The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-11-29
A PANIC AT wAYNEsBoRo', PA.
False Alarms Cause a Wild commotion in
a chureh-Men, Women and Children In
ured in the Rush to Escape.

A panic occurred in the Lutheran Church,
Waynesboro', Pa, Monday, which resulted
in serious injuries to n number Of persons.
Nightly since Thursday last public discussions
have taken place in the church between Rev.
p. Bergstresser, Lutheran clergyman, and
Elder s. ii. Bashore, Of the German or Tun.
ker Baptists, from Ashland, Ohio, the chief
topic being whether immersion or sprinkling
was the true seriptural form ofbaptism. The
discussion caused much excitement 10 the
neighborhood, and the church on each occa.
sion was crowded with the friends Of the dis
putants. Good order generally prevailed, al'
though on Saturday night, after Elder Bashore
had made remark as TO the position Of the
Lutheran Church on the question of infant
baptism, woman in the congregation called
out, THAT is not true which provoked a
threat from those in charge of the meeting
that such interruptions would not be allowed.
Long before the hour appointed for the dis
cqssiop toenmmenee Monday night there was
not standing ronm in the church, which is .
brick building, having q seating capacity Of
about 600, and was filled with over eight hun.
dred people. Both the floor and the galleries
were densely packed, while scores ofpeople out.
side struggled TO gain admittance. Shortly
before seven O'Clock bench in the church
broke, making cracking noise, and at once
some one in the congregation called out The
building is falling A scene of the widest
excitement followed, the screams Of women
and children mingling with the shogts and eS-
clamations Of men. p general rush was made
for the doorways, which we're soon blocked up
by the frightened crowd, and, to add TO the
terror, the ratings in the front of the gallery
gave way, precipitating the occupants on the
heads OF those below. Finding that ngress by
the doors was cut of, the windows at the back
Of the galleries were burst open, and men and
women jumped TO the ground, distance Of
twenty feet The trampling of the crowd on
the floors raised a cloud Of dust through
which the lighted lamps could only be seen
dimly, and anpther CRY, 1.-THE building is on
FIRE, y caused all TO re1ouble their Efforts 10
escape, although the mass Of people had by
this tine become so tightly wedged together
that movement beeame almost impossible.
The ministers present endsayored to allay tho
panic by calling out, ''For Gods sake keep
quiet, there is nothing wrong" but their
voices could not be heard for the cries and
groans which came from hundreds Of voices.
Strong men seemed to have lost all self.eon-
troll, and joined in the mad rush from fancied
danger; women were either trampled upon on
orfell fainiing rom terror and phlIdreq we're
nnthought Of 10 the general melee. Not until
the building had almost been ampted, and
the people realized that ut no time had there
been any cause for alarm, did they begin 10
think of the effects of the panic, and on An
examination being made it was found that
many were seriously injured, although, for.
tunately, no lives were lost. The majority Of
the congregation were from the country dis
triets, and left for home in their carriages as
soon rs possible. Amongst the injured were
the following Mrs. Weagly, arm broken and
otherwise injured; Rev. Mr.. Richardson, of
Smthsburg, Nd, trampled upon and injured
Mr., Shank, of Smithsburg, arm broken; Miles
Conan, shoulder bone and several ribs brok-
en-; Mrs. Mers and two sons, severely injured;
Rev. s. W. Owen, Of Hagerstown, badly
bruised; Henry G.. Fink, seriously hurt; a
lady, name unknown, taken to the hotel,
where she now lies in critical condition.
The sad affair has created intense excitement
in the village. The damage 70 the elprch is
estimated al $500.