Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-09
Some Reckless Person Cries
Fire." and all Efforts to
Quiet the Startled Con-
gregstiOn Fail.
Frightened and Orazsd Women
Push and Fight their
Way to the Street.
A Number of Lives Lost.

49, A1tkAnAhN Wao EANeSA
ing on Hell and the Horrors of tn,
Damned and perfect stiffness pre-
vailed. Suddenly, as the preacher wal
picturing the torments of purgatory. q
young woman in the northern corner o.
the west gallery, overcome by her feel
ings, tainted and gave utterapce to hys
terical screams, startling the w~orshiper'
and causing them to spring to their feet,
The next moment some reckless person
cried fire." and this gave rise to q
panic. Father L~sngisobe, 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 screams aud rushed
into the sanctuary. He called upon the
congregation to keep their seats as there
was no FIRE and no cause for alarm. The
sexton alec %endesvored to stop the panic.
These efforts were partially successful.
Father Langiache retired to the vestry-
room aud in a few moments returned at
tired in his cape, and uttered the bene-
diction distressing the congregation, and
the Crgan began to play. The women in
the main body Of the church and in the
east gallery passed out in an orderly
manner, and not a single person in the
portions Of the church last named was
injured. The people occupying that
portion Of the gallery where the commo-
ton had begun and cantered listened to
neither priest, pastor, sexton, benedic.
ton nor organ; they rushed toward the
exit from the gallery, and almost crazed
with fear, pushed and fought their way
into the narrow stairway leading to
Sixteenth street. The stairway is
but four feet wide, and within
three or four steps Of the bottom
makes a sharp turn before it reaches the
Vestibule. The crowd Of msddened wo.
men rushed down stairs and would prob
ably have all reached the street in safety,
but at a bend in the stairway an aged
and very stout woman in her eagerness
to reach a place Of safety fell headloDg
down the stairs. Before she could regain
her feet the frantic crowd, pressed on to-
ward the vestibule, came upon the pros.
trate form, and those IN the foremost
ranks fell upon her. In a moment the
~passagewsy was choked, and a scene Of
the widest confusion and most intense
excitement ensued. The crowd, in fear,
pressed On with almost irresistible force,
and Nothing could be done to stop their
advance. The crazed women fought
their way toward the clicked up stairway,
tramping upon those who had fallen il
front and crushing life out Of them.
They screamed and fought like m~aniacs,
and every effort to hold them back SO
that the stairway could BE- cleared was oil
no avail.
Father Whyte and several other priests
who we're in the church parlors at the
time the panic occurred rushed round to
the front Of the church, aEd, aided BY
patrolmsn, by main force dragged ogl
some Of the women who we're lying on
the stairs Anumber OF women we're then
got out alive and only slightly injured.
In the struggle for life they we're almost
denuded Of their clothing. As the priests
aud police, aided by q number OF citi.
zens, made their way up stairs they
iound lying on the steps four ether wo
men and a small boy. They we're taken
out to tie open air, but life was extinct
0ne woman, Aana Forbes, was brought
out alive andi apparently not much in
jurel. She walked with the assistance
of a policemanto a drug store on Sixth
avenue, ueA Sixteenth street, where sh,
expired in a few moments.
The assistant sexion says be distinctly
hoard the cry OF FIRE" but did not SCI
who gave u%tterance to it. A gentleman
standing outside OF the church informed
Sergeant Douglas that he saw o mar il
the vestibule Of the church put his head
inside Of the door aud heard him or,
v fire. Father Whyte aud other priest
connected With the church are Of tn,
opinion that the cry Of fire was given b,
one Of a gang Of ~pickpoekets with tht
intention Of creating a panic, duriDl
which they could ply their nofarious 70
cation. Father WhYte says be was il
the confessional at the time, and when b.
reached the front Of the church be wa
almost crushed to death while endeaYor
ibg TO eztrioa,e oIn OF the wh,
we're 10 imminent danger Of losing thei
lives.
This morning a solemn requiem mas
was offered for the dead and prayer
said for tho speedy recovery Of tn
wounded.
Indications.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-For Tenne,
see and the Ohio valley rising baromS