THE CATASTROPHE AT LIVER POOL.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 656, 2 April 1870, Page 3

THE CATASTROPHE AT LIVER POOL.

- [prom the times, jan. 25.] fe ; Full details" of the frightful accident at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Josej h, Liverpool, are published in the Liverpool morning papers. The church is situat d in one of tho poorest and most densely populated districts of Liverpool ; and, although it is only capable of holding some 2500 of a congregation, there are no fewer than 14,000 Roman Catholics — principally Irish— in the neighborhood. A mission is held at the church every three years by tho Passionist Fathers, principally for tho purpose of attractir g to the services those Roman Cathol C 3 who are not habitual attendants a worship. Owing to the crowds that attended on Sunday evening — there were upwards of 3000 present — it was found necessary to hold a supplementary service in a school-room underneath th 3 church. An introductory lecture was being delivered by the Rev. Father Raphael in the church, and a sitni'ar address was being given by the : Rev Father Dominick in the school-room. In order to give our readers some, idea of the dreadful occurrence we have to record, it may be stated that to the school-room j under the church there is only one entrance from tho street, and ingress to the church is also obtained through the same door. There are also three, other entrances to the church in different portions of the building. It appears that about half-pa«t seven o'clock a drunken man went into the school-room and listened some time to the discourse that was being given. Shortly before the reverend preacher had brought his remarks to a conclusion this man, in a loud and insulting tone of voice, said, "I have been listening to you long enough," and he was about making further observations when a cry was raised of "Tjurn

him out I " Several of the congregation who were . near the fellow expostulated with him, and asked him to desist, but he been tno very excited, flung his arni3 about wildly, und dared any one to place a band upon bin). Theories of "Turn him out" became louder, accompanied by stamping of ftt-i, and some of the congregation went fowai ds him for the purpose of ejeci.in!» him. A siena of confusion eusued, and it being evid*. n that a row was about to occur, some of those in the school-room tried to get out. The noiso caused by the stamping of the feet reached the church, and the service was momentarily suspended. It is stated that ni this time a man in the street shouted out "Fire," and was also seen to hold a

lighted, lantern towards one of the widows of the church. This created a fearful panic. Tiie church was crowded io its uti)O3t capaoily— the galleries and aisles being literally crammed — and the utmost consternation prevailed. Many of thbsa assembled in the school-room swashed the windows and tried by that means to get into the street, but this only increased the general alarm. Those in the body of the church near the entrance door of the school-room made a simultaneous rush from the building, and, on getting to the steps leading to Grosvenor street, came into contact with the crowd pouring up the steps leading from the school-room. We understand that several pei sous threw themselves from the galleries into the body of the church, but the majority of those seated in tho galleries kept their places, thereby lesseuing the terrible consequences that followed. As it was, the collision between the crowds coming from the church and the schoolroom proved to be most frightful, for no fewer than 15 persons were trampled to death. Notwithstanding this terrible result, it appears that a large proportion of the congregation in both pi ices kept their seats, and the services were pro ceeded with. Had the whole assembly taken the nanic, and risen en masse, the results might have been still morefrightful. The panic outside was as great as that within the church. The street was presently crammed with people, and their piesence rather retarded than assisted the rescue of the wounded. The news of the catastrophe was immediately sent to Rosehill Bridewell and the Central Policestation, and as the polico were just assembling for duty at the former place there was a strong body in attendance. A large number were immediatelp sent to Grosvenor street. The fire brigade from Halt >n-garden was also quickly on the spot, but finding that the report which had reached them was untrue, and being ignorant of the fact that a number of people were killed and injured, they quickly returned to their respective stations. The police confined their attention to the rescue of those unfortunate beings who lay prostrate near the doorway, and having succeeded in getting the bodies extricated, spring carts were sent for, and they were convej'ed to Ross Hill Bridewell. Mr Rae, surgeon of the Bridewell, and the medical staff of' the East Dispensary, were promptly in attendance, and in a few minutes announced that fifteen of tlie unfortunate beings had ceased to live. Five injured persona were taken to the Northern Hospital, and a few more slightly hurt. Of the killed, eight were women and seven men. Of the latter several were strong middle-aged men. Two bodies were identified at the policestation — a woman and a boy ; and the other thirteen were taken to the Prince's Dock dead-house, and never within the memory of the attendants has that place presented such a sight as it did at two o'clock on Monday morning. The immense slab on which the dead are deposited was more than filled, and additional provision had to be made. The sight was indeed a ghastly one. Fifteen bodies (thirteen from the church accident) were deposited, of all ages from thirteen to sixty. By the dress they were all wretchedly poor. Tho clothing in several cases had been quite torn from the body. One powerful man had evidently struggled frightfully, as his coat and trousers were torn to pieces. One poor woman's face was quite blaok, and she had apparently been thrown down and trampled upon. In most cases the features wore a calm expression, as though they had died from suffocation, rather" than from any severe bodily pain. One elderly woman, more respectably attired than the rest, was identified by her, son ; but hcr-hus-l>and afterwards arrived, and at first declared that ii; was not his- wife. A closer examination, however, convinced him of the sad fact. The Mayor and the Head Constable were upon the spot immediately after the acpident was known, and conducted the arrangements of the police. One theory of the alarm of fire ia that the candles borne by almost every one of the congregation caused such an unusual blaze of light in the building as to convey the impression to persons outside that . the edifice was in flame 3. In other quarters the burning incense is held accountable for the calamity.