October 29, 1973

A calm, steel-nerved pastor told about 225 elementary school children and adult parishioners to "hold on and leave orderly" as fire broke out at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Lansford during the 8 a.m. Mass today.Msgr. Joseph Baran made the announcement from the altar as smoke filled the church and fire Chief Norman Tippett directed the evacuation, assisted by nuns of the parish and other volunteers.The blaze of undetermined nature erupted in the men's section of the basement lavatory and spread to the ceiling of the social hall, resulting in thousands of dollars in damages.