EASTER AT THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 101, 9 April 1907, Page 3

EASTER AT THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.

At the door, says a writer m the 'Sunday Strand,' the soldiers were trying to beat the crowd into quiet order. It was a hand-to-hand fight for fife. Each moment threatened The fatal disaster of a stampede such as few situations oould afford. Two of the guards came to our rescue. Shouldering arms, they forced an entrance, giving instructions to the guards that, under no circumstances should we lose our hold of each other. The heartless creatures fought their way through the excited multitude,, grasping our guide m a firm grasp from which he could not free himself. Fairly dragged through the dark, narrow hallways, we, stumbled up perpendicular stairs, crawled along winding passages, up and up, on and on, without a moment's halt; breathless or panting we still clung together, finally landing far above the riotous scene, which assumed an alarming aspect m the vicinity of the Sepulchre. The struggle was almost deadly m its force, as men, women, and children fought like demons or wild beasts m their determination to secure or hold a given place. Bells rung, gongs sounded, women scolded— l have no doubt men swore. Priests were trying to complete the arrangements, pausing only now and then to knock a woman or man down from some porch, high above the crowd. I have suffered many things m my day at the hands of a crowd, but this was my extreme experience. As we looked down from our point of vantage we saw a quivering, mass of humanity swaying with each blow dealt by the semisavage soldiers who were clearing a way for the grand march which was about to take place.