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| Shiloh Baptist Church, Birmingham. Alabama. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, September 20, 1902.
CRASH OF HUMANITY.
Awful Stampede In a Southern Colored Church.
NUMBERS KILLED AND INJURED.
Mr. Washington Had Concluded His Address to Large Gathering of Colored Baptists—Fight Occurred and Audience Thought There Was a Fire—Many Crushed and Suffocated.
Birmingham, Ala., Sept. 20.—In an awful crash of humanity, caused by a stampede in the Shiloh colored Baptist church at the corner of Avenue G and 18th street last night, 78 persons were killed and many more than that number seriously injured.
The disaster occurred at 9 o'clock, just as Booker T. Washington had concluded his address to the national convention of colored Baptists and for three hours the scenes around the church were indescribable. Dead bodies were strewn in every direction and the ambulance service of the city was utterly unable to care for them.
Dozens of dead bodies were arranged in rows on the ground outside the house of worship awaiting removal to the various undertaking establishments, while more than a score were laid out on the benches inside.
Shiloh church is the largest house of worship for negroes in Birmingham and there were at least 2,000 persons in the edifice when the stampede began. Instructions had been issued to allow no one else to enter after the building had been filled, but the negroes forced their way inside the church and were standing in every aisle, when a cry of "fight," "fight," was mistaken for the dreadful cry of "fire" and a wild rush to get out was made.
The entrance to the church was literally packed, and the negroes were trampled to death in their struggles to escape.
Fight Over a Seat.
Booker T. Washington had just concluded his address when Judge Billou, a negro lawyer from Baltimore, engaged in a dispute with the choir leader concerning an unoccupied seat. It is said a blow was struck. Some one in the choir cried "they're fighting." Mistaking the word "fighting" for "fire" the congregation rose en masse and started for the door.
One of the ministers quickly mounted the rostrum and admonished the people to keep quiet. He repeated the word "quiet" several times and motioned to his hearers to be seated. The excited congregation mistook the word "quiet" for a second alarm of fire and renewed their frantic efforts. Men and women struggled over benches and fought their way into the aisles. Those who fell were trampled upon like cattle.
The ministers used their utmost endeavor to stop the stampede, but no power on earth could stay the struggling, fighting mass.
The screams of the women and children added to the horror of the scene. Through mere fright many persons fainted and as they fell to the floor were crushed to death.
The floor of the church is about 15 feet from the ground and long steps lead to the sidewalk from the lobby just outside the main auditorium. Brick walls extend on each side of these steps for six or seven feet and this proved a veritable death trap.
Negroes who had reached the top of the steps were thrown forward. Others fell upon them and in a moment human beings were piled upon each other to the height of 10 feet, where they struggled wildly to extricate themselves.
This wall blocked the entrance and the weight of 1,500 persons in the body of the church was pushed against it. More than 20 persons lying on the steps underneath the heap of bodies died from suffocation.
Two white men who were in the rear of the church when the stampede began escaped and realizing the seriousness of the situation, rushed to a corner nearby and turned in a fire alarm. The fire department answered quickly and the arrival of the wagons served to scatter the crowd which had gathered about the church.
A squad of police hastened to the church and with the firemen finally succeeded in releasing the negroes that were crushed together in the entrance.
The dead bodies were quickly moved and the crowd inside finding an outlet poured out. Scores of them lost their footing in their haste and rolled down the long steps to the pavement, suffering broken limbs and internal injuries. In an hour the church had been practically cleared.
Dead Bodies of Men and Women.
The sight which greeted those who had come to aid the injured was sickening. Down the aisles and along the outside of the pews dead bodies of men and women were strewn and the maimed and crippled uttered heart rending cries. The work of removing the bodies was begun at once. The wails of the relatives of the dead who had waited on the outside could be heard for blocks.
Shiloh church, in which the convention was held, is located just on the edge of the South Highlands, the fashionable residence section of this city and all the physicians living in that part of the town went to the aid of the injured.
As many of the suffering negroes as could be moved by the ambulances were taken to hospitals and the others were laid out on the ground, and there the physicians attended them. At least 15 of those brought out injured died before they could be moved from the ground.
During the stampede Booker T. Washington and several other prominent negroes were on the stage and were forced to witness the frightful catastrophe. None of those in the choir or in the pulpit was injured.
For a few minutes they attempted to restore order but seeing their efforts were futile waited until the struggling crowd had advanced far enough for them to pick up the dead and injured.
Most of the dead are women and the physicians say in many cases they fainted and died from suffocation.
