PANIC AT THE AGRICULTURAL HALL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2003, 5 June 1875, Page 2

PANIC AT THE AGRICULTURAL HALL.

A crush occurred on Thursday nighi, March 18, at the Agricultural ; Hall, which might hare resulted in very serious, if not; fatal,, consequences. The hall was nearly full, there being about 19,000 people .present. Mr Moody preached from the words, " The Gospel." At the close of his address he announced that, in addition to the usual inquiry, meetings held in a large room at the end of one of the galleries, to which only inquirers would be admitted, there would % ' be an open prayer meeting in St. Mary's Hall, to which any who chose to go would be welcome. As soon as the sertice was over there was a great rush to ; , St. Mary's Hall. The people came crowd- ~ * ing down from the galleries. into the outer lobbies faster than the people from the body could make their txiil The proper doors, by which thousands .in front might hare got to St. Mary's Hall, or out of the front entrance, were shut against all but ''inquirers only." The thousands in the front and the middle of the hall had to make their way to the back, and thus from parts of the building thousands of persons met thousands, of others. Comparatively few knew which way to take for St. Mary's Hall, and .for., some few minutes, as the crowds met; each other, from various directions, they surged round'and round like a-whirlpool. The crushing ;and screamings for-a few 'moments were" frightful. Fortunately, many who had intended to try and get to St. Mary's Hall gave up the attempt.,. There was a general cry raised of "Don't . attempt it, get into the itreet." Several roughs, seeing the threatened "collision, endeavoured to profit by, it, but the majority of the crowd took the hint, and made for the various places of exit. Many persons were severely crushed.