Show Thft Death of a Priest at the Altar An extraordinary accident happened yesterday morning in the Roman Catholic Cath-olic parish church of Kildare As the Very Rev Dr Kavanangh parish pnest was standing in front of the altar with his hands on the chalice to raise it at the close of 7 oclock mass and was about to descend the alter steps to recite the aiter pravers the marble figure of a cherub over the altar fell and struck him with great force on the head He fell back heavily murmured the words U My God twice and then became insensible in-sensible A cry of horror and anguish was raised by the congregation who witnessed the accident Some persons rushed forward to lift him up while others ran for medical help Three doctors doc-tors were soon in attendance and Dr vanagh was carried into the adjoining adjoin-ing convent where having never recovered re-covered consciousness he died soon afterwards The altar is a new marble one which was consecrated about a year ago by Archbishops Croke and Walsh The tabernacle was surmounted by a spireshaped canopy The four pillars which support the canopy have cones pJndin short pillars above their sping ing from each angle of the canopy and on these are forty cherubs The one wtjirti fell weighed over forty pouuds Dr Kavanagh officiated at the early mass yesterday morning instead of his curate because he intended to proceed to Dublin on business Dr Kavanagh was a native of Fern and having filled several professorships in Oatlow ollege was appointed President in 1864 ad was transferred to Kidare in IBS He took an active interest in the education controversy and was ap pain ed a membfr of the Royal Univer ity to represent the Ca houc cota ttfunitv He was also an ardent S tonI tiistSt Jim v fif1t August > n |