A remarkable feature of the calamity is that little or no blood was seen on any of the victims. They were either crushed or died from suffocation.
NOTICE TO BELLIGERENTS.
Commander McLean Informs Them He Will Allow No Obstruction.
Washington, Sept. 20.—Secretary of the Navy Moody has made public the following cablegram from Commander McLean of the Cincinnati, the officer in command of the United States naval forces on the isthmus.
"Have sent following communication to both parties: I have to inform you that the United States naval forces are guarding the railway trains and line of transit across the isthmus of Panama from sea to sea; that no person whatever will be allowed to obstruct, embarrass or interfere in any manner with the trains or the route of transit. This is without prejudice or any desire to interfere in domestic contentions of the Colombians."
It was admitted by a high official of the navy department that this government is seriously considering a further reinforcement of the United States naval force on the [Panama] isthmus, and that it is not at all unlikely that an additional force to operate along the line of railroad will be ordered to the scene in a few days.
COAL FROM WALES
To be Imported to Heat the Public Schools of Yonkers, N. Y.
Yonkers. Sept. 20.—The board of education of this city, through its president, Charles Philip Easton, a New York lawyer, has decided to import enough coal from Wales to heat the schools in the winter. The local coal dealers refused to put in bids for supplying the schools. It is said that there is not enough coal in the city to heat the schools one month.
PAGE FOUR—BRIEF EDITORIALS.
A Remarkable Growth.
The Corning Democrat celebrates its third anniversary under its present management by taking to itself a new name—which it has fairly earned—The Evening Leader. It also publishes a statement of its circulation growth during three years from 225 to 4,369 copies—a record which we doubt whether any other newspaper in the United States in a place of the size of Corning can equal. It goes without saying that a paper which has made such a record is live, pushing, up-to-date and able. Messrs. Underhill & Co. are to be congratulated on the handsome and prosperous appearance of their paper and on its phenomenal success.
One of the interesting things about the latest flutter in Europe over the Monroe doctrine is the certainty of every European government [news] organ that the doctrine is aimed at some other European government.
Harford Mills, N. Y.
Harford Mills, Sept. 8.—The death of Freeman Foster, which occurred Sept. 1, deserves more than a passing notice, being one of the oldest inhabitants in this [Cortland County] vicinity. He was born in the town of Douglas, Worcester Co., Mass., 1820, and came to this town when a lad of 9 years. In 1874 he moved to West Pike, Potter Co., Pa., living there until the death of his wife which occurred in 1898. He brought her remains back to rest in our pleasant valley, and has since resided at his old home with his daughter, Mrs. H. C. Vincent.
Up to his last sickness his mind was clear, vigorous, and retentive as in early manhood. His accurate and detailed accounts of the early settlement of this and adjacent towns were most interesting and edifying. It was conceded by all intimately acquainted with him that when he passed away, no common intelligence had gone out from among us. From early childhood he had been a keen observer, a great reader, and was well informed regarding all questions of the present time. Last spring he did grafting and pruning in his old orchard, walked 2 and 3 miles fishing all day, returning at night.
Most of his life was passed in hunting and fishing but while roaming through the forest in early life be had acquired a thorough knowledge of boundary lines, location of lots, and was consulted by persons living both far and near, and was able to settle many disputed questions satisfactorily as his early knowledge of them made him an authority regarding such matter. He was always fond of hunting and during his life killed no less than 200 deer, besides bears and other game. It was said there was no truer marksman to his aim than he and after sighting his game it seldom escaped being shot, or run down and captured in some way.
When a lad of 12, ere his parents deemed him old enough to carry a gun, on his way to school saw a deer, and followed it long and in such close pursuit, it took to an old mill pond, plunged in to escape his pursuer, but he was determined to have the deer and following out over the water on a fallen tree, plunged in after him, caught him by the horns, and while the deer was jumping, plunging and striking out at him with feet and horns, he cut his throat with a jackknife and brought him to the shore. When he returned home for help to carry his venison home his parents could hardly credit his story but it proved true as the neighbors were able to testify: h was a fine fat fellow and he shared it with them as was always his custom in after life with his game [sic].
The 200th deer which he killed was a beauty, he had the head mounted and now hangs on the wall in his late home. His friends have some fine oil paintings which represent him out on a still hunt in his unique dress that the deer might not be able to discern him from the snow. They are said to be excellent.
