The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-23

Birmingham. Ala. Sept. a0.-The ne
gro population OF Birmingham is in
mourning and a gloom has been cast
over the entire city as the people begin
10 realize the immensity Of last nights
appalling disaster at Shiloh Baptist
church. Up to 10 O'Clock tonlsh; the
number Of dead had reached ii0 and
ninety OF these have been identified A
large majority OF victims OF the stam-s
pede were residents of Birmingham
and as fast as the undertakers can
prepare their bodies for inspection
they are being Identified
Birmingham, Ala. Sept. e0.-Cp to
noon today, eighty-seven bodies Of
victims of last nights panic at the
Shiloh Baptist church, colored. had
been identified. There are number
OF corpses yet unidentified. AS nearly
as can be figured at this hour. the
number Of dead is 115. while no ac-
curate estimate can be placed on the
number of injured
Among the dead are: Rev. L. Il.
Price. New Orleans: Rev. p. II. John
son, Weir City, Kan: Rev. Ford. Pratt
City, Ala: John Houston, Plttsburg,
Kas.: Rev. William Stone. Greenville:
Rev. James Kelly and DR.. A L. Hill,
Birmingham, Ala.
OF the identified dead. sixty-five
were Birmingham people, most OF
them women.
Investigation today shows that no
white people were killed in the panic.
Of hi iGit t. H.
church at the time and several of them
were hurt in the wild scramble, bu.
none Will die. Policeman Elledge, who
was standing at the exit sndeavoring
| To quiet the mad throng. was caught
between the moving multitude and the
wall In the narrow passage-way lead
| ing down to the stairs and nearlS oil
| his clothing was torn from his body
His legs were also mashed but lie will
recover. His efforts TO quiet the crowd
were utterly futile and not until the
| fire department and a large number
| or officers arrived on the scene. was
anything like order restored Then
| 1t was found that practically every
| body had gotten out of the building
| Those nearest the speakers stand,
| seemed to quickly realize that there
| was no fire and no occasion for a panic
| and the speaker and leaders passed
| outside through door. 10 the rear OF
| the pulpit, where they addressed the
| wild mob of struggling humanity in
an earnest effort to restore order
Booker Washington was among the
| number. but even his words fell upon
/ deaf ears.
An examination of the bodies OF the
| victims, shows that very many of
| them died OF suffocation, the conges-
tion Of humanity in the vestibule and
| passage-way where the crush occur
red, being so great. Those who re-
Int fhn
| who were crushed and trampled under
| foot. Many. had broken limbs and one
| negro threw himself over the heads OF
the crowd and had his brains dashed
| out against the wall.
| Booker Washington has received the
| following telegram from President
| Roosevelt in regard 10 the disaster
| which befe1 SO many people at the
National Baptist convention al B!r-
mingham last night. His reply also
follows:
Cincinnati o. Sept. 20. 1902
Mr.. Booker T. Washington:
Il am shocked and horrifiet by the
disaster at Birmingham and desire 10
express my great grief at ;he sad loss
of life.
THEODORE ROOsEyELI
Birmingham. Ala. Sept. 20. 1902.
President TheoIore Roosevelt. st.
Nicholas Hotel, Cincinnati. o.:
Our people most grateful TO you for
your words Of sympathy In the matter
Of terrible calamity which has befaIlen
50 many Of our race. everything pos
sible is being done by both white and
colored citizens TO help. Birmingham
city officials have been most though
full and generous. The crowd attend
ing was very large. but was perfectly
, orderly. The disaster grew out OF one
, of those incidents which IL was almost
impossible to foresee.
:. BOOKER T. WASHINGTON"
The injured negroes are being cared
| for in the various hospitals though
| many Of them have been taken to pri
vate residences. Physicians express
the opinion that all OF them viii re.
cover. though several are in a critical
condition.
The undertaking establishments OF
! the city which prepare the bodies OF
negroes Tor burial have been unable ts
handle the remains Of the panic Vic.
tins and many Of the bodies are still
| scattered over the floors Of thest
places. Two Of the undertakers befn,
| unable 10 care for the remains inside
their establishments have laid then
out in rows on the floor Of their
stables.
The citizens of Birmingham hav.
started a relief fund to care for tn
dead and injured and several hundred
douars mas already been subscribed.
Judge j. III. Ballew, the negro law.
yer who is said TO have precipitateG
the panic by engaging In an alterca.
tiou with HICKS, the choir leader, has
been arrested and is in Jail charged
with disturbing public worship. Hicks
has not been located. BaIlew is a resi-.
dent Of Baltimore.