Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-24
A PANIC IN A CHURCH.
A Foolish Cry of Fire Causes a Great
 Excitement.
500 IN A MAD RUSH.
Tho Entrancs Becoming Blocked, Many Jump Out of tho vviMdows-No W Injur. Occurred.

BROOKLYN June 24.- There were scenes of unusual excitement in and around the Polish church of St. Casimir, at Lawrence and Hillary streets, yester- day. A false cry of fire was raised dur ing the celebration of mass and the people became panic-stricken. In the rush to reach the street some of the wor- shippers became jammed in the doorway and against the pews,. while others smashed the windows and jumped into the alleyway adjoining. Many received slight injuries, and the presence of the fire engines, patrol wagon and ambulance, which some excited individual had sum- moned, added to tho excitement.
 The church. q small wooden structure, was filled with about 500 people, who had congregated to witness the ceremo- nies of giving first communion to class of sixty-five, boys and girls. About half these were kneeling at the altar at the time the panic started. The girls wore white veils and each carried lighted candle in her hand. One girl carelessly let her candle touch q companions veil, and the flame that followed frightened the occupant of a front pew and he shouted "fire!''
 In a moment where everything had been solemn and quiet all was confusion. The fire ran quickly over the child S head, catching her hair, and was taking fast hold when man sprung from pew took the veil from her head, extinguished the flames, and both were borne away in the crush. The church had been decorated with large branches of evergreen fastened upright against the pews at either end. These prevented the people from seeing just what had happened and they promptly gave rein to their fears and made mad scramble to get out. The door Is small and was quickly jammed.
 A portion of the congregation was seated in 0 low gallery, which runs around three sides of the church. Those near the wooden stairs, which lead down to the main floor of the edifice, rushed for them pell nell, and in a twinkling they were packed with a struggling mass of men, women and children. Those not so favorably situated for flight clambered over the railing, and, regardless of those below, dropped into the swayiug crowd. Fortunately the gallery ia only a few feet above the floor, and a man hanging by his hands can almost touch the pew tops with his feet.
 The priests assurance that there was no occasion for, alarm fell upon terror closed ears. Frantic at being unable to escape by the door. those in the side aisles clambered upon the window sills, and. smashing the glass. jumped into the alley adjoining. Finally, however, the Jam III the doorway was relieved, and the majority of the frightened people pressed into the street and stood about bewailing what they believed to be the impending destruction of their church. Even when disabused of the idea that the edifice was atire, they would not return, and the ser vices were not renewed.
 The little girl whose blazing veil caused the panic had her hair we'll scorched and her face burned. She was taken away so quietly that even Rev. Hippolyte Bar anski, tho pastor, does not know her name. Father Baranski believes that many suffered injuries, but that they will not report to him because they crowded out and did not heed his words of assurance.