WILD WEDDING SCENE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3828, 7 August 1928, Page 4

WILD WEDDING SCENE

PANDEMONIUM IN A CHURCH

MARRIAGE OF FOUR SISTERS. CROWD OUT OF CONTROL. Wild scenes were Avitnessed at the wedding of four sisters at the Parish Church at Shoreditch, England, a few Aveeks ago. They are the daughters of Mrs. Burder, who owns a large fruit shop, and are so popular that most of the district wished to be present.

Long before the sisters, Avitli respective bridegrooms, arrived at the church, thousands of spectators had assembled. 'They blocked the road, pavement and churchyard. Men, boys and girls climbed the railings and hung from perilous positions, Avhile mothers with tiny babies and young children in their arms pushed and struggled to get a vienv of the bridal procession, and a strong cordon of police had great difficulty in clearing a Avay into the church.

The moment the main body of police withdrew a rush Avas made by the eroAvd, and men, women and children Avere lifted off their feet and swept into the church. Tavo of the most burly of the constables were swept out of the Avay. One of them who attempted to restore order Avas pushed into the small round AvindoAV in the door, and put him arm through it, bruising himself rather badly. The people Avho succeeded in entering the church ran helter-skelter down the isles. They climbed on to the altar rails in a little side chapel, stood on the peAVS, climbed on the font, and rushed up to the organ loft, where the organist was doing his utmost to droAvn the pandemonium. Babies screamed, and people shouted, laughed, and waved to each other from end to end of the church.

When the vicar, the Rev. F. E. Burch, entered for the service he stood for a moment amazed. He tried to speak, but his voice could not be heard above the din, so going round to the side chapel he ordered the people to climb down, and insisted on quiet and order before he Avould consent to proceed with the service. But silence only reigned for a minute, and the ceremony took place in a babble of sound.

Earlier in the day one of the sisters told a reporter that she did not know which of them would be married first, f,< as mother, who is

arranging everything, cannot makeup her mind whether we shall go in order of age or height.”