The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-27
The Great Calamity at Lawrence.
LAWRENCE, Mass, Jan. Is.

LAWRENCE, MASS, y an. 10.
The BODY of L. F. Branch was found
found to day, and the four other bodies
previously recovered were identified as those
of Margaret and Catharine Harringer,
Ellen A. Hern, and j. Thomas.
Services, appropriate to the occasion,
were held in all the churches in this city this
morning.
The work on the ruins is suspended to-
night.
The Mayor of Lawrence has issued the
following:
"In view of the great calamity which
has fallen on the community from cloud
less sky, crushing it with weight of misery
which no earthly power can raise, shrouding
it with cloud of anguish which no human
hand can dispel, binding it in chains of woe
which despair cannot break, recommend
and earnestly beseech that on Tuesday next,
all the residents of Lawrence refrain from
their avocations and labor that they set
apart that day as one of prayer that they
then go into their respective places of wor-
ship, to join in those religious ceremonies
which the occasion demands, and there pub
licly ask of God that He would temper our
affection with mercy that He would restore
to health those languishing in pain and
suffering that He would provide with
fathers care for the orphan and widow !;
that He would comfort and support those
bereft of husband and wife, parents and
children that He would so order this signal
destruction of life and property as that good
may come out of our great evil, and that
our experience may teach wisdom through
out the land. B. SAUNDERS, Jr., Mayor.
The Duck Mills, located near the ruins of
the Pemberton, have stopped work. The
operatives refused to continue labor until
the building has been thoroughly examined
as to its safety.
We copy from the Boston Bee, of Jan.
18th, the following detailed accounts of the
disaster, the falling of the building, and how
it originated
The mills building, as has already been
noted. fell with tremendous crash shortly
after five O'Clock on Tuesday afternoon. 1t
was as sudden as it was fearful. Very few,
if any of the operatives were aware OF the
impending danger until it came upon them
in the fall of the gigantic walls, ponderous
floorings, mach inery, and other numerous
contents of the building. It was the fearful
work of an instant. Two scenes of wider
or more painful contrast could not be i'm.
agined. A mill in full operation, with
several hundred men, women and children
quietly performing their accustomed labor,
on the one side; its unheralded destruction,
producing devastation and the most horrible
Of Hoofho tho ofhor T Of bo <Lo, ~
that few such scenes meet the eye or pain
the heart
The origin of the catastrophe is variously
stated, but that which appears the more
probable, is defect in the foundation WALL
the more particularly in the upper or north
ern portion. 1t is also more than limited
that the walls of the building were INSULT
Gent for so heavy weight as was placed up
on them. The machinery was unusally
heavy, while the floors were immensely
massive, in this respect presented marked
contrast in proportion to the walls and
foundation. 1t is not improbable, that the
action of the frost on the foundation and
walls had something to do with it, warm
season suddenly following a very cold one.
As before limited, there are numerous reports
as to the origin of the catastrophe, some of
which are reasonable and others not. Those
above mentioned, so far as our enquiries
went, are nearest the true ones. The in
quest which is to be held, will be thorough,
and will, no doubt, bring out the real facts
OF the case.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING.
The building was erected in 1853, by the
Essex Company of Lawrence, for the Penn
berton Mills Company, and was of brick.
1t extended north and south, and was eight y
four fee. eight inches wide, 284 feet in
length. The cost of the whole, machinery
included, was about 81 100000 The work
of the building, as we ascertain, was done
by the day, and not on contract. 1t appears
that it had been :cbnsidefed: by competent
Judges, Of very !i8Ht CONSTRUCTION for the
'arhOdht of'lleaey machinery, &C., with which
it was filed. The: Fertilization was ::s,ink
sdme ten or twelve. feet aid 1t was supbosed
to be good and substantial. The walls
were about two feet four inches in thick.
ness, making the rooms eighty feet in width.
In each room there were twenty-eight iron
columns or supporter, set ten feet apart
one way and twenty-six the other. These
columns we're considered by many to be in
sufficient supporters. Over them them were
placed double beams. Between two beams.
and resting on the columns, large piece
iron, shaped something like spool, about
eighteen inches long, was placed upright, so
as to lock the beams together, the upper
end extending upwards into the column in
the room above.
There are several ways of staying these
columns, in use by builders, and Of all others
this would appear to be the most economi.
cal of iron. There have been instances
heretofore where these pintles have been
broken and let the beams sway off, and it
was thought that an accident of this kind
would be very dangerous to the building.
How it may be in the case in hand, it is
impossible to tell. The facts of the case can
only be arrived at by the Co1oner's investi.
cation. The building was double trussed
with iron rods. The floors were of three
thicknesses first, three inch spruce plank,
dowelled and laid across the beams, next
N inch spruce boards laid diagonally
arcoss the plank, and finally another flooring
of u inch Southern pine boards, also laid
oo,oco tho furo fvot