fe' fesasfej'a fes XHE TRUMPET BLAST. REV. R. !!• WALKER, JR. THE GREATEST CHURCH CATASTTRGPHE OF ITS KIND THAT EVER HAFFEZSDSD IN AimiCA.^> j* VOLUME n. >--'^n Class _^ 53 Book Goipghtl^^. COPyRIGHT DEPOSIT. THE TRUMPET BLAST. ROBERT HENRY WALKER, Jr. .j<.j* An Interview with Witnesses and the National Baptist Conven- tion After More than One Hundred Persons had Died in a Stampede Caused by a False Alarm of Fire During an Evening Session of the National Baptist Convention in Shiloh Baptist Church, Southeast Corner Nineteenth Street and Avenue G, Bir- mingham, Ala., September 19, J902. R. H. WALKER, JR., PUBLISHER, 1413 CORCORAN ST., N. W., WASHINGTON, D. C. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Two Copi»t R»celv9«i AUG 14 1903 Copyiight Entiy CUSS^ 0- XXc. No (;> L 3 4, 1 COPY B. ' 3iM 12 Copyright Protection Applied tor. Declica ted to my sister, MISS ELLA WALKER, praying that' she may grow into pure womanhood and prove to he a blessing to people in the service of God. And also dedicated in interest of the Gospel work to encourage and aid Rev. T. \V. Walker in hjs efforts to raise' thirteen thousand dollars to finish paying off the indebtedness of Shiloh Bap- tist Church in Birniing- hatvAAla. * ROBERT H. WALKER, Jk. Author. INTRODUCTION. This book is aiv eventful production which results from the writer's understanding: of the needs of the people under alarming circumstances, which show that more than one hundred human beings — women, men and children — died from being crushed in a crowded church edifice front door and smothered to death on the steps of the edifice whilst attempting to escape on account of mis- taking the word "fight" for "fire," thus, being killed as a result of a false alarm of fire. Robert H. Walker, Jr. (5) PREFACE. Brethren, Members of the Notional Baptist Convention of the United States of America, and Fellow Citizens: In honor to our God in whose all wise Providence we are spared to hve for His glory, and to work for His honor through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ ; and with respect for the dead who died in the midst of unfortunate circumstances over which no human pow- er had control, a deplorable helplessness and a distressful condition which were imposed upon us by the unavoidable disaster at Shiloh Baptist Church, at Birmingham, Alabama, Friday night, between nine and ten o'clock, September 19, 1902, and for a memorial of that horril)le visitation of death j«ust at a time when the Great Bap- tist Denomination was most favorably represented by the Negro race in its twenty-second annual National Baptist Convention ; and for the gratification of the wishes of the people and for sat- isfaction of public and private opinions which may in time vary in regards to the facts in evidence touching the cause and effect of that memorable catastrophe, I humbly submit this token of my respects to the lamented dead, my regards for the mourning fam- lies and sympathizing friends, my esteem for the National Baptist Convention ; my love for my fellowman and my adoration for God. lielieving that the kind hand of God will direct the course of our future duties and guide us in the way of all truth, that when we rest from our labors and our work follows us, our deeds may be made manifest in the just made perfect to the glory and honor of Him who gives and takes away, and against whose decree no man can hinder the dust from returning to dust and ashes to ashes. Yours for Christ and humanity, Robert Henry Walker, Jr., Pubhsher of "The Trumpet," Washington, D. C, U. S. 'A. (7) CONTENTS. Dedication 3 Robert H. Walker, Jr., Author 4 Introduction 5 Preface 7 Graphic description in part 9 Extract from Prof. Booker T. Washington's Address 12 Letter from Mr. Bunn, an Usher IS Miss Ora Bell Nolums Tells what She Saw 21 Picture of the City of Birmingham, Ala 22 Edifice of Shiloh Baptist Church 24 External Front View of Main Entrance 27 Interior View, Looking from Front Door to Pulpit 31 Interior View, Looking from Pulpit to Front Door 32 View Across the Outside Thirteen Steps 33 View of the National Baptist Convention, Posing for a Picture 3t Woman's Auxiliary to National Baptist Convention, Posing for a Picture 3r» Woman's Auxiliary to National Baptist Convention, Mrs. Layton, President 36 Cut of Mr. Swann, Contractor and Builder of Shiloh Edifice 37 Cut and Statement of Rev. T. W. Walker, Founder and Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala 38-39 Biography of Rev. T. W. Walker, as He Writes It 43 View and Statement of Fire Department 52-53 View and Statement of Police Department 54-55 View and Description of where the Dead were Laid for Identifi- cation 56-57 Fire Company No. 1, First at Scene 5S One of Birmingham's Chemical Towers 59 Rev. R. H. Walker, Jr., Visits Where the Dead Were Buried and Meditates over Their Graves 60 Rev. R. H. Walker, Jr., Visits the Graveyard and Writes Five Verses to the Dead 6 1 Names of ihe Dead titl Mrs. Annie Branford Survived the Death Pit 67 What the National Baptist Convention Thought of the Catastro- phe at Birmingham, Ala 69 (8) THE TRUMPET BLAST. GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION IN FART. GI.KANEn IN A GENERAL REVIEW OF THE SITUATION IN BIRMING- HAM FOLLOWING THE CATASTROPHE. Fellow-citizciis : Accept of my humble review which comes to your homes in this Httle book about the terrible catastrophe in which more than one hundred people lost their lives at Shiloh Baptist Church, in the city of Birmingham, Ala., Sept. 19, 1902. Tlie National Baotist Convention of representative Ne.s^ro Bap- tist preachers and deleo^ates from Baptist churches was convening its twentv-second annual assemblage in Shiloh Baptist Church edifice, according to its agreement of 1901 in Cincinnati. Ohio. Prof. Booker T. Washington, founder and President of Tuskegee, Normal and Industrial Institute, of Tuskegee, Alabama, was es- pecially invited to speak, and therefore accepted an appointment to be present to address the Convention on Fridav night, Septem- ber 19. The engagement w^as ofticially announced, and Prof. Bocker T. Washington, accordingly, was welcomed to Birmingham and at Shiloh Baptist Church by the Convention, in the m'idst of the warmest exnressions of gratitude and praise. Thousands of people who, proljably, would not have left their homes that night, were out at Shiloh Church. Hundreds to get a glimpse at the great man ; hundreds to hear what he had to say ; hundreds curiositv seekirp", and hundreds drawn by the natural trend of circumstances without anv particular motive. The edifice which has a seating capacity of three thousand, was quite full at least cue hour before the orator of the evening arrived. At the time of the arrival of the speaker, every seat was occu- pied, and all of the four aisles were almost congested in the rear with eager auditors, who crowded to the inner part of the church, [9 1 10 THE TRUMPET BLAST. bein,c: themselves ur^cd forward by a "greater multitude from the outside, who were anxious to g-et into the main auditorium. So intense was the heat which radiated from the congested mass of living human bodies, that many who had worked their way in- side the edifice had as easily sought their way out to the street and departed, while many were still trying to get out, and were com- plaining and begging their way through the squeezing crowd. At the same time thousands pressed forward to see and to hear. The restlc-ssness of the people in the entrance to the main audi- torium and therealx)uts. attracted the attention of the modera- tor on the pulpit who had already respectfully asked for less noise. The pastor, Rev. T. W. Walker, had already requested that no more people would be admitted to the edifice as a precaution against unavoidable damage which might result from an over- crowded house. In order to guard against all possible danger, police officers were stationed at the front door and in the gallery. Ushers were helpless and soon found that even officers of ih^t law were not equal to the emergency. The great massive gathering honored the speaker with all pos- sible tokens of respect, and manifested much evidence of pleas- ure and satisfaction at hearing him : but soon as he concluded, the standing throng at once began to seek its way out of the edifice; hence the gradual move of a great part of the congregation to- wards the front door, met by a strong force of a dissatisfied mul- titude still trying to get into the main auditorium, gave rise to many entreaties by' hundreds who were being mashed and who were fainting from suffocation in the vestibule and on the upper steps which led from the portico on top of the ground steps, w'hich were sixteen feet wide, and thirteen steps high to the outer entrance to the vestibule. The staircase leading to the gallery was also congested as a result of the congestion of the main entrance. Whilst this condition seemed but momentary, as the work of al- leviating the suffering was in rapid progress by successful repel- ling the outside force by means of warnings, entreaties, and voluntary announcements of the concluded address, a delegate, a lawyer from Baltimore, Md., pleased with having heard the honorable orator, rose from his chair a step behind the orator, anfl stenped forward to ccrsjratulate him. At the same time a la<''v member of the choir to which the chair belons^ed occupied the delep^ate's seat. Not knowing that he had been deprived of his seat, the delearate frorn Baltimore stepped back to be seated, but to his surprise was met by unpleasant re- marks from a male member of the choir. Before any degree of understanding could be reached, harsh words had developed to a resentful attitude. \'indictiveness THE TRUMPET BLAST. 