It is thought by the masses that men given to hunting much seldom acquire property. He provided for a large family and at his death left to each of his three surviving children a good home beside remembering thirteen of his grandchildren with gifts, from $20 up to $200. By some he was deemed harsh in words but kind in deeds, even to his worst enemies. He did not favor churches—he regarded them as the golden calf, which the children of Israel made in Moses' absence, for which he severely rebuked them. He believed it a sin to take money for erecting costly churches when there were poor people suffering for the necessities of life right in sight "of the golden image." But his purse was ever open to the needy; he believed giving to the poor enriched the soul, and opened the gates of heaven, for Christ said, ''As much as ye do it unto the least of these,'' etc.
I will mention only one of the many kind, generous acts which he performed toward the needy. A Cuban came to the states to escape being forced into the military service. He married a wife in Owego. A few years later he wished to return to Cuba, his friends fearing if they sent him the money he might use it for some other purpose, paid their passage on a steamer running from New York to Havana. When he reached New York found the steamer had gone. He was taken sick and had just money enough to bring him back to Harford where his father-in-law resided, but the father having recently married a second wife through her influence did not give them a hearty welcome. He related his trouble to Mr. Foster, who opened his door to the family of four, kept them six weeks until news reached him from Cuba. His parents again paid his passage on a steamer but he having been sick during the time had not the means to take him to New York. Mr. Foster gave him the money to take them there, the man promising to send it to him when he reached home, but he forgot it when he reached Cuba.
Mr. Foster never gave or signed a note during his life. His acquaintances said of him if you have his word it is sufficient, and so it ever proved. He believed in God, the good in all things was a spark of the eternal. He believed those that kept their life in harmony with the nature's laws, their souls were in touch with God, and they had naught to fear, so pressed bravely forward to meet the mysteries of death, believing the same good power would care for him in the next link of existence that had cared for him here.
A FAITHFUL CLERK.
J. J. Taggert Fatally Injured in Discharge of Duty.
FORMER RESIDENT OF CORTLAND.
Carrying Carpet from Third Floor of Boston Store in Binghamton Before Elevators Were Running or Other Clerks Had Arrived, Fell Over Railing Down Two Flights of Stairs—Can Live but a Short Time.
Many Cortland friends of Mr. John J. Taggert, for many years a highly respected and esteemed resident of this place, will read with profound sorrow the following account of the fatal accident that has befallen him as told in the Binghamton Republican of this morning:
Before the other clerks in the big white Boston store were astir yesterday morning John J. Taggert, 74 years old--"Uncle John," as the clerks call him—was on hand, and hard at work. The day before he had sold an order of carpet that he had promised should be delivered yesterday morning. Fearful that it might be overlooked, he arose early and, after his usual custom, proceeded to attend to it himself.
This was Uncle John's way. In the Boston store he found employment and a haven at good wages, and his eagerness to prove his worth and repay the kindness was pathetic. The other clerks found time to look out of the window, but Uncle John had no time for anything but work.
When he arrived at the store yesterday the elevator was not yet running. The goods were on the third floor. Great, heavy bundles they were to carry down three flights, even for a strong man, but they must be brought down at once if they were to catch the first wagons out. Without hesitation John set to work. First he attacked the rolls of heavy paper used to lay under carpets. Two of these rolls he had carried down the stairs, and when he started to make the long climb for the third time he was apparently very tired. An early rising clerk noticed that he dragged his feet wearily.
"Better let me help you, Uncle John," he said. "That's pretty hard work for you."
Uncle John straightened up and tried to look real brisk and spry. "I guess I ain't too old yet for work," he said almost tartly. "I'm about as good as any man yet."
For the third time, shouldering a great, heavy roll of paper Uncle John started down the stairs. Half way down the first flight he was seen to pause, uncertainly. Then he tottered. Two o r three clerks nearby screamed, to see him go over the railing headlong. He struck on his side the railing around the second floor stairway, from there falling off to the stair railing on the first floor. Here he bounded off on the stairs and lay still.
By this time most of the clerks had arrived, and they surrounded him at once. Somebody sent for the ambulance, and when it came they carried him to it gently.
When the City hospital was reached Uncle John was still conscious and could speak. When they carried him in he said: "A year ago my wife was brought here with a broken hip. She was put in this same corner and ten days later she was carried out in a coffin."
Dr. F. W. Sears made an examination and said that Uncle John could not live. The pelvic bone had been fractured, he said, and there are probably internal injuries.
Last night it was said at the hospital that the injured man was resting quite comfortably.
Not long after the old man had been hurt a supreme court judgment for nearly $5,000 in his favor was filed at the county clerk's office. The defendant is Eli S. Meeker and the judgment was secured on a promissory note for $3,000 given by him to Erastus Ross on Dec.10, 1894. The note was sold to O. U. Kellogg, receiver of the National Broome county bank, to the plaintiff, whose attorneys were T. B. and L. M. Merchant. The case was settled by agreement, for $4,464.23.
