The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-18
KILLED In A CHURCH PANIC.
H1LF A SCORE or CoRPsEs IN A JTNCR-
BURG HOUSE or WORsHIP.
Cries that Created Rushing for
the Doors and Lespins from the Windows
The Clergyman Adding to the Alarm.

Cries that Created Con.ternst stton-Rushin for
the Doors and Lenpirs from the Windows
The Clergyman Adding to the Alarm.
LYNCHBURG Va, Oct. 17.-Court Street
Coored Baptist Church was packed last night
to overnowinR with persons to witness the mar
riage Of John Avcrrctt and Mary Rives. The
ceremony was performed by tho pastor VIM.
Morris and after the bridal couple had retired
from the church tho asscmblage was resolved
into a religious revival meeting. II was be-
tween 10 and II O'Clock. when the religious
fervor was at its height that an alarm was
raised that tho building was falling. Instantly
the congregation was thrown into panic with
the most frghtfu results II is said that the alarm
was caused either by piece Of plaster falling
of the ceiling or by boy outside breaking a
pane OF glass. but be that as 1t may the result
was all the same The auditorium OF the church
was In the second story. and when the cry.
Tho church Is falling" was yelled by a man
near the pulpit there was u stampede. Men
and women rushed for the doors and
windows. Those who reached the head
OF the stairs we're pushed down heels
over head and trampled upon. Many
leaped from tho windows. and n few who
were In the gallery jumped from the third
story windows. Three women. who made
that venture. were killed outright. while the
dead. all told. including those WHO died last
night from injuries and to-day number twelve.
tho following being the list: Pascal Horton.
Henry Paxton, Marin Wilson Maria Ransom.
Mile Ward. Mary Henry. Virginia Robinson.
Emma Brown. Aroma Cox. Sarah Green. Saliie
Alden. and Susan Cain.
The fire bells were sounded and the fremon
and military turned out. Measures were at
once begun Tor tho relief of the suffering.
The panic scene in the church was heart
rending. The mourners' bench was filled with
women and the pastor was warmed up TO high
pitch He WIS exhorting his hearers To- seek tho
Lord. keep their lamps trimmed and burning:
and when the alarm was given. tho reverend
gentlemen cried Good Lord. have mercy on
u.s." Then he Joined the crowd in their rush.
The room was filed with dcafenng noise. Tho
shrieks and lamentations were awful Many
women had children with them. and we're sep
nratod In the crush. Benches were broken. and
tho gas fixtures and broke one OF tho globes.
This noise added to the panic.
A gentleman who arrived early at the scene OF
the calamity SAYS that he looked up the stair
way and could see men. women. and children
wedRed together. some on their heads. some on
their feet rolling down. and as they went out OF
| the front door nearly every one was bleeding.
| The white residents worked nobly. All the
doctors in the city were soon there doing all In
their power. Litters were tmprovised and the
wounded and dying were carried 20 their homes.
| II is thought that twenty or thirty OF the for
| mer will die.
The church was condemned rs unsafe some
| time ago by tho Safety Committee Of tho City
Council, and this fact had increased the fears OF
| those who were inside
The church has been visited to-day by the
women OF the congregation who searched for
trinkets and wearing apparel that had been lost