The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-22
FIRE PANIC
IN A CHURCH
Continned from page FIve.


Patton, John Berry. Mamie McKenney
Mrs Mary wedi.ck, Mamie Mccall. Cath
crime Sewell. Mrs Lawrence, Ruth Fra
mer. Anna Alexander. Susie Holmes
Charles Gardner Aboz Slaughter, Ruth
Trainer.
A SHREK OF FIRE.
The hre was "A trihing one. and was ex-
tinguished before the fremen arrived. The
smell OF smoke added TO the panic and
despite the heroic work of Rev. Il. w.
Johnson. the pastor OF the church, who
tried I'm vain 10 alay the fears OF the
frightened worshippers. the terror-strick-
en- people made desperate rush to leave
the church only 70 be choked up on the
narrow stairway.
Those in the rear leaped oven the pros
trate forms OF those who fell, and when
the rush was over Is lay dead on the
first floor OF the stairs OF the building
Death I'm nearly every case was due 10
suffocation or trampling.
The disaster occurred while a collection
was being taken up. The pastor had just
concluded his sermon, the text OF which
was why Sit We Here Until We Die?'
Following the collection there was 10 be
a baptism of a man and wife Some OF the
colored people. owing To the lateness Of
the evening had left the church and 9TH
ers were about 70 go.
AS the pastor was arranging the pulpit
preparatory 10 beginning the baptismal
service, a woman i'm one OF the front
rows OF the left side OF the altar gave
loud Shrek OF FIRE"
TERRIBLE SCENE ON STAIRS
Instantly all those about her were on
their feet looking for the blaze There
were no flames I'm sight, hut those near
the pulpit smelcd smoke and started
down the aisle toward the pulpit
Then followed a haif-dozen cries Of
Fire" and the whole congregation be
came panic-stricken.
The pastor by this time realized the
seriousness Of the situation. and in
loud voice. which only added 10 the con
fusion, called TO the terror stricken peO-
pie 10 be seated
No one listened, and despite his fran
tic appeal a rush started that meant
death 10 many that were in il.
At the rear OF the church on the sec
ond floor there is a wide doorway which
| leads TO a stairway 20 each side OF the
building. Each stirway has a sharp bend
which proved 10 be the principal contribu-
tory cause for the jam The front door
on the first floor Is wide and easy OF
exit.
When the rush started those IN the
|
what was wrong and were slow to move.
The frantic shreking OF the women aud
children became louder and more general
and many were knocked down i'm the two
aisles 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 at
tempting 10 leave by the right stairway
One eye witness says that perhaps a
dozen persons got safely down the stairs
when several people tripped and fell, and
| caused the narrow way TO become
| jammed.
BALUSTRADE GAVE WAY.
Several men on the first floor attempted
| 20 hold the people back, but were knock
| ed down, and then the human stream
! came tumbling down. The weaker ones
! fell only to be trampled upon and crushed
| by those coming from behind.
The horrible shrieks sent up by the
| PROSTATE persons added to the confusion,
and by this time even the cooler ones
in the rear Of the fighting mass OF men,
| women and children became terror-strick-
! en-.
! Strong men, in fear that the building
was falling leaped over the heads OF wo-
men and children and fought only for
| their own safety.
The terrific crush I'm the bend OF the
stairs became so great that the balus-
trade a frail wooden affair. gave way.
! There was "A terrible crash as half hun
dred persons were precipitated to the
| floor. a distance OF about 10 or ~ feet
! The pastor OF the church. a man OF
powerful physique and strong voice. con-
| tinued to appeal 10 the crowd I'm the rear
10 stop their rush. but none would heed
over the PROSTATE forms the crowd
went. crushing the life out of those who
were unable 20 extricate themselves
In the confusion some OF the worship
| pers thought OF the narrow door on the
! right side Of the pulpit, and made a
quick exit that way. which action on
their part probably saved the lives OF a
number Of those who had been caught In
the rush.
MANY WERE SUFFOC ATED.
When those who came down the front
| stairs had left the building terrible
sight presented itself TO the rescuers
The first floor and the stairway to the
! bend were covered three deep with the
dead and dying. on the street hundreds
were shrieking for help and looking for
! their missing loved ones.
The rescuers did not know which way
10 turn first, bat Police Captain Ham
and policeman who arrived on the scene
| Just as the last of the panic stricken peo-
pie were rushing from the ed.fice took
| charge and turn In general alarm for
am9ulances, policemen and firemen.
With the help OF scores OF colored men
| and white people who were attracted 20
| the scene the dead and injured were eX-
| tricated from the terrible mass OF human
fly and laid on the sidewalks OF Eighth
| street
| The ringing OF the fire bells, the clang
| OF the ambulance Rongs. the almost total
darkness and the thick fog added to the
! confusion for a time. order was soon
| brought about. however.
T.. W Johnson, the pastor OF the church,
| I'm statement, said;
II tried my best TO calm the people,
| but 70 was no use, terror had seized
them. and they rushed 10 their death. The
| memory of that terrible crush and tho
| death Of my beloved people VIII never be
! effaced from my memory
Tile scenes at the hospitals were pa
| thetic In the extreme. 4 great crowd
OF colored people gathered at the doors
| OF each institution,
| An examination of the dead showed
/ that most OF them had been suffoca AZ "a