The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-09-26
DISASTER OCCURS JUST AS BOOK.
Err WASHINGTON CON.
cLUDEs ADDRESS.
TRAMPltD AND CRUSHED ToDtATn
BODIES OF DEAD NEGROES ARE
sTREWN IN EVERY d.
REcTIoN.

blIm1uSudul, Alb, 0cpI. lU.-1u Ill
awful crush of humanity caused by q
stampede in the Shiloh Negro Bap-
fist church at Avenue G and Eigh-
teenth streets last night seventy-eight
persons were killed and as many more
seriously injured. The catastrophe &C.
CURED at o'clock, just as Booker T.
Washington had concluded his address
to the national convention of Baptists,
and for three hours the scenes around
the church were indescribable. Dead
bodies were strewn in every direction,
and the ambulance service of the city
was utterly incapacitated to move
them until after o'clock.
The church is the largest house Of
worship for negroes in Birmingham,
least 1000 persons in the edifice when
been issued to allow no more to enter,
side the building and were standing
the church
Was Literally Packed.
Just as Booker T. Washington con-
Guided his address Judge Billion, a
negro lawyer from Baltimore, engaged
in an alteration with the choir leader
concerning an unoccupied seat, and it
is said blow was struck. Some one
in the choir cried eight" Mistaking
the word flight" for fire." the con-
gregation rose en- masse and started
for the door. One of the ministers
quickly mounted the rostrum and ad-
nlonished the people to keep quiet.
He repeated the word quiet" several
times and motioned to his hearers to
be seated. But the excited congrega-
ton mistook the word "quiet" for
fire." and renewed the struggle to
reach the door. Men and women
crawled over benches, fought their
way into the aisles, and those who
had fallen were trampled under foot.
The ministers tried again and again to
stop the stampede, but no power on
earth apparently could stay the strug-
Cling,
Fighting Mass Of Humanity.
The screams of women and children
added to the horror of the scene, and
through mere fright many persons
tainted, and as they fell to the floor
were crushed to death.
The level of the floor is about fifteen
feet from the ground and long steps
lead to the sidewalk fro mthe lobby
just outside the main auditorium,
Brick walls extend on each side of
these steps for six or seven feet, and
this proved veritable death trap.
Negroes who had reached the top of
the steps were pushed violently for
ward and many fell. Before they
could move others fell upon them, and
| in fifteen minutes persons were piled
| upon each other to the height of ten
feet. This wall of living beings blocked
| the entrance and the weight of 1900
persons was pushed against it. More
than twenty persons lying on the steps
! underneath the heap of bodies died
from suffocation.
Two white men were in the rear of
the church when the rush began, and
escaped, and, realizing the serious
| ness of the situation, rushed to cor
ner near by and
Turned in Fire Alarm.
The department came quickly and
the arrival of the wagons served to
scatter the crowd which had gathered
around the front of the church. A
squad of police was also fastened to
the church, and with the firemen, final
ly succeeded in releasing the negroes
from their pinioned positions in the
entrance. The dead bodies were
quickly removed and the crowd inside
finding an outlet came pouring out.
Scores of them lost their footing and
rolled down the long steps to the
pavement, sustaining broken limbs
and internal injuries.
In an hour the church had been
cleared and the sight which greeted
the eyes of those who had come to aid
the injured was sickening. Down the
aisles and along the outside of the
pews the dead bodies of men and
women were strewn, and the cries of
the manned and crippled were heart
rending. In a few minutes the work
of removing the bodies was begun. At
least fifteen of those injured died be-
fore they could be moved from the
| ground