Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1877 — A PANIC. [ARTICLE]

A PANIC.

Fatal Results of a False Alarm of Fire In u New York Ctty Chmrck—Six Per* soma Ctruaked to teeatk. ' New York, March 9. At the time of the alarm last evening, in St, Francis Xavier Church, which resulted bo disastrously, Father Langcake war preacblng on ‘i Hell and the Horrdrs of the -Downed,” and perfect .stillness prevailed, Suddenljyirs the preacher whs picturing the torments of purgatory, a young woman in' the northern coper of the west gallery, overcome by her feelings, fainted, and gave utterance to d hysterical scream, startling the worshipers, and causing them to spring to theit feet. The next moment some redness person cried “Fire!” and this gave rise to a panic. Fkther Langcake, who was nearing the end pf his. sermon, stopped and implored peopje to .keep their seats, as there was absolutely Do cause for alarm. Fath dr Merrick, the pastor, heard screams, aud rushed into the sanctuary. He called upon the congregation to.keep theit seats, as there was ho: tire, no cause for .alarm. The sexton also endeavored to. stop the panic. These efforts were 'partially successful Father Langcake then retired to the vestry-room, and in a few moments returned attired in his cope, And uttered the. benediction, diamissing the congregation, and the organ began tq_playj , ‘ ♦ f The in the main bodvof the church • and in the east gailfcry parsed out in an orderly manner, and QOt a bipgls person ia the portions of the church last named, was in*i The people occupying that portion pf tfre gallery where the commotion ha<f begun and centered, listened to neither priestjmstor. sexton, benediction nor organ. They rushed toward the exit, from the gallery, and, almost crazed with and fought their way into the narrow stairway Ip a drug to Sixteenth street. The stairway is bu' four feet wide, and within three or four steps of the bottom* makes a sharp tarn before it reaches,the vestibule. The crowd of maddened women rushed down-stairs, and would probably have all reached the street in safety, but .at the ,bend in the stairway an aged and very stout .woman, in her eagerness to reach a place of safety, fell headlong down the stairs. .Before she: i could regain her feet, the frantic ■ crated, pressed on toward the vestibule, dame upon the prostrate form, and those hi the foremost rauks fell upon her, J!n a mo-, meat th6‘* passage-way* was choked, and a scene of the. wildest confusion asdic tense excitement ensued. The crowd iu the rear pressed on vflth almost irresistible force, and nothing could be done to stop their advanete. 'Sue crazed women fought their way c « t So t '-tess's'' l s, p a crushing the life outof.thorn. They screamed and fought like maniacs, aud every effort to hold them back so that the stairway could be cleared was of nef avail. " '*

Father Whyte Md several other priests, who were in the church parlor* at the time the panic occurred, rushed round to the front of the church, and, assisted by patrolmen, by main force (fragged out some of the women who;:were lying on the stiirt. A number of womeu were then got out alive 5® fife « clothing. As the priests and police, aided by a lumber ( of citizens, made. their yay up the snurcastf, they found lying on the steps fopr other women and a small boy. These were taken out to the open air, but life was extinct, Qua woman, Ann Forbes, was, brought out alive and apparently not much lUiumd. She Walked, with Ute assistance of A poUcemaa* to the drug store on Sixth W& n :rj'ZT£ir?:ir * k ' » Wer ?*J? 40 A gentleman stahdihg outside of the church informed Sergeant Douglas he saw a man in the vestibule; of door SSjWssA: s*sis“; %Mftg imminent danger of joeing their Uvea never go to acoun3£***kanjMiclergyman. fTlalto sewing accounts.” ..»l°?,T ll L aild ’, Bu ''” #aW 016 clergyman, j toSeS^ a i^.. j , Udgment