The Washington herald., 1908-02-03

While in the midst Of a prayer for the
President OF the United States and other
aigh officers Of the government Rev. Or.
Frank NJ Bristol, pastor Of the Metro
politan NJ. E. Church. was struck down
in his pulpit yesterday morning by a
mass Of plaster which fell sixty feet from
the ceiling.
In falling the plaster glanced against
ae keystone in the arch above the pulpit
and broke into fragments One of the
fragments struck the pastor Just above
the right temple. inflicting severe scalp
wound and rendering him unconscious.
AS the white mass OF plaster sped
downward and scattered about the pros
rate form Of the pastor, the eongrega-
,iton rose in q body and rushed forward
20 the pulpit. Women and men uttered
.7ies as they saw Mr.. Bristol sink TO the
-ostrum. 1t was a scene unparalleled in
he memory Of Washington churchgoers.
InsensibIe and bleeding.
On the carpet beside the pulpit lay the
Minister unconscious and bleeding from
is wound. Grouped around him, with
alanched, strained faces, stood the de-
-oted members Of his flock, To many 1t
appeared that their spiritual leader had
been killed by the blow. Kneeling at his
side, DR.. NJ. N. Mofitt administered to
The wounded pastor Slowly ne regaiRed
consciousness. As he opened his eyes
several Of the women burst into tears Of
eief.
Dismiss the congregation" DR.. Bris-
col murmured TO those nearest him.
Several men raised the injured pastor
and carried him 70 the vestry room be-
iow. The congregation remained stand
lng III the church. Led by Rev. DIT. Ames,
"a visiting minister Of the same denomi-
nation. prayers were offered for the
speedy recovery OF the injured pastor
Word came from the vestry room that
Dr Bristol was not dangerously hurt. and
hat his recovery was practically certain
Thereupon the congregation, after offer
ing prayer Of thankfulness, dispersed.
The Injured pastor was taken 20 his
residence, $50 G street northwest, and
given medical attention. II was said late
.ast night he was resting comfortably.
Has a Narrow Escape.
Dr. Bristol escaped fatal injury By the
narrowest Of margins. The shattering
Of the mass Of plaster against the key
stone averted a probable fatality. This
keystone was brought from the Temple
r Solomon, in the Holy Land. and placed
in the church shortly after the civil war.
The fragment that struck Or. Bristol was
large enough 10 have inflicted a fatal
injury. but the blow he received was a
slanciag one. Had he been struck on top
of the head his physician said yesterday,
he would have been killed instantly.
The accident occurred while DR. Bristol
was offering the opening prayer Of the
morning service. the prayer for the Presi-
dent Vice President, and other officers Of
the government lie had just reached
that portion of the prayer referring 20
The justices OF the Supreme Court when
his congregation saw something drop from
the dimly-Hghted rafters Of the church
and strike the pastor full on the fore
head. He fell TO the floor the plaster
gathering about him and upon those in
the front pews-
rcsette, weighing about twenty pounds
lt had been partially broken of a year
so while a workman was repairing the
church. II was thought safe TO leave the
remaindsr Of the rOsette in place. II is
believed the accident was caused by the
fleet Of the heavy winds Of the past few
days, which must have shaken the roof
of the church and loosened the plaster.
Popular Pastor.
Or. Bristol is one of the best known
pastors Of the city. The late President
Mckinley was a member of his congre-
cation for several years. DR.. Bristol had
been absent from the services Of his
church for the last two Sundays owing
20 the death Of his mother. An unusual
ly large congregation gathered to hear his
first sermon since his return.
Among those members of the congrega-
ZION who rushed to the aid Of the pastor
we're. Judge Thomas II. Anderson, OF
the Supreme Court OF the District Of Co
lumbia; DIT. c. ". Gallagher, president
Of the Rust Home; Capt, c. NJ. Forrest,
Z. s A, retired, and Clarence F. Nor
ment, president Of the Central National
Bank.