Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1877-03-17
LATEST EASTERN NEWS.
PrlxRtful Scene In a Church.

NEW YORK, March S.-There was q
panic in the church Of ST. Francis Xavier,
Sixteenth street, near Sixth avenue, to
night, caused by a woman fainting, and
cries of fire; rush of women from one
of the galleries was made, and in the tu-
mutt which cnsued, six women and one
boy were trampled under foot and killed.
The audience was composed entirely of
women and children, it being women week
in lent. The number of persons injured
could not he ascertained. Father Ian.
giackc was preaching on hell and the ter
rOrs of the damned, and MS the preacher
was picturing the tormenls Of pursatory
young woman in the corner gallery.
overcome by her feelings, tainted and gave
utterance to a hysterical scream, startling
the worshippers and causing them to
spring to their feet. The next moment
some reckless person cried fire, and this
gave rise to the panic. Father Llngiacke
implored the people to keep their seats as
there was no cause for alarm. Father
Merrick, the pastor, heard the screams
and rushed into the sanctuary. lie called
upon the congregation to keep their seats,
- there was no fire. The congregation
was dimissed AMI the organ began to play.
The women in the main body of the
church and gallery passed out in an order
ly manner, but the people occupying that
portion of the gallery where the CONS
motion had begun and centered, 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 u short
turn, before it reached the vcstibule. The
crowd of maidened women rushed down
the stairs, and would probably all have
reached the street in safety, but at the
bend in the stairway an aged and very
stout woman fell headlong down the stairs.
Before she cenld regain her feet the frantic
crowd pressed on toward the vestibulc and
came upon the PROSTATE form, and those
in the foremost ranks fell upon her. In Q
moment the passage way was clicked, and
o scene Of the widest confusion and most
intense excitement ensued. The crowd in
the rear pressed on with the most irresisti
BILE force, and nothing could be done to
stop their advance. The crazed women
fought their way toward tue choked-np
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 to hold thfm
back, 90 that the stairway could he cleared
IVES Of no avail. Father Whyte and bev
eral other priests who we're 10 the Church
! rushed round to the front of the church
and. assisted by patrolmen, by main force
| dragged out some of the women who werl
lying on the stairs. A number OF womer
were then got out alive and only slightly
| - T. he Oep frp Iifo fhav
were almost denuded Of their clothing
As the priests and police, aided by mum
Der Of citizens, made their way up tn
staircase, they found lying on the step
four other women and a small boy. Thes'
was extinct. One woman. Ann Forbes
was brought out alive and apparently NO
much injured. She walked, with the as
distance OF the police, to drug store OF
Sixth avenue, near Sixteenth street. wher
abe expired 10 Q few moments. The bod
les of the dead were identified as follows
Mary Casey, of 900 West Eighteenth
street; Anna Spencer and Michael 6peu
Ger. OF 80 Ninth avenue; Mary Coughlan
ZOE West Twenty fifth-strcet; Eliza Master
son, 4O6 Seventh avenue, and Ann Forbes
81 West Nineteenth street.
Washiagson Notes.
New York, March 10.-The World
Washington special says: In the execr
tive session on Sherman's confirmation
VI len the roll was called no Democrat IN
swered, Patterson came forward, an
several Republicans left their seats, Will
others declined to vote. A majority Of th
Republicans voted for the nomination
but when the last name was reached o
quorum had voted. The Vice Presider
ordered the clerk TO call again, and did q
with unchanged result. The Democtetl
I saIlo ~ ~ ckam1,ee sBni1nd. and IL ~