The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-01-23
.EIGHfEEI. KILLED
IN CHURCH PANIC
CIV Of Fire Caused Wild Rush IN
Colored Baptist Church.
CROWD WEDcED IN STAIRWAY

Wooden Drniotcr Gave Way Precipi-
Eating Many to the Floor Below and
Amid shrieFs Of Women and Chill
dren Victims Were Trampled 70
Death-Pastor Tried 70 Quiet the
Frightened People.
Philadelphia. Jan PA wild panic
following loud shrek of Fire "
brought death to is colored persons
and injuries to nearly two-score of
others IN ST. Paurs Baptiss church.
on the west side OF Eighth street. near
Girard avenue. The terrible rush u
gain the street was OF brief duration.
and that more were not killed in the
stampede was probably due TO the fact
that the church was not crowded. Al
the time the disaster occurred not
more than 900 persons were on the
second floor of the building. which.
with the gallery was capable Of ac'
commodating 600 to zoo The FIRE was
a tlnine one. and was extinguished
before the nrcmeu arrived. The smell
OF smoke added to the panic. and de-
spite the heroic work Of Rev. +. ".
Johnson. she pastor OF the church.
who tried in vain TO allav the fears f
the lriehtoncl worshippers. the terror
stricken people made a desperate rush
to leave the church. only to be choked
mn on the narrow stairway Those In
tie rear leaped over the PROSTATE
forms of those who fen. and when the
rush was over rs lay dead on the first
floor and stairs of the building Death
I'm nearly every c0se was due 10 SUI
location or trampling.
Following is dist of the Identified
dead: Sarah Ruins Mrs Lawrence.
Mrs. Patton. Ruth Framer John Berry
Anna Alexander aged 80; Mamie Me-
Konnoy Susie Holmes. Mrs. Mary
vcdlo.k. Charles Gardiner. ared II
years. Mamie Mccall. Aboz siaughtor
2 wears Oil: Catharlno Sewcll Ruth
Trainer
Woman ShrlelSed Fire.
The disaster occurred while col
lection was being taken mp. The pas
tor had just concluded his sermon.
the text of which was "Why sit We
here until wo dic?" Following the col
lection thora was to have been a baD-
tisn Of n man AMI wiro AS the pastor
was arranging the pulpit preparatory
to bopi7n.ne the haplsmal service
woman I'm one of tho front rows of the
Jeff side of the altar gave n loud shrek
of fire Instantly an those about her
were on their foot looking for the
flazo There were no flames I'm sight
Int those near the pulpit smallar
smovo and started down the aisle
toward tho pulpit Then followed
half dozen cries Of FIRE and the whole
CONGREGATION Instantly became panic
stricken. The pastor by this time
realized the seriousness of the sitna.
ton. and IN "a loud voice, which only
added 90 the combustion. called 10 the
people 10 be seated. No
one listened end despite his frantic
arpoal p rush started thct m""nf doa'h
to many that were in Il
n.,fDI lam On Stairway
When the rush started those in the
roar OF the church did not fully real
ize what vos wrong. and were slow 10
move. The frantic shrieking of the
women and children became louder ard
more general. and many were knocked
down in the two alsles OF the church
Then came the terrible rush down the
stairways. For some unknown reason
everybody tried to get down the left
side Of the building. comparatively few
attempting TO leave by the right stair
wy. One-cye witness says tbat per-
haps p dozen persons got safely down
the stairs. whom several people tripped
and fall and caused the narrow way
10 become iammed Several men on
the first floor attempted to hold the
people back. but were knocked down
and then the human stream came tum-
bling down. The weaker ones fell, only
TO be trampled upon and crushed by
those coming from behind.
The horrible shrieks sent mp by the
PROSTATE persons added to the confu-
sion. and by this time even the cooler
ones in the rear of the fighting mass
of men women end children became
terror stricken. Strong men. IN fear
that the building was falling leapod
over the heads Of women and children.
and fought only for their own safety.
The terrific crush in the bend Of the
stairs became so great that the balus-
trade. which was only a frail. wooden
affair. gave way. There was a terrible
crash as half Q hundred persons were
procipitated to the floor a distance Of
about 70 o. feet. This heightened
the intensity o. the panic, and the
rush became one awful jam.
The pastor OF the church. a man OF
powerful physique and strong voice,
continued 10 appeal to the crowd in
the rear to stop their rush, but none
would hear over the PROSTATE forms
the crowd went. crushing the life out
Of those who we're unable 10 extrioate
themselves. In the confusion some Of
the worshippors thought OF the narrow
door on the right side Of the pulpit ard
made a quick exit that way. which
action on their part probably save
the lives Of number OF those who
had been caught I'm the crush.
Terrible Sight On Stairway.
When those who came down the
front stairs had left the building a ter
rible sight presented itself TO the res
~uara The nrst NOOr and the Of airWay