The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-09

oNeIChmo
rate she succumbed You would like to see tho
church. perhaps" The father bcckoned TO gentle
man who stood silently near. Without further ex-
PLANTATION the person mooned TO took taper, liz IL
and started along gloomy hallway The reporter fol-
lowed. Alter passing through u room Ia which were
many sacred symbols Of the church beyond the
interior OF the edihce, where the great tragedy had
been enacted was at length reached The writer's At
tendant with reycrenl feet and standing In front OF
The altar, held the tiny fame the coil aioii II
pierced the gloom every side and showed build
ing OF tie rigid obiong form, with gallery on
three sides OF H. The Is at Fifteenth street
entrance Directly opposite at the other end IS the
organ lon. The ordinary galleries are. therefore,
either side, having iulI lateral extension.
OCCURRED
For moment SO alter the reporter aud the taper
bearer had penetrated the building
was nothing said The remembrance OF the terrific
crush and the terrible tragedy st clang about every
thing The very silence eloquent With the sugges
ton that 1t made OF the means o, the dying.
ado you see that corncr. said the reporters CON-
panion, pointing through the gloom 10 the angle on
Sixteenth street. toward Sixth avenue THERE'S
where It occurred Some woman tainted, and then
there was panic. As is always the case. there was
some one on hand TO shout Fire. You can imagine
how much worse that made matters just, however,
they wero about subsiding and getting into that
state where they might have quesed, not seeing
any ere you know--then a steam cng,no came tearing
NJ the street That fixed H. They were bowling mad
IN moment and acted like Sheep The worst was over
In that corner"
The hand OF the good man shook as he spoke, and
the tremulous taper made fantastic shadows The
wall
"Ihey were piled up there terribly; some threw
themselves ON those below, and, in the end II was
sckcning crush TINS church has ten exits and all tho
doors open outward.
CHURCH
ST. Francis Xavier's Church IS an unpretentlous
looking edcc, situated described by tho directory
at No. SO West Sixteenth street, being just little above
sixth avenue. Quite recently II was the Of tho
imposing burial ceremonies Of John O'Mahony,
the celebrated Fenian chieftain. Regarding the
history OF the church, We find the follow
ing extract In very useful volume called
"A Brci Sketch Of the Early History Of the Catholic
church the Island OF New York" This book Is
from tho pen OF Archbishop BayIey. The paragraph
Is iollows"n 1850 tho Fathers Of the Society OF
Jesus purchased number Of lots Fifteenth street.
between Fifth and Sixth avenues, on which they
immediately commenced tho erection OF the
College Of ST. Francis Xavier for day
scholars II was opened IN September
1850 and has been in successful operation. At
the time the Church OF ST. Francis Xavier, 'front.'
ing on Sixteenth street and abuting on tho College,
was erected updcr the direction Of the Rev. Father
Ryan, 1t was dedicated by the Most Rev. Archbishop
ON tho 9Th OF July, 1851. They have since erected
largo building FREQ school for boys, which was
opened in May, 1883
Mary Casey. No. 1sS Eighth avenue, 16 years.
Mrs Ann Spencer, No. so Ninth avenue, 80 years
Michael Spencer, No. SO Ninth avenue, q years.
Mary COughlan No. l02 West Twenty nth street, 6S
years.
10 years
Ann Forbes, No. 81 West Nineteenth street, 40
years.
An unknown woman. about 90 years.
TIE WOUNDED.
The following Is list OF those who we're slightly
wounded and removed TO their homes by frieuds:-
Ellen Rooney, No 1917 Fifth avenue
Mary Murphy, No. l27 Fifth avenue.
Mary Shay. Nineteenth street and Eighth avenue.
Eliza Cunningham, No. 22l West Twonty eighth
street.
STORY ONE OF THE CONGREGATION.
Tho following story OF tho was given to
HERALD reporter by a lady who was present and
escaped unhurt and from her narration she owes her
safety tn sell POSSESSION. She occupied seat on
tho Fifth avenue sdo Of the gallery, which, like every
other quarter OF tho structure. crowded
to excess. The retreat mission was given
for women, and there were consequently no men
present excepting tho ushers and assistants, whose
business It Is to provide seats tor the congregation
The lecture the NTH Of . begun by Father
Langcake Sunday evening last, and the closing
nights brought out Increased numbers to attend tho
course, which Is one OF instruction adapted tho
Lcnten season. 1t was nearly nine O'Clock, when
tho reverend father was drawing 10 the
was heard which Tor u created aston ishmelt
and was followed cry Of "Fire!" which was the IN
slant cause Of alarm, followed in turn by confusion
and panic People and turned, looking an xiously
at each other tor a II seeking to know what
cause there Tor fear. The only that came
was the Oft repeated cry OF "Fre! nrc!" coming
from the front region Of tho building. Then
there was rush. pel-me from pews to
aisles and toward the Sixth avenue entrances
TO the church. Women, sobbng and shriekng, pull
ing, dragging and hauling each other, pushed and
crowded ana climbed best they could to reach the
doors Of egress from the gallery. Snawls and
bonncts from their owners, and, in some
instances in scrambling over the backs of the
pews tho frightened creatures were toppled over
and walked upon by their more fortunate though no
less panic stricken companions. Before the panic had
reached such an alarming slate Father Langcake ad-
monshod the congregation from the pulpit, saying 10
them
'Be still; there Ia danger Have no lear" But
his words were idle tho winds without, and the
confusion grew worse.
Al this point the lady who gives the above narra-
tive and who Is familiar with the plan OF the church.
made her way toward the end OF the gallery
nearest tho altar and passed though u
door leading to iron staircase which
communicates with the rectory OF the church where
the priests reside and visitors are received. few
moments later she returned. thinking the excitement
have subsidized. On entering however, the cries
OF confusion were still to be heard coming from the
front or the church. where mass Of women, crowd
ing each other almost TO sudocation, wero seeking
TO escape terror which they little knew was
due themselves alone. In their mad efforts to es-
cape from the building they formed wedge which
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