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

I
A panic occurred in the Lutheran Church,
Waynesboro', Pa, Monday, which resulted
in serious injuries to number Of persons.
Nightly since Thursday last public discussions
have taken place in the church between Rev.
p. Bergstresser, Lutheran clergyman, aud
Elder 5. Ii. Bashore, of the German or Tun.
ker Baptists, from Ashland, Ohio, the chief
topic being whether immersion or sprinkling
was the true scriptural form ofbaptism. The
discussion caused much excitement 10 the
neighborhood, and the church on each oeea.
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 tho question Of infant
baptism, woman in the congregation called
out THAT is not true which provoked n
threat from those in charge Of the meeting
that such interruptions would not be allowed.
Long before the hour appointed for the dis
epssiol iocpmmenpe Monday night there was
not standing-roOm in the church, which is 0
brick building, having q seating capacity Of
about 900, and was filed with over eight hun.
dred people. Both the floor and the galleries
we're densely packed, while oresofpeople out
side struggled 10 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 minglng with the shouts and ex-
clamailons Of men. 2 general rush was made
for the doorways, which were 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 10 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
dimlyi and aane1tiheF erI, 'tThe bgildlng y IN
FIRE, caused oil 70 redouble their Efforts TO
escape, although the mass Of people had by
this time become so tightly wedged together
that movement beQaule almost impossible.
The ministers present endsayored to allay the
panic by calling out, "For Gods sake keep
quiet, there is nothing wrong" but their
voices could not be heard for the cries aud
groans which came from hundreds Of voices.
Strong men seemed to have lost all sef'eon-
troll, and joined in the mad rush from fancied
danger; women were either trampled upon on
or fell falnting from terror, and ehIldren we're
unthought Of In the general melee. Not until
the building had almost been smptied, and
the people realized that at 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, aud left for home in their carriages rs
soon ss possible. Amengst The injured we're
the following Mrs. Weagly, arm broken and
otherwise injured; Rev. Mr.. Richardson, Of
Smithsburg, Md, trampled upon and injured;
Mr.. Shank, of Smithsb1rg, arm broken; Miles
Cumar, shoulder bone and several ribs brok
eni Mrs. Mers and two sons, severely injured;
Rev. s. W. Owen, Of Hagerstown, badly
bruised; Henry G. Fink, seriously hurt;
lady, name unknown, taken to the hotel,
where she now lies in q critical condition.
The sad affair has created intense excitement
in the village. The damage to the elqFch is
estimated al $500.