11 prevailed, and with excitement drew alarmin_£^ cries from female eye-witnesses, who exclaimed the word "fight" with warning alarm. The sounds of the words were heard all over the audi- ence, but were misunderstood and thought to be the word "fire." Nervous people at once caught up the word "fire" and resound- ed it vehemently until, wild with excitement and crazed with nerv- ousness, many were silenced in the midst of a rushing stampede. The ^Moderator of the Convention entreated that there was no fire ! The choir, cool and unassuming, began to sing. The pastor. Rev. T. W. Walker, urged that there was no fire ; that all were asked to keep quiet. The stampede rose to a higher degree of pandemonium, the people who had been started out by the alarm thought each en- treaty was a warning to them to flee for their lives. They mis- took the word "quiet" for "fire," and "there is no fire" for "there is fire." Ushers jumped upon top of benches and yelled, "There is no fire, be seated," but they were not heeded to, and they them- selves were caught in the raging tumult, some escaping with in- jury, while others of them were killed. EXTRACTS FROM LU JOKER T. WASHIXGTOX'S AD- DRESS, DELIVERED TO THE BAPTIST ANNUAL XATIOXAL COXVENTIOX AT SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH. BIRMINGHAM, ALA., FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMUER I9, I9O2. 1 am i^lad to have a ])art in wclconiinj::^ this lar^e and influential tjatherino- to Alabama. I wish every citizen of the South could come into contact with you and learn somethino^ of the tremendous pro2:ress lieinq- made by our people. From your Statistical Secrc- tarv, Dr. S.W. P)acote, I have secured the followint^ figures, which mdicate something- of the progress of the Xegro Baptists of America, and these figures are to a large extent indicative of the progress of the whole race. I find that two million Xegro Baptists are represented by this organization; that you have 15,850 minis- ters, 16,000 churches, 543,000 children in Sunday schools; 40- ()00 Sunday school teachers, 515 associations, 10,208 church houses valued at $11,060,000; that your members own personal l^ropertv valued at $10,000,000, and that last vear you raised for all purposes in your churches, $2,129,000. This is a very flat- tering record. don't move about. The sooner we can grow to the point where all races in all sections of the country will recognize and agree to the fact that the Negro is a permanent part of American citizenship ; that he does not mean to move away to any foreign land, but expects to remain here, and bv i^atient toil and sacrifice, if need be, make himself in mind, in skill, in morality and religion a permanent and useful uart of the community in wliich he lives, the sooner this is recognized, the better it will l)e for all parties concerned. Noth- ing will be permanently gained for either race bv the one throw- ing stones at the other or by doine that which will engender strife, and create and keep alive suspicion. Tf we could prove as 1 race that every white man in the South is dishonest and vicious, it would not raise the Negro one iota. Tf the white man could jjrove that every Negro in ihe South is untrustworthy ar»l with out virtue, it would not he\p the white man one iota. Xo individ- (12) THE TRUMPET BLAST. 13 tial ever lifted himself 1\v seeking to drag down another. Xo race ever lifted itself up by practicing or by learning to hate, or at- tempting to degrade another race. I want to reach and encourage my people to learn to i)ractice the lesson of love and not the les- son of "hatred and strife. The strong, useful individuals of earth are those who have learned to live high up in the atmosphere of kindness and truth, unselfishness and self-forgetfulness. QUESTION OF EDUCATION. As a race, within the last forty years we have given a great •deal of attention to education. We are grateful to the,;South.^ and grateful to the North, for the assistance we have received in this regard. We should bear in mind, however, that mere education without application to the practical things of life that are about -our door means very little. When I speak of Industrial Education, I always mean not only the putting of knowledge into the head, hut teaching the idividual through the use of the hand to put that Icnowledge into doing the things that the community wants done where he lives. At the present time in the South, as a race, we are in the midst of great industrial development, a development that touches earth, and wood and mineral, (^ur services are in demand on every hand as never before. In the midst of industrial activity wo Iiave an opportunity to plant ourselves as useful citizens in a way that very seldom comes to a race. Let us not overlook or lose this opportunity. Our brethren in the republic of Hayti have made a serious mistake in not educating their children to take part in the agricultural and mineral develop- ment of their country. Let us learn a lesson bv reason of what they have failed to accomplish. We have sometimes heard it said that the Neeroes at the Tuskegee Institute are being worked. Far from that I There is a vast difference between one's being worked and working. Being worked sip'nifies degradation ; working, civilization. As a race, more and more in every part of this country, we want to learn to work and not to be worked. We want to teach our chil- dren the dignitv and lieauty that there is in every form of honest toil, and the disgrace there is in every form of idleness. AGRICULTUR.VL I.lFE. I want to see more of cur educated >'outh graduate from the -college and return to the farm, and put brains, dignity and skill of the highest order irto agricultural life. I want to see a large number of them, for an ^^xample. starting truck gardens. I want to see them beginning to raise poultry in a skillful and intelligent manner. While race lines mav be drawn in other respects, you 14- THE TRUMPET BLAST. will find when the Xeo^ro proves that when he can produce finer ]KHiltry products than the white man produces, the Xeo^ro will re- ceive, the orders for the poultry every time. Wherever the Xegro cair prove, himself of more value to the community, more indus- trious and useful tl-.an any ether man, he will receive encourage- ment and, sui)port. ' . .1 do nqt believe tha;t any one knows of any instance in the South where a black man has been refused a loan of money at the bank pimply because of his color. We need not despair. We must not despair. It is true we do not cast so many political ballots as formerly, but w^e have the chance to cast a green ballot at the bank cashier's window six days in the week, and more and more are we doing this. We do not have so many representatives in state Legislatures, but we have more men owning property, homes and farms ; we have not so many men in Congress, but rcore owning stores and other busi- ness enterprises ; not any Xegro governors, but we have more banks operated bv Xegroes than ever before in our history. This Conventic^n I know is composed very largely of ministers whose high moral Christian character will .compare favorably with an equal number of men of any race, but I cannot end w^ith this statement. I would not be performing mv duty and would not be speaking frankly to you unless I stated in the most emphatic. Init, at the same time, in the most kindlv manner, that there are few people m our race who have such opportunities to lift our peo- ple or to drag them down as is true of the Xegro minister. In too large a degree the profession has been lowered and degraded by reason of the fact that it has been too easy for ignorant and, in many cases, I am sorry to say, for vicious men to enter the ministry, and after they have entered they have remained in the l^trofession too long without being turned out. We can never have a race that will be respected and honored until the ministry is purified and lifted up. There should, be a line kept drawn between the virtuous and the vicious, between the good and the evil, be- tween those that would build up and those that would tear down, r am glad to note signs throughout this country that indicate that more and more the rark and file of the people are determined to employ no man as a minister who is not nure in his earthly life. OTIII'K WORK TO DO. The people are demandin.g that the minister do more than preach to them sermons upon ancient history or ancient Bible illustra- tior.s. The average man. I believe, cares very little about whether Jonah was swallowed by t'^e whale or net, but he does take in- terest in having his -minister preach at least once in a while, the industrial, educational and -moral advantages that relate to his THE TRUMPET BLAST. 