TERRIBLE PANIC IN A CHURCH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 410, 25 February 1870, Page 4 (Supplement)

TERRIBLE PANIC IN A CHURCH.

A fearful catastrophe occurred on Sunday night in tho Roman Catholio Chapel of St. Joseph, Liverpool, resulting in the loss of fifteen lives. It appears that on the opening of the doors the chapel was orammed. About half-past seven, a drunken man, who had staggered into the place, shouted out, " I have listened to you long enough." This interruption was followed by cries of "Turr. him out." One or two persons rose for that purpose; tho servico was stopped, tho confusion grew worse, a crash of ftla3s was heard, followed by the cry of "Fire." The alarm rapidly extended, and a terrific rush took place, and fifteen people were trodden down on the stairs and landing, and were trampled to death. Many others have received serious injuries. The Rev. Father O'Donovan put forth the most strenuous efixris to stop the frightful panic. All tho fathers and priests in the chapel, about a dozen in number, exerted themselves to tho utmost to keep the people in their places, otherwise the loss of life must have been fearfully aggrava'ed. In a short period 16 or 17 poor creatures were taken into the street dead or dying, and as the bodies were brought out they wore taken to the police-station, and 15 -were pronounced dead. Most of thempresonteda perfectly pallid appearance, death resulting from suffocation. Others had died apparently from internal injuries, which, of course had left no outward marks of violence. The upper clothing of one man had been entirely torn off, and many were without shoes and stockings. One theory of the origin of the alarm is that tho candles borno by tho congregation caused such b'a-zo of light as to convey the impression outside that tho edifice was in flames. Five of the injured persons wore taken down to the Northern Hospital. The following is a list of those ■which havo been identified : —Catherine Leeming, 18 ; James Gallagher, .40 ; John Walsh, 2S; °John MTonald, 40; —— Furlong, a woman 55 ; Francis Rodgers, 38 ; Mary Owens, 45; Winifred Connor, J3 ; Mary Higgins, and Margaret Gordon.