Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-01-26
PANIC IN A CHURCH
EIGHTEEN COLORED PERSONS
MET HORRIBLE DEATH.
A Woman shrieked "Fire" in Baptist
Church, Located on Eighth Street in
Philadelphia, and Everybody Bolted
for the Door-Disaster Occurred
While Collection Was Being Taken.

Philadelphia, Jan. PA wild panic
following a loud shrek of fire"
brought death to IS colored persons
and injuries to nearly two score of
others Sunday night ir St. Paul's Bap-
fist church on the west side of Eighth
street, between Poplar street and Gil
rard avenue The terrible rush to
gain the street was of brief duration,
and that more were not killed in the
stampede probably was due to the
fact that the church was not crowded
At the time the disaster occurred not
more than 300 persons were on the
second floor of the building, which,
with the gallery, was capable of ac-
commodating 500 to 700 people. The
fire was a trifing one and was ex-
tinguished before the firemen arrived.
The smell of smoke added to the panic
and despite the heroic work of the
Rev. Mr.. Johnson, pastor of the
church, who tried in vain to allay the
fears of the frightened worshippers.
the terror stricken people made a des-
perate rush to leave the church. only
to be choked up on the narrow stair
way. Those in the rear leaped over
the PROSTATE forms of those who fell.
and when the rush was over IS lay
dead on the first floor and stairs of
the building. Death in nearly every
case was due to suffocation or tramp
ling.
Following is list of the identified
dead: Sarah Ruling, Mrs. Lawrence. |
Mrs. Patton. Ruth Framer, John Ber-
ry, Anna Alexander, aged 40; Mamie |
Mckinney Susie Holmes, Mrs. Mary
Weblock, Charles Gardiner, aged IA;
Mamie Mccall. Ambrose Slaughter. 8
years old; Cathrine Sewell, Ruth |
Trainor
The disaster occurred while a col
lection was being taken up. The pas
tor had just concluded his sermon.
the text of which was, "Why sit we
here until we dep
Following the collection there was
to have been a baptism. Some of the
colored people had left the church and
the others were about to go. AS the
pastor was arranging the pulpit pre-
paratory to beginning the baptismal
service woman in one of the front
rows gave loud Shrek of Fire" In
stantly all those about her were on
their feet looking for the blaze. There
were no flames in sight, but those
near the pulpit smelled smoke. and
started down the aisle toward the pull
pit. Then followed half dozen cries
OF fire" and the whole congregation
became panic stricken. The pastor by
this time realized the seriousness of
the situation and, in loud voice
which only added to the confusion. ,
called to the terror stricken people to
be seated. No one listened, and de-
spite his frantic appeals a rush start
ed that meant death to many who
were in it.
AT the rear of the church, on the
second floor, there is a wide doorway Z
which leads to a stairway to the east '
size of the building. Each stairway {
has a sharp bend. which proved to be q
he principal contributory cause for Z
he Jam. The front door on the first
1oor is wide and easy of exit.
When the rush started those in the
ear Of the church did not fully
'ealize what was wrong. and were +
'low to move. The frantic shriekine
II the women and children became
ouder and more general. and manv .
we're Knocked down in the two aisles
II the church. Then came the ter :,
ible rush down the stairs. For some =
Unknown reason every body tried to .;
et down the left side of the building. q
comparatively few attempting to leave
y the right stairway.
The horrible shrieks sent I'D bv the
rostrate persons added to the con-
lsion. and by this time even the cool "
ones in the rear Of the fighting G.
lass, men, women and children. be- di
anne terror stricken. Strong men. in al
ear that the building was falling.
'aped over the heads of women and ri
and fought only for their TO
wn safety. The terrific crush in the tn
ends of the stairs became so great
lat the ballustrade, which was only
frail wooden affair gave way. There
as terrific crash as half a hundred
ersons were precipitated to the floor 20
distance of 10 or IL feet. This pa
sightened the intensity of the panic a..
Id the rush became an awful jam. on
When those who came down the "
ont stairs had left the building. 'n'
rrible sight presented itself To the pr
scuers. The first floor and the
airway to the bend were covered
rec deep with the dead and diving
the street hundreds were Shrek. ar,
g for help and looking for their ~
lssing ones. The rescuers did not ole