15 own community. The minister who can teach his people aljout how to make money as well as how to f^ive money w^ill us- ually have his church crowded. Do not p^et the idea from wha.t I have stated. tiiat I am not conscious of the immense pro^^ross that the race has made and is making-. No race similarly surrounded in all history has made l)roj?ress equal to ours. I also reniemher that no race , can ever be lifted up by merely calling attention to the weak points in that race. The Negro, like other races, must be judged by the best and not by the worst. TKACH THEM TRADES. One other thing : As you go to your homes, I trust that you will use every iota of your influence to get our young people to learn trades, to cease idling on the corners of streets. I hope you will teach the parents that mere book education with out education of the hand is likely to increase an individual's want without giving him' the ability to supply these increased wants. No young man or woman is safe until he or she has learned a trade in addition to getting a moral and mental educa- tion ; until he or she has learned the saving habit ; has learned that if one receiving $4.00 a week should make a supreme efifort to put at least $t.oo of that amount in the bank. Finally, let us not grow discouraged or despondent. It is true that we live in an eventful age, when many things are occurring which are hard to understand or appreciate ; but let us remember that in the really primary, fundamental things of life no one can hinder or stay our progress . After all, when we analyze life, we find that property, employment, education, high moral Christian character are the indispensable elements. In the last analysis these are the qualities which create influence and give the race standing before the world. So long as the Negro is not debarred from securing these, let us never bow our heads in discouragement. The race may be hindered and delayed in its progress, but if it has high ideals it can never be defeated. IGNORANCE BREEDS IGNORANCE. The people of this coimtry, North and South, are beginning more and more to realize that every lazy man in a community breeds more laziness ; every vicious man in a community breeds more viciousness ; every intelligent man in a community, what- ever his color or race, adds to the intelligence of the community ; every wealthy man in the community adds to the wealth of the community ; every skillful man adds to the comfort of the com- munity. 16 THE TRUMPET BLAST. T l)elieve that the time has come when ri2:ht about us here in the South there is croing: to be a g^rowing^ class of Southern white people who are ^oing to feel that they have no higher duty to help lift up anv race than falls to them in the assistance of the Negro who is at their door. This is not the time for doubt or discouragement. Let us re- solve to go forward with a firmer step and with a more de- termined heart. Forward until there can be no question about our al)ilitv and success as a race. MR. JOHN H. BUNN, Usher at Shiloh Baptist Church, Birmingham. Ala. LETTER FROM MR. BUXX, AX USHER. Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 8, 1902. Rev. R. H. Walker, Jr. : Dear Sir : — I regret that owing to a rushing business I have not had time until now to write an account of the catastrophe which occurred at Rev. T. W. Walker's church on the 19th ult. During the time of the Convention, I served on the Reception Committee, and on that eventful night was stationed near the front door, serv- ing as usher in the rear of the church. Even from the bottom of the steps people were packed like sardines and there was no use of telling them from the outside to stop crowding in upon those who were already inside. I had just made my way back in to the church from the rear, where I had been trying to persuade the people to be quiet and stop pushing, but the wizard of Tuske- gee was on the rostrum, and with his tongue was delivering such a great speech of eloquence to his people, telling them how to improve their conditions, that his words penetrated out through the open doors into the hearts of the people until they had al- ready begun to draw themselves above the shoulders of friends ; and with their eyes were peering as if to get the last glance at some heavenly an^gel. It was only a few minutes after Mr. Washington had finished his speech, when one, Mr. Will Hicks, of Tiirmingham, and Lawyer Ballou, of Baltimore, Md., had a dispute over a chair and acted as though they would fight. These men were on the rostrum. A lady who was sitting near them in the choir stand became frightened and repeated the words "fight !" "fight !" and at the same time President Morris turned and said, "Quiet ! quiet !" Everybody in the rear of the church took those words for "fire!" "fire!" and then came on the mad rush for tho door. Another usher was standing in the aisle near me, and I called him to tell those people on the left side of the church that it was not fire, but only two men fighting. I did not have time to notice him or that side of the house again until after everything was ovtr. The stampede was on. As soon as possible I ptished my way out into the lobby of the church and standing myself upon a table, screamed until 1 was pushed off by the wild rush which was being made for the d< or telling them there was no fire in the church ; but when the rush was well on. the dust began to fly and a great many of ihem mistook it for smoke, and nothing would make them believe otherwise — thev were frightened to death. Men (18) THE TRUMPET BEAST. 19 rushed over women and children, knockinir and pushinj:;^ with all the strength they had. They ])ej;an to repeat the words, "tire!" "fire!" and, of course, when a man bej^ins to halloo and becomes frightened out of his wits, it is natural for a woman or child to faint. I saw men, women and children climbing over the heads of those who had first gained the door, and whenever they would get to an opening in the crowd, they would fall through to th<; floor to be trodden uixm never to rise again. One of the nuis't ap])alling scenes that met my gaze was a little girl, who in that terrible stampede began screaming: Murder! murder I I looked and saw her. She was being squeezed to death, I thought ; once more I plunged into the crowd but failed to get her all the way o\\\. ; myself being pushed and mashed, I had to turn away. My last glance saw her still in the crowd, wedged as tight as wax. I thought she was killed, but two days later .-i lady stopped me on the street, addressed me by my name and said ; "Mr. Bunn, you saved my daughter I" Yes ! I smiled, because I was glad to know that I had lieen the means of saving one person. The death list could have been much longer, but I believe the hand of God was in that house, and those who fell to rise no more had been marked b\' him for an early grave. When I saw that I could not do any more, and the doors were packed by people who weie trying to get into the church to see what the excitement was, thereby completely blocking the entrance, and causing many poor souls to fall into eternity from being squeezed to death. I made my way back under the stairs and found an opening through which I could go out through the basement of the church. When T had reached the outside, I paused ; in front of me, behind me, on the right and on the left were dead bodies. News had gone every where ; it seemed that the church had fallen in and killed most everybody. Tliose who had relations there had come to find out about them, and some of them did find out about them — cold in death. Curiosity seekers were there to see the death trap, where so many of their friends had met death. The groans of those few who lingered in i)ain were terrible and the cries of the bereavoj relatives made it almost unbearable. After I had been cii the outside a few minutes and the steps had been cleared of the dead, I went back into the church and found the usher whom I had spoken to when the rush began, cold in death. This itself chilled me to think that one who liad tried to save others was killed himself. Ambulances were busv carry- ing ofif the dead. Notwithstanding that there were at least cne half dozen of those vehicles on the scene they could hardly cope with the emergency. After re-entering the church, I found bodies of the victims lying all over the church on benches ; it was a ghostly sicht. though T am sure that the song which was begun by Mr. W^ashington was the means of saying many. It was those 20 THE TRUMPET BLAST. who had come too late to get a seat that were in the rear of the churcli who met death. The noise that was made by them in the rush for the door, drowned the sonp; tliat was being sung and they failed to hear and therefore went headlong to death. For the next five days there was no talk but of the catastrophe and the dull tread of the funeral hearses cast a gloom over the city such as has never been before in the history of Birmino-ham. Yours very respectfully. John H. Bunn. MISS ORA BELL NOLUMS TELLS WHAT SHE SAW. We started to hear Prof. Washington, but we were met by Rev3, T. S. Jordan and Allen, who told us we could not get in. We took them at their word and went back home. I was at home when I first heard of the Shiloh Baptist Church disaster. All of us at home became alarmed, because we heard that the church was on fire and that the people were being burned up. A few delegates were at our house and went with us to thff church in a hurry. When we arrived, only two dead people were outside. They were the bodies of women lying on a table by the side of the church. There was no fire about the church except that in a cooking stove down stairs used to accommodate with warm lunches. In about three or four minutes a croup of men began ta bring out dead l^odies of women and men and lay them on the ground about the edifice and in Mr. Reid's Florist Garden by the side of the edifice. The sight was terrible. I was very anxious to know if any of our relatives or friends were amon»g the dead or injured. I watched! every one that was brought out. The dead died in all kinds of shapes. Some with necks broken and nearly everything else one could imagine. One man's fist was jammed down in his own throat up to his waist and his mouth was bleeding. A wounded man was laid on the ground, but in a few minutes he groaned and jumped up and ran around like a wild man. He soon became so weak that he laid down again, saying, with a painful groan, "Have mercy, God, God : God have mercy !" He wreaked awhile and jumped up again, but he fell off about six feet and swore terribly, using very bad language as his eyes blared and his body seemed to jerk like he had the hysterics. He groaned and died. (21) CITY OF BIR^IINGHAM. Locking from southwest to the city from the top of Red }iIoun- tain. a lofty eminence towering over the city at the south boundary commonly known as Bird's-eye View. The shady part of the fore- .S^round of the scene showing great space between houses and beaiitiful landscape lawns is the side or northern slope