The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-24
WORSHIPPERS KILLED.
-Four Women Trampled to Death
in Synagogue.
MANY PERSONS SERIOUSLY KILLED

by a Candida Reverence for the
Sacred Flame Prevented Its Being
Put Out - Death and Mangled
Limbs the Result.
NEW York, Sept, A.-Four women
were trampled to death and many per.
sons injured yesterday morning in a
Hebrew synagogue at 81 Ludlow street
rs the result of panic created by cry
Of fire during services. An altar took
IRE from a candle burning upon it.
6ome one screamed and raised the warn
ing alarm. In an instant there was
rush for the doors by nearly $500 per-
SONS. The stairways were narrow.
Many fell. Others tumbled over the
PROSTATE forms, and when the building
was cleared the victims of the mad
fright lay in the hallway.
There are six so-called synagogues in
the building, one on each of the six
floors. They were crowded with wor-
shippers celebrating the Hebrew New
Year. Most of them were women. When
the cry was heard from the synagogue
on the third floor, where tho altar caught
on fire, the greatest excitement pre-
vailed. The cry was taken up by the
congregations in the synagogues on the
other floors. They also made rush for
the stairs and in less time than it takes
to tell it the narrow stairs and hall were
hlled with struggling, surging mass Of
persons.
Wedged on the Stairway.
Those who had been attending the
services up stairs pressed against the
men, women and children, who were
forcing their way out below. The crowd
got blocked on the lower stairway. A
woman who was one of the first to come
down stairs got wedged fast near the
bottom of the stairs and those behind
her were unable to get past. The crowd
coming from up stairs kept growing
larger and larger as the frightened peo-
pie rushed out from tho second and
third stories, and in less than minute
all means Of egress were choked up.
The cry of fire continued to ring
through the building and the people, un-
able to move one way or the other, be-
came made with fright. On the first,
second and third floors the scene was a
shocking one. In their efforts to escape
the people knocked each other down and
trampled upon the prostrato forms,
mostly of women. In this way four
women were killed and at least dozen
injured.
But for the presence of mind of
Roun ndsman Charles Cotton, of Captain
Cross command, many more might have
been killed. Cotton was in Essex street
when he heard the cries from the panic
stricken persons in the building and
rushed to the scene, AT the time the
crowd was stuck on the stairs, the way
being blocked by the women who had
become wedged at the foot of the stairs.
fgnty in tha uitt1atio11 at
glance and at once dragged the woman,
who was wedged in in the stairs, out of
the way. .
-Four Women Dead.
After the panic was all over the killed
and injured were removed. Ten persons
were taken to the Gouverneur hospital,
and il is said that as many more who
were but slightly hurt walked to their
homes. The bodies of the dead who
were carried to the Eldridge street police
station are those of Frieda Becker, A
years old, wife of Jolof Becker, Rus
Sian peddlar; Naomi Rosenthal, 30, Rus
tiAn; Tabue Boyum, so, Russian; body
Of an old woman 70 years Of age not yet
Nentifed.
Julius Altman, years old; Wolff AL
bert, "a; Ida Cohen, 23; Rachel Backo-
witt, 60; Rebecca Friedman, 40, and Til
lie SpilllSer, &c. are among those taken
20 the hospital several of whose injuries
are supposed to be fatal.
Superstition the Canse.
The real cause of the lnomentary blaze
and the ensuing panic lay in the super
stitious reverence of the worshippers for
khe letter of their law. The candle
whence the flame was conveyed to the
altar was lighted at 6 o'clock in the
evening. and was to burn until it burned
ont. Under no circumstances was it to
DO extinguished. Tho candle was large
one, and had burned steadily all night.
Towards 10 o'clock yesterday morning it
had dwindled almost to its socket. The
candle, toppling to one side, brought its
blnze nearer and nearer to the himsy
cloth coverings of the altar. Those
nearest the altar saw the danger, but
pone dared to blow out the sacred flame.
The altar suddenly blazed up, the cry of
Gre arose, and, superstition drowned in
mortal terror, the crowds broke for the
doors.
The person who first dared to seize the
eandlestick was Owen Flynn, an Irish
lad, who was present out of curiosity,
and was troubled by no ritualistic
Bcruples. Then he was boldly aided by
o member OF The congregation named
Golitzy, and together they threw the
candle and burning cloth out of win
AOw