September 16, 1885
St. Paul, Minnesota
1000 women and children run screaming as a fight breaks out during church
The fight broke out between two groups in the church taking opposing sides regarding a scandal of a former pastor and his alleged adulterous affair with a girl from the congregation (“girl” in newspapers from the time often referred to women under the age of about 25, not necessarily a minor). During the “scandalous and rancid” fight, seemingly everyone was involved including the Holy Elder pulling the organist from his seat and beating him.
From The Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas) September 20, 1885