of Red Mountain, which has its basis in Jones' Valley where the city lie? in the more densed vale below. The smoke which hovers over the city ih the distance, permitting only now and then a slight view at small groups of clouds which jointly cluster between the moun- tains and form a dimness that presents a dull appearance of the scene in the distance, is characteristic of the condition of the ai'' above as the result of a trade which makes the city of Birming- ham an industrial center of Southern products in coal and iror. The horizon in the far distance shows the top of a chain of Ap- palachian family mountains on the eastern and Northern bound- ary of the city. The lines leading to a massive building situated in a northerly direction in the scene are indications pointing to Shiloh Baptist Church, where the terrible disaster occurred Fri- day night, September 19, 1902. (23) I • I « I . SHIUOH 6APTIST CHU 1 iiKMiNCHAM, Alabama. THIS IS A COKKECT I'lCTrKH OF THK KAMOTS KDIFICE AS IT NOW APPEAKS. SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH. Rev. T. W. Walker, pastor. Messrs. Swann & Sons, contractors and builders, 19th Street and Avenue H, Birmingham, Ala. The writer of this book, Rev. R. H. W'alker, Jr., had a lengthy interview with Mr. Swann & Sons, contractors and builders of the Shiloh Baptist Church of Birmingham, Ala. The interview revealed the following facts touching the much talked of building, which is well represented in this picture. Mr. D. A. Helmich. one of the world's most successful architects, was architect for Shiloh Baptist Church edifice. Mr. Hemlich has a record in Birming- ham alone which is sufficient to guarantee to the w^orld his unques- tionable ability and his mathematical accuracy in architectural skill of old standing. In Birmingham he is considered to be the leading draughtsman in all heavy structures. The City Hall, at a cost of ($200,000) two hundred thousand dollars; the Miller & Ketic Building; the Metropolitan Hotel, and other large buildings well known to the business world for their massive structure in Bir- mingham are products of his architectural ingenuity. The foun- dation is (5) five feet below the top soil, and is calculated to stand without repairs or condemnation more than fifty years. The building is one hundred (100) feet long and seventy (70) feet wide. The side walls are twenty-four (24) feet high and have the thickness required by law. The whole structure is made of the best material obtainable, having overhead eight (8) tresses weighing one ton each. Hnough wood material makes ud the building to build fifty houses of five comfortable rooms each. The seating capacity is 3.000 comfortable seats. The cost of the building alone was forty-five thousand ($4^,000) dollars. The cost of seats alone was two thousand one hundred ($2,100) dollars. There are eight hundred lights in the building, including elec- tric lights and gas jets. The building has six exits, through which 3,000 people may pass in regular church order in less than one hour. Messrs. Swann & Son, the contractors and builders, were one year building the edifice, completing it in 1901, Birmingham City Building Inspector. Mr. Anan. announced that the edifice was one of the neptest and most sulistantial buildings in Birming- ham. Mr. Swann savs he was attending the National Baptist Con- vention dav and night, and was occupving a seat in about middle (25) 26 THE TRUMPET BLAST. •of one of the pralleries when the stampede reigned. He was cool, however, and saw no cause for alarm. The building had been packed with people several sessions. At no time did he notice any indication of strain on the building or -any part of it. Investigation showed that the stampede had no effect on the building at all, not even a scratch of damage, except one of the interior light flop doors was torn from its hingers by a man who was crazy with excitement. The Negro Race, especially Baptists, may justly be proud of Shiloh Baptist Church edifice, its .congregation and pastor, whose indefatigable exertions, with Christian courage, bring honor and credit to our race and country, and give encouragement to others v^ho are engaged in the work of the Gospel Church. We may also feel grateful to God for such men of the Negro Race as Mr. Swann & Son, contractors and builders, Virginians by birth. It was in the main entrance front door, between the brick walls above the outside steps, where the people were smothered and mashed to death. There they were so tightly wedged in a pile of fallen mass of humanity imtil they could not be pulled out from the outside. They were piled upon each other more than eight feet deep, extending above the upper layer of white stone walls which forms the basis of the upper side windows and the middle front windows. The building is situated on the southeast corner of G and 19th Streets. Nineteenth Street runs north through the business part of the city to the northern limits over the mountainous boundary, and south up the northern slope of Red Mountain. G Street, en which the building fronts, runs east and west. The four little trees were set cut in their present positions about one year ago. The smooth surface at the bottom of the ground steps is the earth sidewalk of G Street, running east and west by the door. The rough surface 1)ordering the sidewalk is G. Street drive in part, in front of the church. The two front doors, one on each side of the steps, are main entrances to the vestry of the church, which was used as a recep- tion room during the Convention, and in which the church holds its praver and business meetings, but which was used as a tem- porary morgue the night of the stampede. The light colored brick forming the lower part of the building are brick which were made at Rev. T. W. Walker's brickyard, the pastor having a brick- yard of his own. Looking to your right at the corner of the building, the while smooth looking, square cut object in the wall is the cornerstone. The white strip between the vestrv door and ground steps is a sig- nal board showing the name of the street on which the edifice fronts. The window between the signal lx)ard and the steps as n'O O B B re 28 THE TRUMPET BLAST. the window on the other side of the steps, is a transom-Hght and a supplementary air supply to the vestry. The two layers between the brick of the wall are brick braces which add to the strength of the building. The window to the right, which is hoisted, is the one a man jumped through and broke his neck on the steps during the excitement. The objects which appear to be branches of trees shading the upper part of the wall are limbs of trees which stand across the street in front of the building, which were taken in the picture, because the photographer could not get a good view of the building without taking other objects within the radiance of the focus of the apparatus. The top windows are lights to the gallery. The two windows over each of the vestrv doors are lip'hts to the staircases of the gallery. The two windows, one on each side of the great door of main entrance and over each of the transoms are lights to the lob- 1)y of the edifice and to the inside staircases which lead from the lobby to the vestry below. There are twenty-six steps from the ground to the vestibule at the door to the auditorium : thirteen from the ground to the top of the outside steps, and thirteen from the top of the outside steps 'to the vestibule; the top of the outside steps is twelve feet square. The inside steps leading to the vestibule from the top of the out- side steps are ten feet wide. From corner to corner, as seen in this view of the building is seventy feet. Tt was on the inside steps which extend from the vestibule to the top of the outside steps, where the people were mashed and smothered to death the night of the stampede. The door of thi^ main auditorium was congested ^bv the pressing stream of people coming down each staircase from the gallery, and bv a tremendous force of people pressing from the outside, who were trying to get in. Hence, the people coming from the main auditorium and gal- lery inside and the multitude coming from the street met on the upner steps and at the door of the auditorium. Tlie cries of the people who were being mashed, drew the out- side force wnth curiosity as well as with anxiety. Hence, the press became o-reater as excitement grew more alarming. It was said by eye-witnesses that the press on the upper steps about the vestibule was so great that women and men were mashed to death standing straight up. Some scrambled to the shoulders and heads of the peo]ilc and walked and crawled out of the press and escaped. When the crv of fire was made inside an exciting rush was made against the outside force, thus completely congesting the the main entrance from the front door of the auditorium to the top of the outside steps. Like in all our controversies the strong rules the weak; so in the stampede the stronger force from the inside under the influence of excitement rushed over the outsile THE TRUMPET BLAST. 