It is feared that the money will never do Uncle John any good, and he has no near relatives.
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| Peck Bros. Farmers Exchange, former armory building and roller skating rink, located on South Main St., Cortland, N. Y. |
SETTLE THE ACCOUNTS
As Peck Brothers Have Sold Their Business.
All persons owing accounts or past due notes to Peck Brothers are requested to settle the same within thirty days from date as the firm has sold its horse furnishing and wagon business to F. H. Maricle. Call at the office at the armory, South Main-st.
Peck Brothers, Cortland, Sept. 15, 1902.
DEATH OF MR. PATRICK
Father of County Clerk O. D. Patrick Passes Away.
Mr. Dewitt M. Patrick, father of County Clerk O. D. Patrick, passed away at his home in Truxton at an early hour last evening. Mr. Patrick had been in failing health for several months and the end was not unexpected. His age was 74 years. The funeral will be held at the house on Monday at 2 o'clock with burial at Truxton. The deceased is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Lettie Stevens of Truxton, and one son, Mr. O. D. Patrick of Cortland,. A more extended notice will appear later.
Mrs. Dana Metzgar.
Mrs. Dana Metzgar died at her home in Virgil at an early hour this morning after an illness of several weeks. Her age was 42 years. Mrs. Metzgar was born in Moravia, and has spent the most of her life in Groton, Cortland, and for the past year or so in Virgil. She is survived by her husband and four children, Raymond D. of Fargo, N. D.; Harold M., Whitney L. and Miss Thelma of Virgil; also by two brothers and three sisters: Lewis R. Whitney of Parkersburg, West Va., Henry M. Whitney of Cortland, Mrs. E. G. Bell of Washington, D. C., Mrs. E. S. Burrows of New York and Miss Emma Whitney of Union Springs.
The funeral will be at the house in Virgil Monday at 2 p. m.
FOUND DEAD IN BED.
Had Pneumonia but Worked Every Day in Spite of it.
Adam Kiehl, a young Preble farmer who worked the Horace Hiscock farm on shares, was found dead in bed this morning. Coroner E. M. Santee was summoned and decided that he died from pneumonia and that no inquest was necessary. It was found that he must have died about 1 o'clock. He was found by his sister, who kept house for him.
Kiehl had been ill for a week, but had not been attended by a physician. He had been able to work a little each day and had men engaged for today to fill his silo.
The Hiscock farm where he died is about one mile south of Preble village. Kiehl was unmarried and 22 years of age.
Dr. Santee Takes Prizes.
Dr. E. M. Santee is making a clean sweep on the butter premiums this year. He took first premium at the Dryden fair on a 10-pound package, which makes the third first premium received this year.
In his poultry exhibit at Dryden he also took first premium on Brown Leghorn pen of chicks, first on pullet, second on cockerel, second on cockbird, second on pen of White Leghorn chicks and first on Pouter pigeons.
BREVITIES.
—The Lackawanna [railroad] station has been provided with a matron. Her name is Mary Brown.
—The [Cortland] Normal football team is in Syracuse today playing the Syracuse university team.
—The Lehigh Valley R. R. is to put a news stand into its passenger station at East Ithaca.
—Mrs. C. Fred Thompson entertained yesterday afternoon a number of ladies at a thimble bee.
—It is stated that the Lehigh Valley R. R. carried an average of 2,000 people to Dryden each day of the fair this year.
—About fifteen Cortland people went to Little York lake last night by carryall and enjoyed a corn roast at the Isabell cottage.
—Michael Frawley was given a suspended sentence in city court this morning after pleading guilty to the charge of public intoxication.
—Three young women are going to take the course in civil engineering at Cornell this year, being the first women to take that course of instruction.
—New display advertisements today are—Baker & Angell, School shoes, page 6; G. H. Ames, Patrician shoes, etc., page 7; Baker & Angell, Sorosis shoes, page 7.
—The total receipts from admissions to the Dryden fair this year were about $3,000 which exceed the receipts of 1899, the greatest previous year, by about $100.
—The new Centenary M. E. church of Elmira, of which Rev. D. D. Campbell, D. D., formerly of Cortland, is the pastor, will be dedicated tomorrow.
—Miss Fanny Crosby, the celebrated blind hymn writer who is generally known here by reason of two visits to this city in the past two years, as well as by general reputation, will speak at the Congregational church Sunday evening. A collection will be taken for her benefit.
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