The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-01-13
Hundreds of Human Beings
Ushered into Eternity.
HEART RENDING SCENES
The Mutilated, Dying and Dead.
THE RUINS ENVELOPED IN
FLAMES.
THE CITY IN A PANIC.
Two Hundred Lives Lost by
Fire.
Frantic Shrieks of the Victims.

- a. W
Frantic Shrieks of the Victims.
From the Boston Journal, Jan. II.
The painful duty devolves upon US to-day
of recording one of those fearful casual,ie,
which fortunately occur at infrequent inter
walls, by which hecatombs of lives are sacri
feed at one fell swoop of the destroying an
gel. The main body of the Pemberton mills
at Lawrence, fell at about o'clock yester
day afternoon, in one mass of ruins, buryine
several hundred operatives. The destruction
of the portion Of the building which fell, wa.
complete. 1t was literally leveled with the
ground, and its occupants were instantly land
without note of warning. crushed under
the falling timbers and machinery. We Civ.
some particulars as related to US by gentle
man who was at the scene of the disaster.
The mill consisted of large main build
ing Of six stories in hight, and Of two small
wings. Nearly all of the main building fell
a general alarm was at once raised. The
bells were rung, anu as the sad story flew
from mouth to mouth. it created genera
panic. Thousands focked to the scene Of
the disaster. very many of whom had rela
tives and friends in the mill.
Measures were promptly taken to clear the
ruins and relieve those who might survive
The mill employed about six hundred opera
tives, some of whom had fortunately left al
three o'clock, and others were in the wing.
which were not destroyed. From the bes
information which our informant could oh
tain, there were probably from three to fix.
hundred buried in the ruins. Of these for
ty had been taken out dead when the trair
left, at half past ) o'clock p NJ. About one
in four who were taken out, were dead; ant
nearly all the others were more or les,
wounded, some of them probably fatally.
The scene in the streets of Lawrence wa,
agonizing in the extreme. Husbands and
wives, parents and children, were rushing te
ana fro, wrlnging their hands, and calling 70,
missing relatives. The manglcd bodies of
the dead and of the wounded were conveyed
from the scene of the disaster as soon as re.
covered, in vehicles or filters, or in the arms
Of friends. Their appearance was heart sick.
enlng. The groans of those who were
still buried under the ruins could be heard
for great distance, and with the screams Of
relatives and friends, added to the fearful ex.
citement Will h everywhere prevailed.
Everything was being done that human
excr,ions could achieve, to relieve those who
were yet living. 1t was feared however, tina,
more than ,wen,y-fonr hours mus, e..apse be-
fore the ruins could be so far cleared ava,
that the full extent of the loss of lite would
be known.
BY the full account furnished bv the tele.
graph, II will be seen that the disaster is still
more calamltous than we had supposed when
the above was penned. At few moments
before midnight the whole mass of ruins
broke out into one sheet of fame. and in a
short time hut mass Of smculd ring ruins
and charrcd bones remained. 1t is supposed
that not less tina" t,co hundred lires wrle Lost
by fire alone.
LAWRENCE. Mass, Jan. lO-ePM. One
of the most terrible catastrophes on record
occurred in this city this afternoon.
The Pemberton Mills fell. with sudden
crash. about five o'clock. while some GOO or
100 operatives were at work. The Mills are
a complete wreck. and some 200 or 300 are
still supposed to be buried in the ruins.
Eighteen dead bodies have already been
taken out, and some % mortallv wounded.
besides some so in diFeren, stages o: multi.
alton.
At present, it is impossible to give any,
thing like correct account of the loss of
life. but, from the best authority. it is beliey
I'd that at least two hundred are dead in the
ruins.
1t is impossible as yet to tell the cause Of
the disaster.
Our reporter has just come from the ruins
and the scene there begsars all dissertation.
Some two or more acres of ground are piled
up with every description of machinery. and
the fallen building.
Huge honflres are burning, to light some
two or three thousand persons who are work
ing for their lives to rescue the unfortunate
persons, many of whom are still CRYING and
begging to be released from their torturcs.
Every few minutes some poor wretch is
dragged from his or her prison, and it is
heart-rending to hear their cries as they are
drawn out, with legs or arms crushed or torn
out.
One man. shockingly mangled, and partly
buried under the bricks, deliberately cut hi,
OWL throat to end his agony.
The whole city seems in mourning. MANY
are running through the streets, and with
frantic cries are searching the ruins.
Temporary hospitals have been ARRANGED
for those who have been taken from the ru-
ms.
Many stand at the ruins, frisid with de.
spair. Often terrible crash caused BY the
clearing away. threatens death to those who
may still be alive in the ruins.
Gangs of men, with ropes, are constantly
dragging out huge pieces of the wreck which
lmprison so many. Some of the rescuers
are killed in their humane efforts.
Surgeons are coming from every quarter.
and everything that can be done at such a
a painful moment is being done for the suf.
Fering victims Of the fearful calamity. the
mystery OF which will have to be cleared In
by an inquest.
The building has never been considered as
stanch Us 1t ought to have been. 1t was built
about seven years >ince,a and was then thouoht
4 sham; indeed, before the machinery was
put in, the walls spread to such degree
hat some twenty-five tons of irons STAYS
we're put in to save the building from falling
rom its own weight.
The building appeared, from the best in
formation that can now be gathered, to crum.
Die and fall from the eastern corner. or end
owards the Duck Mill. 1t fell inwards. as
I powerfully drawn that way. The fire conn.,
'anies at once repaired to the spot, but,tbere
'elng no fire, they at once set to work with
will to remove the rubbish. They very
;oon reached some of the rooms, so that the
lead and wounded were taken out as fast 40
hrv conl,l l,o ro..Ll Ss -"