29 force which was rendered weaker and weaker, as those outside re- laxed on hearinp^ the alann of fire corning from the inside. The sudden rush against the outside force caused those that were on ihe steps to fall. Those that fell on the outside steps, having ac- cess to the 0|)en air, and not heing confined by walls, recovered and regained their standing position and escaped alive. Those that fell on the upper steps, being alreadv almost exhausted with sufifocation and wedged between the brick walls, could not re- lease themselves without help. Some were dead when they fell ; others dietl at once, being unable to get any air on account of oth- ers falling on to]) of them, and still others on top, and still others falling, farming layer after layer of fallen people who formea a horrible i)ile of smothered humanity. Those that recovered on the outside set to work rescuing the terribly unfortunate ones, but the increased flow of falling and dy- ing necessitated the call of the fire department and the police de- partment, which responded by companies in quick succession, tak- ing immediate charge of a regularly organized rescuing expedit!'' !i with ample medical aid. Excited people were still coming out of * 'le front way over the dead and fallen mass of humanity. Strenuous cfl^orts were put forth to force the congregation to go out of the edifice by the vestry doors, which was only accomplished after the pile in the main entiance was more than eight feet deep. The pile was so tightly wedged in beneath the brick walls until they could not be pulled out from the outside without pulling their limbs ofif. Some who had fallen in the bottom layer had only the lower part of their bodies caught. Although their heads and upper part of their bodies were out of the pile, they could not be pulled out of the mortal press. They called for water and air which was ad- ministered as freely as possible. Sympathizers sat down by them and held their heads in their laps and breathed out words of hope to them, while the company of rescuing angels of mercy composed of the police and fire departments, hospital crews, volunteers from the streets, the ministers and women delegates, friends, relatives and doctors of medicine were hastily, but carefullv. removing the pile one by one, beginning at the top of the pile inside the edifice, and la\'ing those which were pronounced dead on the ground in a vacant lot by the side of the building for identification, and usir.g every means of resuscitation to restore and help those that were pronounced still alive. Eighty-six were pronounced dead, as the doctorji examined them when they were taken out of the pile. Eighteen who wer;; either dying with necks broken or internal in- jury and were pronounced alive, died under medical treatment and most sympathizing care. Th.us one hundred and four who were taken out of the pile died on the night of the catastrophe. Hun- dreds received bodily injuries w'hose names were not included in the official report. From one to four weeks later, the 30 THE TRUMPET BLAST. death list swelled until it was reported, says Dr. Johnson, that one hundred and twenty have died from direct causes, as a resu t of the disaster. C T — ? = t 5 —a IS ^5o 3- B5 W ■ P 2 «* oF — • nr £ 1 ffn- rt 3" n £.=• _p CD-" MR. SWANN, CONTRACTOK AND BUILDER OF ShILOH BAPTIST ChLRCH EdIFICE, Birmingham, Alabama. REV. T. W. WALKER, Pastor Shii.oh Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama. STATEMENT OF REV. T. W. WALKER. The most awful thins;- that ever happened in Birmingham's history occnrreil un the ni,i;lit of September 19, 1902, durinpf the Convention that was being held here at Shiloh Baptist Church, and in memory of that sad and never-to-be-forgotten night, here are a few verses that will serve as a memento for generations to come: . _ "An awful thing has happened!" Is what everybody said. When on that sad, fatal night It was very, very bad. The Convention was on hand And everything seemed so bright; For every one was happy — Full of God's eternal light. The spe;iking it wa.< going on, Tbe >;ini;inof was at its best; All at once a cry was heard, "Ue quiet!" "Be quiet now and rest!"' "Be quiet!" was the fatal word That caused the angry stampede; People thought the man said "Fire!" And would not hear or take heed. ;"" The pastor did his very best ■^• • To stop the wild, maddened thron^vr : , His words were unavailing But that didn't last very long. They were out in one mad spell ■ ■' So many people were there; ■ They seemed that they were frantic ' And were running everywhere. ' Down the corridor they went And fell upon each other, ''. Oh, an awful sight was seen; ( ^ It was plain they would smother. " ' <39> 40 THE TRUMPET BLAST. A liundred or more were killed There on that sad, fatal night, Where all things were so pleasant And once seemed to be so bright. Delegates from everywhere And visitors by the scores; The church was full on each side Until it could hold no more. People came in such a rush To gain sure admittance there, But in that new handsome church No space was found anywhere. ' Book(.r Washington was there *" Wi'.h all his might and power. And held the congregation down For fully quite an hour. ; ' W.hen his address was ended Many started then to go. Everybody seemed to be Headed for the main front door. .J They rushed pell-mell on every side, And they knocked each other down; The pastor did his very best To quiet all things around. No matter what the warning They appeared to heed it not. Dozens on that awful night , • Died right there on the spot. Out upon the corridor. Where so many people lay. They died upon each other, But I guess it was God's way, For His ways are mysterious; We do not know what to say When He comes with all His power And carries all things His way. THE TRUMPET BLAST. 41 T'ae ambulance came on time To bear the dead away. They were busy all that night And far up in the next day. The nii^^ht of the 19th of September, 1902, was a nip^ht long- to be remembered with the Shiloh Baptist Church. While the Con- vention was in session, Booker T. Washington was invited to speak, which brought a large number of people together. Just as Prof. Washington closed his speech, some one said, "Be quiet,*" and some one mistook it to be "fire," and it seemed that all the audience rushed to the door at once. The more we would say b? quiet, the more they would rush. We began to sing, but it did no i^ood. We did not know what to do. In a few minutes we heard some one say, '"Some are dead," but I could not believe it ; but then I rushed to the front door and I heard the cry of many people crying. "Lord, save me, save me;" and I heard the groans of many crying, "Help me, help me!" I rushed to the scene. I saw a man dead, and I heard a little girl saying, "Mamma, heln me," but her mamma was dead, and the little girl was soon dead. O, my friends, this was a night of pity and sorrow. Mothers screaming and children moaning for their lost ones. It was a sad time and there were many broken hearts. The Shiloh Church v/as in mourmiig. Everybody seemed to be sad, white and col- ored. The good whites of the city rendered all of the help they could in aid and mone\'. There was about nine hundred dollars raised by the gocvl white people to help the sufferers. There were one hundred souls of th dead in the door within ten minutes — men. women and children. The church enrtance is ten feet wide. 1 here are four stairways leading into the church to let th people in and out, but all of them seemed to rush to the front door. My reader, this was a sad night in the city of Birm- ingham. I thank iny Ciod that it was as it was. We will never understand it. but God will undertsand it all ; so we bow our heads to his will. Since the stampede, our congregation has fallen off, which leaves a great burden on .i few good people, and we pray that God mav help us to raise the balance due on the church, which is about $13,000. I prav that God will open the hearts of our Northern white friends to save our church, as there is a mortgage on it. The white people of the South have aided us with money for the brethren in the South and we kindly thank them for their hospitality and help in build ing this church. The building, 75x115 feet, cost $45,000. T1ie congregation has paid it all in three years but $13,000. The total number of dead and injured from the effect of the stampede is 118. 42 THE TRUMPET BLAST. _. I trust that all who read this may be edified. As a race we are trying to do all we can to build up in this way. We are building good churches and good schools, and in this wav we are to help- our people to have pride and self-confidence. The good white people of the South have helped the colored peo^b in many ways, and we are very grateful for all the things thev have done for this' our race. ' *" BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF REV. T. W. WALKER. To the People of the Day: I have often sat and meditated on my life, and have arrived at Ihe conclusion that it was my duty to leave a synopsis of it. I was born a slave and served thirteen years as such. I re- member the dark and trying days of my people, and indeed those days of bondage will ever remain printed upon my memory. On the fifteenth day of September, 1852, in Coosa county, my parenis. Rev. Emanuel and Charlotte Harris, were owned bv Ben- jamin Harris. In i860 the whole family were sold as cattle would be sold to the liighest bidder I well remember when placed upon the bltKzk with my trousers rolled up — what fun it was to me then ; but, g»entle reader, I was not able to comprehend the miserv which was t<» follow. I have seen the white people tie my poor old fa- ther t(^ a tree and apply the lash most inhumanly and I asked the sainted old gentleman what that meant, and his answer was, ''My son, the lash will soon fall upon vou." From thence I will tell you young people that I saw mothers sold from their children, husbands from their wives, and families separatt-I here and there. Think when your poor old fathers and mothers were thus sold as cattle, whipped morning and evening. Think seriously, you who^ have so manv golden opportunities to make noble ornaments of a ("iod-read people ; think, I say, of what your pastor and friends un- derwent. We prayed, in our humble and simple way, to the great and merciful God of the universe, and as a result I, as well as others, have lived to see proven the efficacy of fervent prayer. He came and broke asunder those shackles. Mav God bless the graves where repose those sainted old Christians. You should always let them live in your memory. In 