Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-10-01
CRUSHED IN A PANIC.
-Four Women Killed in a New York
Synagogue.
a Sudden Cry of Fire Alarmed the
CONGREGATION.


-Four women were trampled to death and
twelve persons injured in a panic in the FIVE
story tenement building No. q Ludlow
street. New York occupied mainly as a
temporary worshiping place for Hebrew
congregations
Four congregations, numbering nearly
! 1900 persons, men, women and children
were worshiping in the building at 10 O'Clock
A. NJ. Two Of them were on the second
door, one on the first and tho other on the
fourth. There were from 800 to GOO persons
at each gathering. They were celebrating
the religious feasts OF Rosh Hasbonah, tho
Jewish new year.
During the service in the synagogue OF tho
Tahund Thora 0heb Izchok, which was in
the second floor front room, the cloth
drapery Of the alter was set afire by one of
the candles.
The candle whence the flame was conveyed
10 the altar was lighted at 6 o'clock and was
10 burn until it burned out Under no cir
cumstances was il to be extinguiShcd It's
flame assembled in honor Of the prophets and
10 have blown il out would have been to dis.
honor them with an imperfect tribute. Tho
candle was a large one and had burned
steadily all night, and had dwindled almost
to its socket The like receptacle hold
ing il had become full OF the hot sperm
which overiiowed upon the piue-board altar,
while the now short candle, topping TO ono
side, brought its blaze nearer and nearer 90
the himsy cloth coverings Of the altar, until
they ignited
Those nearest the altar saw tho danger.
but none dared 10 blow out the sacred flames
So while they looked on filled with appre-
hension, yet withheld at the thought OF the
saoreuglous act of extinguishng H. the altar
suddenly bla1cd up the cry OF fire arose and
the crowds broke fer the doors
The person who first dared 70 seize tho
candlestick was Owen Flynn, an Irish lad
who was present out Of curiosity, and was
troubled BY no ritualistie scruples Then he
was boldly aided by a member OF the CON
gregation named Golitzy, and together they
window
The Railways Of the building are dark and
narrow and the stairways steep and unpro-
tccted by ratings As the crowd surged into
the narrow passageway it became blocked
almost Immediately.
Women and children were crushed to-
gether in the wild struggle for the street
and tumbled over and trampled upon each
other as they fell and slid down the precipi.
tous stairway. Their frantic shrioks could
I've heard all over the block and the alarm
quickly spread to the other congregations
which were also gathered IN the same build
ing They poured out Of the adjoining
rooms on each door and joined the panic
stricken crowd adding u new horror 10 tho
situation.
For few minutes il was impossible for
them 20 render any asslstaf CO Whatever.
The scene was one Of Undesirable terror
and confusion The narrow hallway was
literally packed with frightened people.
Some Of them were lying on the floor, whilo
others rushed over their PROSTATE bodies Ia
frenzied effort 10 gain thestreet Women,
bruised and bleeding and with their clothing
half torn from their bodies would b. shot
out OF the doorway by the tremendous pres.
sure from behind and would fall on the side
walk exhausted aud fainting,
Many crowded. out upon the FIRE escape ON
the second door and leaped into tho street
no nre was TO he seen. Only thin film Of
smoke was coming from the third story win
dows. The cries aud yells that cnmo from
hear
The alarm, which was sent Ia from Hos.
ter and Orchard streets brought tho fro do
partment, but there was liltlo 20 do. As
soon as the building was cleared 10 was
found that no damage had been done 10 tho
structure by the fire and the only indications
were the charred top OF the altar,