~ not ncd. had telegraphed to bellevue
| Hospital, and 10y o'clock amhulauces
and President Brennan. Commissioner
Cox. and an ampls. corps OF surgeons
| were in attendance. Their arrival was too late
| to be- Of much service TO the wounded most Of
lDf "A a. -
Icy the priests. The dead wero at once removed
to the rhirticth street police station
The saddest sights We're in the hour after the
disaster. The news spread with rapidly among
the dcnizens OF tie nelghhoring tcncinent
come, and the Gordon of police was assail.d on
all sides with frantic entrcaties Tor admission
ah 9sS S2e l2e dpsT Fyai M if%c% fp 5pan
IN the little Vcstihule into which tine west ra-
lery ant west aisle lead. The other three were
ing out of th" Nc-iihulc. The entire loss 81 life
o. Cured among those in tie gallery IN which
ASS slant SsNton Clancy says that since the
| accident in -. Andrews, last year the seNtnn
! has had orders h. hay. some one always stand-
/ INK keys in hand, near the doors. Clancy was
50 standing. an at the iir,t sltn of danger
| every door was unlockcl Ihry All p,hDG out
/ hr w.nt thitner and cni"hNurrd To- stay the
/ tide % Lanir stricken women. On" ", man irll
/ on IN" FIRST landing. and those behind her on
/ lraNornd To- hold back, but We're irt"si-tibly
| pr -s--d forward. as CLANCY tried to quiet the
] panic 10y Mnfl-. Tut tn' women tNul NNAf or
| ihink of nothing in their fright After III" gal
! lcry had been cleared he helped tn carry the
drnd out OF the yrstilule Everything that
could bee done WAS don" o. rrNiyr ih"m.
An eyewitness gives the following account:
| | saw men, women. AMI chllirrh rush nR
| hy : ores from TIA. main aud eastern side exits
| hut could not -" single person coming from
| iheeX toward Sixth avenue. There. pnrk"d
liked sardines in box. higher than atall man
| in which they had first fallen. Those AT the
bottom were mostly lying fiat on their faces
while those above We're half doubled oyer, with
and no body, the latter being entirely covered
up by the bodies II other victims. Eyerywher'
arms and hands pro'rudrd. with the nnger'
cluiching at whatever was III reach. Inerc Wa'
not much noi,s made by all this-only tha
deep breathing that comes when mnn arr
struggling or wrestling. The only other soun,
stairs. | don't think an instant WAS lost b,
those outside in beginning the attempt 10 IN
pack the squirming h"tp OF human beings. hu
II WAS u long time, IL time Was - be- rcrhou.,
Ths work was made douby din 'ul
hy those ncar r. wii"n one VS. maui"
~ 10 7hhrr hnr escape, Il s'rneI ~ IL 5'mr ID
them would hn torn Ia pieces. Woman ait"
woman. bruised and woumird' with cl'llin.
the npor was reached. full fifteen minute
from tho time the re-, ne was begun. There
IN IN tn sion9 pay5sMeat ,5 von at dsa sa i2a ia.
They took the four first reached 10 TN
followed them. Cries OF distress from thOs
who could not hni their friends arose ol
al sidoS. drowning IT, moaning moaning OF IN
homos. The polip had their hand
luil, for =, WHILE | /, cap, tell you., On
way in. His young niece was there, dead. TIL
others were two old women and twcyr.yea
oid boy. Ond ~ tho women was stll hrcaihin ins
think, when they rArr rd her to the stable
Within half nn hour after the lsasirr amhu
lnrces began to arrive at tho Thlrtirth stree
police stat on, ANA from thrm wero borne care
|