1865 a glorious shout went through the land. I thank God it ascended to his throne in one mighty voice. Oh, when I recall what our foreparents underwent for us it makes me quiver! What will become of you young people? Are you making use of the advantages you possess and of which I and others were bereft? On the twenty-second of November, 1866. my father was sum- moned to his long rest, leaving mother with four little children and no one to help her in providing for them. Many a day we had nowhere to stay and nowhere to go. But God saw us and reached out the Hand of protection to the widow and orphan and ^ave us bread and a shelter. (4 '> I 44 THE TRUMPET BLAST. ^ In 1867 my mother united witli the First Baptist Church of \\'etumpka. Ala., and was baptized by Rev. Xed Adkins. and old slavery minister of the gospel. He was a good and pious Chris- tian man and an honor to the church of his day. It was then I beean seeking Christ. I desired to be a good man. I worked hard for alx^ut three years for what we could eat. God kept his all-seeing eye upon me during the entire time. In 1869 I commenced to attend Sunday school — the nursery where re- ligion is taught. Rev. S. Jones was in charge of the work. This was in Elmore county, and at that time church edifices were not as numerous among our people as at the nresent era. We were meeting in the woods and had to contend with the cruel and michristian bushwhacking element of the whites. With all these difiiculties our prayers ascended to God, and you. young people of the Race are now enjoying the results of the suffering and hard- ship of the low. meek, humble and oppressed. It was in the year of 1870 that I moved to Montgomery county, where 1 attended Sunday school regularly at the old Elam Baptist Church. There was an old brother by the name of Rev. S. Col- ton, with the "blue back" speller. On every Lord's day he would read the third chapter of St. John. C)h, my dear young friends, I give you this little glossary of my life to assist you to rise to a higher standing, spiritually as well as temporally, and to be men and women equal to those of any race. In that dear old church alx)ve referred to I found some blessed antl faithful workers. Rev. C. Cole was the pastor in charge at that time. Rev. William Ware, a noble divine, was a well read man of that day. Other grand old men of that blessed old church were Deacons Curtis Woods, Allen Chambers and Charles Cole. Well might I say that these were deacons after the Bible — plain, sober and faithful men. alx>unding in the love of God and with the gifts of the Holy Ghost. It was there in that eld church, and by the example of these old Christian men, that I said : '"If God could have such as these coming right from under a dark cloud, I would make myself a man." I then accepted the superintendency of the Sunday school, which was in 1878, and there I began to build myself up. My outlook was indeed anything but encouraging. A poor hov with no earthly being to help me. I wanted to attend school, but the lack of means prevetited me. Without help I had no way of gaining admittance to the school room. About this time Hol- land Thompson visited old Elam Sunday School and spoke of one Robert Rakes, a great Sunday school worker, telling how he made himself a great man with no one to help him save the Lord of Lords. THE TRUMPET BLAST. 4S I had entered upon my seventeenth year before I knew A from. B. I had been a slave for thirteen years. In the meantime I had spent only three days in school and it gave me a relish for study. Many were the long, dreary nights 1 sat with tears in my eyes because I had no one to help me ; but these sweet and soul-inspir- ing words would come to me: "I will guide you in all truth ; trust in me." Oh. how I love God's Word. It is good to have his Word with you — it's a light unto your pathway. In 1878 I was the acting superintendent of Elam Sunday sch(X)l, when Dr. C. O. Boothe made us a visit — it was a glorious visit. I was trying to teach the Bible class. The doctor found out I was not a Christian, when he asked me how could I be a teacher and know not God. I was a fool. The lesson was from Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given : and the government shall be upon his shoulder : and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor. The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." From that day I began to be a better man. On the third Sunday in Alay, 1879, I united myself with the Elam Baptist Church and was baptized by Rev. Jeiry Cole, better known as "Jerry Hendricks," the father of Rev. H. Hendricks, that noble young man who fell asleep in Jesus a few days ago in the same pulpit where his father stood for nearly twenty years. At this time his son. Moses Hendricks, filled the same pulpit. I cannot forget that blessed old place ! May it be called blessed imto the Lord ! In my confusion I felt that I was called to go out into the vine- yard and tell of the Saviour who died an ignominious death on Calvary for all mankind. I felt as if I were unworthy to men- tion the name of Jesus, as I had no one to instruct and help me, and with no school training. Ah. what a predicament I was in — with net even a Bible or a hymn-book. Can vou not see the way was very dark and discouraging for me? But those words of consolation from the 28th chauter of Matthew, 19th and 20th verses, "Go," and "I am with you alwav," gave me courage and I cried nnto the Lord to help nw. God answered my prayer and He will answer yours. The lines of this beautiful old hymn often came to my thoughts and added strength to my troubled mind — "How can I sink with such a prop As my eternal God, Who bears earth's huge pillars up And spreads the heavens abroad." The encouragement and will eventuallv came and I entered Upon the work of my Master feeling that the Lord was with me^ 46 THE TRUMPET BLAST. -and would strengthen and help me. Oh, what an opportunity the young man of to-day has, with schools on ever\' hilltop, and nu- merous theological seminaries, all under the management of com- petent teachers and professors. God has abundantly blessed us among all the races of the earth, and may the Great God of the Universe assist the young people of to-day, men and women of the true kind, ^\'e, as a race, need you. You have all the ad- vantages necessary to become useful instruments in promoting the happiness and prosperity of the race. Now grasp the golden op- portunity. After arriving at the conclusion that God had called me to preach, 1 gave myself to him to be used as an humble instrument in His hands as He might desire, and in the name of Jesus I en- tered upon the work. On the 24th day of December, 1880, I was married by D.-. Mc- Carthy, in Columbus, Georgia, to Miss ^Martha Moore, a faithful woman as a minister's wife; a Christian woman, endowed by Na- ture with all those grand and noble qualities which so adorn true womanhood. God permitted us to live together six years, four months and four davs. when he claimed this sainted woman as his own. In 1881. I carne to Birmingham, a stranger in a stranee land. My wife and myself joined the First Baptist Church, which was then under the ])astorate of Rev. A. C. Jackson. 1 then felt more and more convinced that I had been called to preach the Gospel of our Lord ar.d Savior Jesus Christ. I could not rest at night. I was in an unknown dilemma the whole time, surrounded by an atmosphere of d created them as he did you, and be resolved to follow in their footsteps and emulate their example, and God will bless your eft'orts to serve him and your fellow-man and your reward will be great. Yes, my dear young friends, strive to be like those pious men and women of old who are now within the pearly gates enjoying the companionship of the blessed. Never rest in this life until you have done some- thing for the Master. Disdain and shun bad companv. for "Evil communications corrujn good manners." Think of the many mothers who lie uneasy in their graves from broken hearts, caused by wayward children. Stop and hear the reader when he im- plores you to turn unto the things of heaven and forsake the things of earth. Hearken unto and heed the advice given you bv your dear, devoted mother — she is your earthly guide, whose duty, it is to prepare you for the life immortal. Trust to her, con- fide everthing in her. and her mother's heaft will beat only far you — to her your interests will 1^ paramount to all else. By so honoring and loving her you will be obeying the scriptural injunc- tion, "Honor thy father and mother," and God will make good THE TRUMPET BLAST. 