The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-01-19
Ayv6u1 Catastrophe F:

Mass.-From 300 TO 700 Persons Buried IN
the Ruins.--Nearly all of them killed ana
Wounded.-The Ruins take Fire from
Fluid Lamp, and 200 Persons Perish in the
Flames, &c, &c.
LAWRENCE, Mass, Jan. 10, 9 O'Clock,
p M.-One Of the most terrible catastIo-
phies on record occurred in this city this
afternoon The Pemberton Mills fell
with a sudden crash at about o'clock,
while some 600 or 700 operatives were at
work.
The Mills are a complete wreck. 200
or 800 persons are supposed to be still IN
the ruins
At present it is impossible to give any
thing like a correct statement Of the loss
of life, but from the best authority 1T Is
believed that at least two hundred are
dead in the ruins Some Is dead bodies
have already been taken out together with
some % persons mortally wounded, besides
some so persons in different stages of mu-
tilation. Mr. Chase, the agent, and Mr..
Howe, the Treasurer, escaped by running
from the falling building.
1t is impossible as yet to tell the cause
of the disaster.
The scenes there beggar all description.
Some two or more acres Of ground are
piled up with every description of ma
chinery from the fallen buildings.
Huge bonfres are burning to light some
two or three thousand persons who are
working as if for their own lives, to res
cue the unfortunate persons, many of whom
are crying and begging to be released from
their terrors.
Every few minutes some poor wretch is
dragged from his prison and it is heart
rending to hear their cries as they are
drawn out with legs and arms crushed,
and to see one man shockingly mangled
and partly under the wreck, deliberately
cut his own throat to end his agony.
Temporary hospitals have been arran-
ged for their reception.
Another terrible crash caused by the
clearing away, threatening death to all
who may still be alive in the ruins, occurr-
ed.
Gangs of men with ropes below are con-
stantly dragging out huge pieces of the
wreck which imprison 50 many.
Some Of the rescuers were killed in
their humane efforts.
Surgeons are coming in from all direc-
tions, and everything that can be done at
such painful moment is being done for
the suffering victims of this fearful calam-
ity, the mystery of which will have to De
cleared by an inquest.
SECOND DESPATCH.
11:30 p. M.-About teu minutes after
5 O'Clock this 7. NJ, our citizens were
warned by the cry Of fire, which proceeded
from the Pemberton mill, about four-fifths
of which had fallen a shapeless mass,
without the slightest warming to near
ly 800 human beings who were there at
work
The building was not thought to be safe
1t was built about seven years ago, and
was then thought sham, indeed before
the machinery was put in the walls spread
to such an extent that scme % tons of
iron stays were put in to save it from fall
ing by its own weight.
From the best information that can be
now gathered the building appeared to
crumble and fail from the eastern corner
or end. 1t fell inwards. The fireman
at once repaired to the spot, but there
being no fire they at once set to work with
a will to remove the rubbish, they very
soon relieved some rooms SO that the dead
and wounded could be taken out as fast
as they could be reached Mr. Charles
Batcheldar helped to remove some %
in various conditions, some still living
Mr.. Branch, an oyerseer, has not been
found
The City Hall has been converted into
temporary Hospital for the dead and
wounded till recognized.
Mr.. Palmer was buried in the ruins all
the time, and thinking there was no pros
pect of being relocated, cut his throat to
end his sutferings, still he was taken out
and lived sometime.
The laboring force of the mill is about
$50, and it is supposed that about 700 hu-
man beings were actually buried in the
ruins.
About half past nine o'clock fire was
discovered. This additional horror struck
terror to the friends that before had been
hopeful Of saving more lives
Still the work of removal went on. The
force-pump and engines on the ground
were at once got to work, and have been
pouring torrents of water on the flames so
that at 1l:30, the fire does not seem to
gain, and hopes are entertained that it will
be stayed.
II, Midnight.-Calamity succeeds ca
lamity! In ten minutes the whole mass
of ruins has become one sheet of flame.
The screams and means of the poor burned
creatures can be distinctly heard, but no
power can save them.
The Washington mill was in great ieop-
ardv the wind bloui,o, to,v,rdc H. n