PANIC IN LONDON CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1124, 19 July 1913, Page 4

PANIC IN LONDON CHURCH.

THREE LITTLE GIRLS IN FLAMES.

There were reraarkables scenes ot panic at the Roman Catholic Church of Notre Dame, Leicester Square, reme weeks age, consequent on the veil of a Utile girl catchine fire. She rushed scream- ■■ the gu’Cry ate jag other ch' h'c r, setting two others alight, and many of the congregation . i. -or - stricken f-..r the dour. It was Communion Day, a:.d at true o'clock an unusually large congregation, mostly composed of Freeh people, assembled in the beautiful church. High Mass was just being concluded lr the singing of the Gloria, and as ; he priest —Father Murphy--was about to say the word “Amen,” a little girl, dressed entirely iu white, and wearing the customary long veil, which covers the head and the shoulders, rushed shrieking into the gallery, where other childien, who had also been taking Holy Commuuiou, were assembled. VEIL, CATCHES AUGHT. Fautoni Ida was her name ; she was the daughter of Italian patents, and her veil had caught alight at a little gas stove iu au ante-room where she had gone to wash her hands. She ran wildly across- the gallery, and two companions who tried to help her were soon themselves involved. Fortunately, help was at baud, and the two girls iu the gallery were soon out of dauger. Little Fautoni was now a mass ot flames, and shrieking wildly. Other girls rushed to her, undeterred by the fate of the two previous he'pers, but at length a lady —known as the Chief of the Children ot Mary--wilh great presence of miud suatched up a blue carpet, fluug it over the bead and body of the little sufferer, pushed her on to the floor, and lay on top of her, thus stifling the flames. A large portion of her white dress and the whole of her veil bad been burnt, and a quantity of her long and flowing hair was destroyed. TUMUET IN THE CHUKCH, Down below most of the worshippers were not in a position to see what was really happening iu the gallery. They saw flames, heard the shrieks, and were startled by the sudden commotion during the solemn ceremony. Ladies on the far side ol the ground floor saw the girl in flames, and, unaware as to the identity of Fautoni Ida, raised heartrending cries of “My little girl.” Others thought the church was on fire. Tumult reigned, with a babel of fearful cries. A wild rush was made for the open door leading to the street. Some of the worshippers fell, a number of the ladies fainted. In the street loud cries of “Fire” brought the police ou the sceue. They forced their way into the interior of the church. They took the little victim into a neighbouring chemist’s shop, and then iu a taxi-cab to the French Hospital in Shaftesbury aveuu;. Her condition is not serious. All this time the organist, Mr B. B. Barrett, was playing a solemn interlude, disregarding the uproar. As soon as he could the priest pronounced the words, “Domiutim Vobiscum.” The choir at once responded, and the congregation, still agitated, but not now iu fear, filed slowly back aud stayed until the celebration was over.