51 His promise; your days will be long in the land and God's bless- ing will follow you through this life and to the life eternal. To the young married people I will say : That you should not enter into the holy state unadvisedly, neither from an impure motive. Ask God's help and guidance in selecting your help- mate. You must remember, that when you take the marriage vow, you must thereafter bear with one another in adversity as well as prosperity Young man, ycu must not take any advantage of your wife sim- plv because God ordains it that you are the head. Treat each other kindly, cleave to each other, and bear in mind, "That who- soever God has joined together, let no man put asunder." Think of Tan Fuller, who was a slave. He was the wonder of the world, because he studied those thing's which make him a use- ful man to his race. In reading the lives of great men it inspired me to make the best of life I could, so Gcd has helped me to where I am. The Bible teaches us to first seek the kingdom of God — those things of the earth will come in due lime. "God is a lamp unto our path- way and a light unto our feet." God will always shine a light in the Christian's pathway, if we trust Him. He has helped me in life. What I am God has made me, because I could do naught without Him. If you do not hold yourself up in a manly and useful way you may never expect to be anything in this life. We need to be Christian men and women — not hypocrites — then our lives will not be a failure. The Negro has performed the laborious work of this country. He fought in the bloody rebellion to help break asunder the bonds of slavery He has made the white man wealthy. Now let us unite and throw the tide of prosperity and wealth to our own beloved, though despised, race. I shall now close my autobiography by giving you the numl>er of candidates whom I have initiated as followers of Christ, viz : Sixth .Avenue Rafjtist Church 631 Shiloh Baptist Church 285 Total gi6 Trusting that the perusal of this little work mav not have been without profit to the leader, and wishing you all God's choicest blessings, I remain Your friend and brother in Christ, Rev. T. W. W\\lker. Founder and Pastor ShiUjh Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. Q^->- ^: ' ^|^>tt^- <5 ^" m^i^- _ STATEMENT OF FIRE DEPART.AIENT. We, the Fire Department of the city of Birmingham, Ala., ex- tend our heartfelt sympathy for the National Baptist Convention, the Shiloh Baptist Church, and relatives and friends of the dead and injured who so unfortunately met with the sad accident of the catastrophe in our city, September 19, 1902. If it had been possible for us to have prevented the disaster, we would have been the happier to have done so. But we are sorry to acknowledge that the unfortunate circumstances were en- tirely beyond the control of human power. We were merely in- struments in the hands of One greater than man. We therefore could only perform such duties as w-ere allotted to us in the ca- pacity of firemen. Doing all that we could for immediate relief of the unfortunate, we used our best judgment, as we always believe is best for all concerned in the event of fire and calamity. Trusting that we rendered efficient service on that sad occasion, we offer the same assurance of our good faith in the performance of future duties. (S3) y^- ^■.'. ^ M^- ^- -'^ Cfi-- ^ "^ '^- ^' ^^ ^ M|-..' ^" Sii^ ^ij^-'^tf"' ^' ^- ^.:'^^ mmi STATEMENT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT. We, the police of the city of Birmingham, believing- that every precaution wa-s taken to prevent any possible damage to life and property, and that every possible good was done for the alleviation of the sulTering who so unfortunately met with serious injury on that eventful night, and that the dead were properly cared for and buried with all due ceremonial rites of religious burial, we can but express our sympathy for the bereaved rela- tions and friends of the dead and injured, and the National Baptist Convention, and for Shiloh Baptist Church, wdiich in all prob- ability must sustain some injury in the results, we extend our guarantee in good faith for the protection of all in the future with such power as ve may have within the jurisdiction of police pro- tection. (55) tc WHERE THE DEAD WERE LAID OUT FOR IDENTIFI- CATION. A scene looking across from the front of Shiloh Baptist Church by the northeast corner to a vacant lot adjourning" the church prop- erty on the east, and Mr. Reid's florist garden en the west, having a row of young shade trees running south, parallel Avith the church edifice, and separated from the church property by a fence which was broken down on the night of the catastrophe. The shade in the scene marks the place where the dead were la- i for identification, side by side in a row in the vacant lot under the trees, parallel with the church. The dark surface is the shade of the row of trees which stand in line parallel with the east side of the church. The vacant lot is a space of about 40x115 feet between the Shi- loh Baptist Church edifice and Mr. Reid's florist garden. The fence, which in the picture is dilapidated, was in good condition before the stainpede occurred, but was broken down on that event- ful night by excited people, who wildly sought refuge, and by others who crowded hastily about the premises in search of miss- ing friends and .relatives. The line of the shade marks the ])lace where the dead were laid for identification, the feet of the dead were toward the church as they lay side by side with their heads toward the florist's gardeti : lanterns and the constant lighting of matches were the means of light which was reflected on the faces of the dead that they might be known. Lamenting husbands, bewailing wives, weeping friends and sympathizing visitors were thronging about the dead and dying with matches and lanterns in hand, calling pitifully, "Where is my wife?" "Where is my husband?" "Where is my child?" "Where is my mamma?" "Where is papa?" "Wliere is brother?" "Where is sister?" "Where is my friend?" while their only an- swers were distressful groans of, the dying and lamentation and weeping of the living. Every possible medical aid was secured and many were survived and lived, but the chilly hands of the Pale Monster of Death had touched more than one hundred mortal bodies which fell under the blow and lay conquered victims of an unexpected visit of the Prince of Darkness, who defied the skill of physicians, and laughed at medical science. His victims were dead and laid o^t. for identification. (57) o H « o > h3 o O H 3 g IH O » > K. REV. R. H. WALKER VISITS WHERE THE DEAD WERE BURIED AND MEDITATES OVER THEIR GRAVES. The two men, cue witli a hoe in his hands and the other stand- ing; between two barrels, are janitors of the cemetery, and are ar- ranging; to permanently beautify the decorated grave of Dr. A. L. Hill, whose body lies buried in his grave desig-nated by the marble tombstone. The cemetery presents a gloomy cast of mortal doom, loneli- ness and desertion. The very veil of death hangs over the vicin- ity like a canopv enclosing its confines to the limit of sorrow and distress. Clusters of graves here and there, some with up- lifted tombstones, some marked with grave end-boards, some des- ignated by red earth, shaped in grave fashion, some flat with with- ering grass and w^eeds on top of them, fading with the change of autumn season, and some open to receive the recent dead, which on to-morrow will be swallowed up in the last narrow confinement of human respect, are certain reasons for solemn reflection over the text, "If a man dies shall he live again ?" Philosophy teaches that material never ceases to be material, al- though by natural changes of conditions of materials they seem to pass away ; but they still remain materials. Bv cessation of material life material death ensues, which naturally reduces by decomposition the object within its grasp, but material death can- not remove from existence the material of which an object or body is composed. The truths w^hich crown the facts relative to the philosophy of material life and material death, also philoscphicallv and scrip- turally express the doctrine of the spiritual life and spiritual death. If a man dies a material death, the material of which he was made still exists. If a man dies a spiritual death the spiritual compo- sition still exists as the material does, in a separated condition. A's "material death decomposes material bodies and reduces by de- composition human flesh and bones after the separation of the soul from the body, so does spiritual death reduce spiritual vigor and happiness to dissentinp^ disgracefulness in eternal anguish, confusion, pain, ruin and dissemination, without anv hope of re- demption after the separation of the soul from the favor of God (Cl) 62 " THE TRUMPET BLAST. by His final divine denunciation of the wicked, viz. : "Depart fronx me, ye cursed ! I never knew vou." The log cabin in the midst of the trees is the janitor's tool house wlhich mav be used also as a shelter in the time of storm. It is^ crumbling with age, although it is a trustv type of the slave's home of thirty-six years ago. Even now. hundreds of huts of its class are still used for dwelling houses for Xegroes. and in some instances for Caucasians or white people in many of the rural vi- cinities of the Southern States. The light shade under the trees that may be seen by looking over the group of white tombstcnes beyond the log cabin is the main entrance to the cemetery. The main drive is marked by a smooth-looking terrace through the thicket back of the log cabin from the lio-ht shade under the trees over the group of white tombstones to the back of the buggy in the scene. A roadbed however, is built through the cemeterv, leading from beyond the white tombstones across the cemetery, but is not visible in this scene. The black line marking the terrace in the background through the thicket, is the boundary of a cut through which a railroad passes, the tracks of which may be seen slightly in the distance through the light shade of the main entrance. The rubbish locking piles of brick and barrels by Dr. A. L. Hill's grave and in front of the janitor who has the lioe in his hands, are material with which work is being done to beautify the grave of Dr. Hill's remains. The light shade over the tops of the trees towards the main en- trance indicates the direction towards the city of Birmingham, which is situated in Jones \'alley. Trolley cars run within one mile of the cemetery. Tlie driveway to the cemeterv from the city is well built and pleasant. The rubber tire, easy-running top- buggv and the horse, a proud, pet. thoroughbred nag. is the hand- some private turnout of the owner of the leading livery stable in Birmingham. It was said by the owner of the horse, and com- monlv reported, that this was the first time that the horse was ever let to a colored man. As a compliment to the editor, the proprie- tor added, "I let mv i^"t to that "-entleman because I am impressed with him on sight that be is no common man. and is far above the average Negro." This is a compliment in the South that one may justlv feel proud to receive, especiallv when he is an uncom- promising- antagonist to all of the unjust Southern policies. That tells us that an honorable position taken by honest convictions and intelligentlv and bravelv defended, commands more respect than hatred even in the South. Notwithstanding the hopes and prospects for a prosperous fu- ture one may have by encouraging business anticipations as he looks at the beautiful landscape scenery presented by the pane- THE TRUMPET BLAST. 