The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-06
CHURCH PANIC.
Fire Drops Suddenly Upon the
Pastors Pulpit
In the Second Baptist Church
in Chicago.
THOUSAND PEOPLE
Flee in Terror From the Church
to the Street.
Pastor Holds His Ground Till
Compelled to Leave.

Chicago. April 6.-Eighteen hundred
people were in the seats and aisles of
the Second Baptist church, Morgan and
Monroe streets, last night, and kew
DR.. w. NJ Lawrence, pastor of the ven
cradle and historic place OF worship
was in the midst OF an eloquent SER
mon when it was noticed by a Few In
the congregation that the ceiling was
on fire
Before a word could be said however
a blazing brand fell among the flowers
which surrounded the pulpit. instantly
there was a rush for the door.
Above the roar of the stampeded
WOrshippers came the reassurlng voice
Of Pastor Lawrence. There Is no dam
ger he cried, but the WOrshippers dis
traCted beyond control. did not pause.
Again did the pastor cry OUT IF you
viii resume your seats I viii finish my
sermon" but as he uttered the last
word the hyacinths at his side caught
another blazing brand and then the
great chandelier with its lO5 lights, tot
tered to one side and a sheet on names
rolled over the pastors head
The terrified WOrshlppers waited
for no further counsel They stormeu
through the aisles, over the pews ana
We're Wedged in struggling mass al
the doors Organist Howard Nells
now attempted to quell the panic Ihe
voice of the pastor was lost in the tl-
mutt but the great roar of the organ
could still be heard Its melody, how
ever, had no effect
A woman who lay upon the thresh-
old was being trampled upOn when
Patroluan WOOlsey dragged her upon
the steps. She was taken away
bleeding and in a sWoOn by rrlends
who We're summoned. Using force ln
some instances and calling to the peO-
DIe to take their time the policeman
fought his way into the auditorium
where he picked UP three other women
who had tainted.
CAPTAIN George Cressey marched the
boys brigade down the aisles and or
dered them to save the flowers and
Then the beautiful Easter decora-
tiOns were torn from the altar, and
following them came the pulpit itsell-
leaving the pale but calm faced pastor
still standing i'm a downpour of glow
ing embers, and Organfst Wells rum
ming his fingers over the key board in
a laundering rendition Of the hymn
Onward, Christian Soldier
Sexton Allison had not been unmiud-
full of his charge during all this panic
When the wOrshippers arose and
stormed the doors. ne ran to the ball
cOny. climbed a ladder which led TO the
attic and fighting his way through the
heavy smoke, reached the big burner
and the flames that were rapidly maxi
ing their way to the roof He was ae-
companied by David Murray
Without waiting Tor the hremen,
whom Usher William TOates was MAX
ing haste to summon. the aged sexton
stripped llIQSel OF ms coat anu aoLH llt
to smother the flames with the gar
ment But the fire had gained such
headway that it not only destroyed the
coat BIT severely burned the hands OF
the courageous fighter
The sections vest was then used to
whip the flames but this. too. proved
of no avail, and it was not until water
was brought in pals from the auditor
ium that the fire was eXtinguished
When the hremen dashed up before
the hundreds of frightened people Wh
still filed the streets, and dragged thei
hose through the Easter lilies palm.
and hyacinths. to the gallery one man
bIackened- stripped of coat and vest
and so badly burned that he could
scarcely clutch the rounds of the lad
der, came down from aloft- 1T was the
/ sexton.
THE fire is all out. boys, he gasped
out for he was all but suffOcated by
smoke
But the firemen hammered away in
the lath and plaster to make sure that
their services We're not needed ana
when they left the place a ragged hole
I in the ceiling which completely encir-
cIes the chandelier told of the narrow
escape OF the venerable structure. Sex
ton Allison said the fire was caused by
a leak in the big gas pipes which sup
piled the chandeliers.
The injuries of those hurt in the rush
are not serious