The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-23


LID .S. pS.,I a a..sTIOULARs--OsH LIFE LOST.
y,s,sd ,hs scsps North american, June a2l
TIE corner OF Mflin and Jefferson ss.aets ain 80
terday morning The ruins wero still snistinr. and
the Carol Hose Company was on the ground ..-iy
ing to entirely extinguish the blackened embers.
From rome If the workmen who were in the build
Ing at the time the fire was discovered. and from
other sources, we gathered additional information,
and are enabled to correct the report we had made
under the pressure of confusing circumstances.
The fire was caused by the friction Of the ma
chinery in the lower story, occupied by Messrs.
Mckeever H0aghtoA, manufacturers OF Kentucky
jeans. workman seized bundle Of cotton and
made an effort to smother the flames, but another
workman pulled him way aud kicked the cotton,
now on fire, into heap of the same material. The
flames spread with great rapidity, and in q short
time had such hesoway that 1t was found impossible
tn check them. There were five boilers In the base
ment, which would soon have exploded, Ii Mrs.
Hill the wife of one Of the sufferers, Mr. John Hill.
had not directed that the steam should be let of.
There were about one hundred and fifty persons
in the building at the time %he fire broke out,
and there was but one regular way of egress-
one staircase. Nearly all escaped in that way.
But in the fifth story were number Of persons at
work who knew nothing Of the fire until the flames
had devoured portion of the staircase, and the
smoke had appeared In the room. CONSERVATION
seized nearly all OF them, and al-there were ten
females OF various ages, and boy Of about Is years
and exertion of Mr.. Robert Greaves, cotton spin
her in the employ of Mr.. Holt. This man gathered
the party around the hatchway, except one little
GIRL who had fed down the stairs in the face of the
hames and, standing on the stean-pipe, lowered
them down one by one to the story beneath. He
then leaped down, just as the flames upon him.
Several OF the giris were taken from the windows
OF the third story by o ladder, and the rest slid
down rope placed for them. All Of them were
less scorched by the tire or lacerated by the
rope But lives were lost OF the party that
availed themselves Of the means Of escape. Mr..
Gieayes descended in the same manner as the girls,
hts frnn a oil mi
He is hero ia the best sense Of the word. The
little boy, Is years of age, named Lawrence Foman,
was 1T asleep in the building, and was burned to
death He was the son flrish parents residing in Iy
Ter st. near Thompson and was serving his first lay
in the factory The cotton made him SICK aud he laid
down to repose In that condition the fire overlook
i'm. and he perished No other lives were lost, "a
far we can learn but apprehensions will not be
relieved until the ruins are completely examined.
The injured are about twelve in number. No one is
dangerously hurt, except Susan Mcbride, the little
girl who descended from the fifth story by the burn
ing staircase She is much scorched and it is feared
that she ia internally INJURED.
Yesterday morning much excitement was created
in the vicinity of the fire by the discovery of the
crsped remains of q neck and scapula with flesh
ano brain attached. A physician examined them,
and pronounced them the remains of dog. But
they were detained at the drug store at the corner
OF Fifth and Jefferson streets, and at noon Coroner
Goldsmith arrived. The remains were pronounced
to be those of the missing boy An inquest was
held, and verdict rendered in accordance with the
facts. Why nothing was said about the detestable
man-trap Of the building we are at loss to under
stand.
Since writing the above we have learned that a
woman, who worked in the factory, ia missing.
Her relatives say they have seen nothing of her
since the beginning of the fire. The circumstances
lead to the conclusion that she also has persisted.
The loss of Messrs. Thurlow & Hughes the own
Of the building, ia stated at $4,000, 5000 Of
which ia covered by insurance.
The loss of Messrs. McKeever & Houghton, who
occupied the three lower stories of the building is
very heavy, and is only partially covered by insur-
ance.
The fourth story was occupied by Messrs. Rowe &
Phillips manufacturers of cotton goods. They had
large stock Of fine goods on hand, and much costly
machinery. Their loss is heavy and but slightly Of
fected by insurance.
The 9th story was occupied by Mr.. Richard Holt,
who has cotton spinning establishment in the vi
cinty of Paramount.
Other portions of the buildings destroyed were
cupied by Preston Mills, manufacturers of carpet
yarn, Messrs Elliott Montgomery, carders of can
ton flannel, Charles Wagonblast, skin dresser, and
Mr.. John Hill, dyer
The loss OF Preston Il Mills is about 81 ECO, on
which there is no Insurance. Mr.. Hill estimates his
loss in the dyehouse in the rear of the factory at
$4,000, on which there is no insurance.
The total loss win reach about SOS 0O0--much
less than had expected but still greet amount.
About $50 persons are thrown out of employment
by the disaster, and many Of them have not dollar
Of their own in the world.