65 rama of Jones Valley and the surrounding loftv mountains, in whose bowels lie hidden riches of untold millions of dollars in coal and iron ; it is difficult to take a considerate view of the Woodlawn Cemetery after the burial of the unfortunate dead of the Shiloh Church, Birmin,2:ham, catastrophe without entertaining a thought of the futurity of man through death and judgment to the eternal city. Anv degree of meditation solemnly reproduces the interrogation, probably with even a deeper sense of apprecia- tion for divine power and divine knowlegde. At the same time, with words unuttered, the heart and soul ask each other: "If a man dies, shall he live again ?" This has been one of the troubles which have always troubled mankind. The answer, however, is full of evidences in the affirm- ative. In consideration of universal acknowledgment of the estab- lished principles of Christianity and the assurance which Christ gave bv his death and resurrection with the language that all power of heaven and of earth is entrusted in my hands, and after- wards advised his followers that he would go and prepare a place for his believers, that where He would be they could be also. and. then in presence of witnesses ascended, being lifted up in a cloud, leaving his holy influences by srrateful memory and sending the Comforter, as he said he would do, unfold to all the world the unmistakable "Yes !" Yes, he. who dies in Christ shall live again with Christ ! He who dies at peace with God shall live in the king- dom of God ! He who dies with a regen' DEAD IX CHRIST. BY THE EDITOR — lilS I'OETlCAL KEELECTIONS ON HIS VISIT TO THE GRAVEYARD AFTER THE CATASTROPHE. Though we die, we live again, A life beyond the grave. Where no grief, no death, no pain, Nor human needs to crave. In that life there's rest and peace — A life of happiness, Where we'll live and never cease To reign in righteousness. Sleep on, mortal dead in Christ ! In vict'ry you shall rise ; Christ, who made the sacrifice. Has wiped your weeping eyes. He has built a home on high, A home of heavenly rest, Where His saints no more shall die, Nor cease to be His guest. He has plucked the sting of death ; He conquered, now He reigns; And He calls, () earth, to earth _ I'll raise up your remains. ? (65) NAMES OF THE DEAD WHO WERE KILLED IN THE CATASTROPHE AT SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH, IN BIRMINGHAM, ALA., FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 19, 1902. It was quite uncertain about whether or no many of the killed were married or single ; hence the names which have no title proper. NAMES OF KILLED. Rosedale, Ala., a town two miles south of Birmingham, across Red Mountain, bordering on its southern slope: Mrs. Lula Thompson, Miss Sallie Lloyd, daughter of Mrs Lula Thompson. Avondale, Ala., a surburb in southern city limits of Birming- ham, Ala. NAMES O? THE DEAD THAT LWED IN BIRMINGHAM. FEMALES. - Minnie Norton, Mary Worthington, Miss Sallie Starks, Miss Harriet Starks, Miss Maud Ruffins, Nora Ziegle, Effa Meadow, Mrs. Sarah George, Jennie Adams, Lena , Miss Ida King, Miss Florence Cole, Addie Avers, Annie Parker, Lula Eskew, Miss Alice Jones, Louisa Jaceson, Mary Nearing, Ella Foster, Fannie Henton. Miss Man,' Collins, Nianna Brown. Mrs. Lowe, Olivia Williams, Estella Bailey, Miss Pearl King, Ida Walker, Mrs. Lou . Addie Weaver, Mary Smith, Carry Jenkins, Edna Gardner, Miss Elsie Simms, Miss Mable Patterson, Katie Allen, Millie Dodson, Annah Edwards, Mrs. Pruet, Mrs. H. T. Thomas, Stella Bamy, Amanda Walker, Mrs. Annah WoodcliflF, Mrs. Monrovia Norton, Susan Williams. AIALES. Willie Goodgcr, Joe Edwards Mr. Wade, E. K. Fondivillc. Mr. Gibbs, Frank Calhoun, Dr. A. S. Hill, Dentist, Robert Smith, John Foster, Gabe Robertson. J. Collins (brother to M. Collins), S. O. Turner, Richard Claboumer, Bob Harris, Jno. Edwards. Joe Malone, P. K. Smith, Westley Linsey, Carl Wagner, Jack Clark, Sam Coleman, A. L. Epps, Mr. Floyd, Sam Marret, Mr. Robt. Buchanon, Elbert Henry. NicK Victory, Rev. Jas. Kelly, Rev. A. J. Roanoke, Moses Jordan, James Robertson, Joe Robertson. (66) L.ofC. SURVIVED THE DEATH PIT. MRS, ANNIE BRADFORD, 270 63RD STREET, WOODLAWN, ALA., ES- CAPED ALIVE, HAS RECOVERED AND TESTIFIES. I was at the church that dreadful night. I was in the gallery. The house was so crowded thac I thought 1 would go out before the crowd blocked the door. 1 said to Mrs. Clark, my company, who was also dreadfully mashed, Come, let us go; it is so warm in here, rmd these people are going to crowd the door after a while. Mrs. Clark consented to go and we started out. Prof. Washington's speech was grand, but I could not wait un- til it was finished, although he was about getting to his closing time. We had reached the bottoan of the gallery stairs before the crowd began to pack us up. We moved on, however ; and reached the lower part of the upper thirteen steps which led ti> the vestibule. We were about the third step above the portico which is on top of the outside thirteen steps. All of a sudden a rush came and knocked us down. People were ahead of us and fell as we fell. W' e helped to form a second layer of fallen people as we piled up with, it seemed, hundreds piled upon us. It was utterly im- possible to move or get out. Our heads were out because we were so low down and so near the outside corner of the brick walk, and only one layer of people under us. I was lying fastened down tight on a little thin woman and a big fat man. The woman laid (juive still — I don't know whether she was dead or not ; the man kept trving to get out but he couldn't. Women and men were scrambling, it seemed, in death over me. I noticed the police l)ull a dead woman from en top of me. The man I was lying on asked for a drink of water. A man brought the water and gave it to tiim, and gave me some, too. I think the water saved both of us. I was so hot that it seemed that I would burn up. After they got the people pulled oflf the upper part of the pile, and got down to me, I was lifted out by some men. They carried me across the street and one of them, a delegate, sat down and laid my head across his bosom and called for water for me, at tho same time he kept saying, "These people here are crazy, just let- ting our folks die for the want of water.'' He called to some women to come and take me in charge after he saw that I would live. He went to get another one. I don't know who he was; (67) 68 THE TRUMPET BLAST. I have not seen him since. I never heard any alann of fi^it or fire, althoug^h I notice the papers give an account of such alarms. I was carried home and laid in bed, unable to be up, about a week. I was dreadfully mashed about my limbs and thought I would not get over it, but the doctor cheered me up and assured me that no bones were broken. I think that the dying screams and groans of those that fell on top of me and further up the steps did me more harin than the fall or mash did. My company, Mrs. Clark, was badly injured. I am afraid she will never fully recover. The dying people over me nearly pulled my hair out. They would scream and groan and catch hold of anything they could get their hands on, and pull for life. I asked a man who was trying to rescue us to put my hair up for me. The man did the best ho could uttering a few words of svmpathy. I saw that our sympathizers were doing all they could for us. T, therefore, waited patiently for my turn to be rescued. They tell me that I was packed dow-n there one-half an hour, but it seemed much longer to me. I never want such experiences any more. WHAT THE NATIONAL T.APTIST CONVENTION THINKS OF THE CATASTROPHE. REPORT AS TO ACCIDKXT. The following statement was read from the conniiittee: 'A\'e, your committee, apjiointed to consider the matter of Friday evening's disaster at tlie Shiloh Baptist Church of Bir- mingliam, Ala.. w3iich resulted in the death and injury of many jirecious lives, report the following: "The excitement that took ])!ace on the choir jjlatforni was caused hy an altercation between two individuals over a seat, and the Cmvention as a body disclaims any responsibility for the same. "The statement that there is a defect in the architecture of the church is misleading, and should l)e corrected by stating that the workmanship and plan is in every sense modern and perfect. "\\'e also recommend that the pastors of the various churches of Binuingliam be ai)pointed as a committee to take in hand the collections to be taken from time to time during this meet- ing and all outside contributions for the benefit of the dead and injured. "The gratitude of this Convention is hereby ex])ressed to the citizens of Birmingham irrespective of race for their speedy as- -istance in releasing the suiTering and dying on the night of the disaster and to all others who have ofifered pecuniary aid. "We extend our sympatliy to Pastor W^alker, since this calam- ity occurred in his church. "The sympathy of this Convention is hereby extended to the suffering and bereaved, commending them to the will of the Creat Head of the Church who floeth all things well. W. G. Johnson, Chairman ; L. F. Camp1)ell, J. L. Dart. Done by order of the Convention : E. C. Morris, President ; W. ].. Cansler, Secretary. (09)