Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-01-20

was the emotion alone exhibited by
either.
From the same man it was ascertained
that the building was divided into depart
ments as follows: On the first floor was
the weaving room; on the second floor
a carding room on the third floor
spinning room on the fourth, spinning
and carding rooms on the fifth, dressing
and spooling rooms. The dyer's and
pickers' rooms were on the first floor of
a connected outbuilding.
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
The dead and wounded taken from the
ruins were conveyed to the City Hall,
where every possible provision was made
for the comfort and restoration of the
wounded. At the time of the arrival of
our reporter at two o'clock in the morn
ing, the scene here was dreadful beyond
comparison.
Twenty-seven dead bodies had been
removed as they died, to an adjoining
room. Among these were the old and
the young; nearly all presenting spec
tacle of ghastly wounds and bruises, and
showing signs of painful death. A few
only of the faces were calm and placid.
The City Hall was made into a hospital.
There was a circle of couches all around
the room, on each of which laid suffer
er, attended by friends whose sad conso-
lation it was to find them here instead of
in the blackened ruins.
A large number of physicians were
in attendance on the wounded, while 9TH
ers, exhausted with continual watching,
working and waiting, over broken limbs
and bruised bodies, reclined on vacant
mattress for q brief rest. Some of the
sufferers were groaning in agony, some
were wild with delirium in the last mo-
ment, others quietly breathed their last,
or bore their suffering in silence. Every
where was blood, bruises and broken
limbs. Nearly every one of the wound
ed here had leg or an arm broken. TIC
one unfamiliar with the scenes of the
dead house or the hospital the spectacle
was loathsome, sickening, horrible.
The alarm spread through the city like
wildfre, and the whole population rush
ed to the scene of the disaster. Dead
bodies or wounded persons taken from
the ruins and recognized by their friends
were taken away by them to their OWL
homes.
! For the present it is almost impossible
to ascertain how many are wounded OF
dead. Out of about six hundred a
work in the immediate portion of the
building which fell, few escaped unhurt.
TERRIBLE SCENES.
! Witnesses of the ruins when those in
side were crying for aid, describe th'
scene as appalling. Some of those la
cerated by the falling machinery, with NJ
hope oil. escape, were excited to despera
ton. Morris Palmer, one of the over
seers, who had long implored aid, threat
ened to destroy his own life; and in hi
/ despair he attempted to cut his throa
with his pocket knife. But it is believes
he died of internal injuries. He was
man highly esteemed by his fellow citiz
ems. Warm tributes of respect are ais
paid to Lafayette Branch, another over
seer who perished.
John E. Chase, Agent of the mill.
and S. @. Howe, the Treasurer, wer
passing through the mill when the frs
crash was heard. They rushed into tn
wing of the building, which RENAME
standing. In passing out through th
door, Mr.. Howe fell, and was trample
on by several behind him before he coul
rise. He escaped, however, without s.
rious injury.
Some exhibitions of heroism and pre-
ence of mind accompanied the spectacl
of the wild multitude. Miss o. Bridge
Calais, Me-, who worked in the fft
story, seized the hosting chain of tt
elevator, and went safely down fiv
stories to the ground, and escaped from th
building without injury. Through tt
whole night she was at the City Hal
passing an angel of mercy among ii
= couches of the sufferers, anticipatiI
every want, relieving pain, and breatl
e ing words of comfort and consolation
e the wounded and dying.
i MIRACULOUS ESCAPES.
The circumstances attending the deli
cry of the operatives from their livir
grave, constitute in themselves a stal
! ling chapter. Among those foremost
their efforts to save life were Gen. O
: yer, who, with the greatest self-possessi'