Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-11
RUN HOME BY A MOB.
Vespers Performed in a Polish Church
Under a Body-Guald.
A SIBERIAN EXILE Is IN TROUBLE.
Priests From st. Adelbert Are Followed by
Howling Crowds.
STORMY SCENES ON THE SOUTHSIDE

Vespers with the officiating priest under
body-guard Of police was one of the novel
ties on the Southside yesterday. The
scene of the trouble was at St. Adelbert
Polish Catholic church on South Fifteenth
street, and the cause of it, according to
Trustee Molka, is Jealousy on the part of
the head priest, Father L. NJ. Miskiewicz.
For the past three months Rev. Father
Pikulski has been assistant to Father
Miskiewicz, and through his pleas
ing manner and eloquent address has won
the hearts of the congregation, so much so
that on Christmas he was the recipient of
many handsome presents. This reused the
ire of Miskiewicz and he determined to get
rid of Pikulski.
Yesterday morning, Mr. Molka states, the
congregation was surprised to see a stranger,
Father Kalasinski, in the pulpit Prior to
the sermon the stranger denounced Pikulski
in wild and vehement manner, call
ing the members of the congregation -
fools to allow themselves to be fooled by
an impostor,a as he termed PIkulski, who, he
said, was chased from college in Rome
and came to Pittsbu-g and by his lies and
suave manner interested Bishop Phelan in
his case, was sent to st. Vincent's College
at Latrobe and from there to st. Adelbert's.
The Bishop believed him to be priest, but
the people should not believe such fool.
Too Many Foreign Impostors Here.
s'Thereare, "he said, 100 many such priests
who come over here from the old world with
unsavory regulations who with their lies
enlist the sympathy of the Bishop and re-
ceived his blessing and church and then
proceed to raise a disturbance as Pikulski
has DONE
The members of the congregation were
disgusted with the attack on Father Pikul-
ski and were spelling for fight. v. J.
Molka, one of the trustees of the church,
was not present but heard of the trouble and
proceeded at once to the priests residence to
demand an explanation. While standing there
he heard a commotion and discovered
Fathers Miskiewicz and Kalasinski coming
up the street at rapid pace, followed by a
mob of angry people, who were calling
them all sorts of names and hurling male
dictions after them.
The two priests rushed past Molka and
into the house and could not be induced to
show even their faces at the window. All
afternoon the crowd hung about the resi-
dence waiting for a chance to get at them.
Mr.. Molka gained admittance and re-
ported that Father Pikulski was informed
by Father Miskiewicz that his service
were no longer needed and that Father
Kalasinski, ''who by the way,is brother of
the priest who was eXcommunicated not
long ago in Detroit" would supersede him.
Guarded to vespers by the Police.
This information only increased tho in
dignation Of the members of the congrega-
tien and for time it looked very serious.
Finally word was sent to the Twenty
eighth ward police station for
assistance and four officers were sent to the
scene who conducted the now thoroughly
terrified priests to the church, where vesper
services were conducted under the protec-
tion of the strong arm of the law, and the
priests again escorted in safety to the par
sonage. The entire affair has been referred
to Bishop Phelan, and just what the out
come will be it is hard to say, but it looks
as if Pikuiski will come out on top.
. Father Kalasinski was an exile for 25
years in Siberia and this is his first trip
here. At the parish residence it was
stated there were two factions in the church,
one of which is led by Pitulski, who is
chared with disobedience to Father Miskie-
the mob. 1t was also said he had told the
new priest, s'you were not lynched in
Siberia but you will be here"
Small groups of the dissatisfied faction
congregated around the parish residence
until late hour, but no disturbance re-
suited. A young Pole named Louis Laundy
was caught with several large stones in his
hand and was taken in charge by Officer
Smith