Worcester daily spy., 1860-01-14
THE DISASTER AT LAWRENCE.
CoRoNOR's INQUEST.
JOHN PENDER's TESTIMONY.


| Am a wOolen manufacturer Ill the Wash
ington Mills l was in the yard when the mill
fell, at the west of it all l can say about the
falling is, that l looked and the mills were
there l looked again and saw vacancy l
went at once to.the scene with others, and
helped what we could we got the root OFT and
took out machinery, wood and bodies, there
were some men near me with lanterns, and,
| as they were not working or doing any good |
said to them, "For Gods sake take care of
those lanterns-there's cotton all aroundhere;"
saw four men going to hole with two Ian
terms, and shortly afterwards saw them come
| out with only one lantern, and a moment after
l saw the flames the men ran into the crowd
and after them to see who they were; but L
could not catch them; the lanterns were
guarded ones, and think they were filed
with oil; fwas within about six feet of where
the fire broke out and near me was one dead
body, and | could hear a voice below the ruins
and close to the fire; the fire took from the
loose cotton hanging about the carding ma
chine.
| JOHN PATTERsoN's TESTIMONY.
Am overseer of the weavers department on
the first floor, about the centre OF he building /;
the first L saw was the whole upper story COM
! ing down, the centre of the building being
lowest; | ran for safety and got out. lshould
say the mill commenced falling at the south
end and fell towards the south | got into a
room, almost, of the building; there lay for
about twenty minutes, when was rescued.
About five years ago pillar in the basement
settled, and the settliug continued all the way
to the roof; the pillar settled about two inches.
1t was not the foundation that settled but the
trouble was caused by the giving way of some
iron work at the top of the pillar l have
never considered the building unsafe, but have
heard various stories to that effect in the
weaver's department Three hundred and
four persons were employed in the weaving
department, and my opinion is that all but
about forty escaped with their lives.
RICHARD II. PLUMMER's TESTIMONY.
Was in the ruins when the fire broke out
was at work at the south end Of the mill,
helping to get out two girls who were in the
ruins; then went tc the middle of the build
ing with some carpenters to make a hole in a
floor; the hole was made. and one or two
dead bodies found ; we found some machinery
Jammed together and beneath it were some
persons whom we wished to get out we tried
to pry the machines apart, but did not sue
coed; various men then went to work to clear
away with axes and bars, and two men held
lanterns to see to work by by some accident,
one OF the lanterns broke or fell, and when the
lame struck the cotton the fire at once sprung
up; we did all we could to stop the fire, but
did not succeed the breaking of the lantern
was an accident without doubt there were
people alive in the mill where the fire broke
out, and | myself took out one boy afterwards
with broken leg.
WILLIAM BARBER's TESTIMONY.
was at the mill before and after the fire
broke out, but not at that time the fire broke
out about half an hour after | left; several
persons had lanterns and were searching fer
bodies in the ruins when | left had lantern
myself; kept it with me all the time and
carried it home; | am acquainted with Mr..
Corllss OF Providence, who put up the shaft
ing; never heard him express the opinion
that the building was unsafe never noticed
any more shaking than is usual in cotton
mill; l have never examined the building,
but have thought it light never knew of any
difficulty in securing help on account of the
insecurity of the building.
LAWRENCE, Jan. 18th, 1860.
STEPHEN wALLAcE's TESTIMONY.
am mason; l helped build the mill; 1
began the first day, and stayed through as it
was finished; know there was water flowing
out around the foundation; 1t used to wash
out white sand-what we call quicksand l
supposed 1t would wash out in time and prove
dangerous; have visited the ruins, and have
ct seen no indication of the foundation having
settled; the walls were what we call 20 inch
walls, with an open space of four inches in the
center, with the corners solid two feet, and
the door jams one foot solid, and the window
jams four inches at the piers the ties went up
solid. never worked on building of this
size with such weak walls have worked on
two-story building where the walls were no
better than these; | never heard from any per-
son that the original intention was to have the
building only three stories high the bricks
were hard to lay, but made solid work after
they were done the walls would have been
much stronger, had the pastering been con-
tlnued to the top. | did not consider the
walls safe for such a building as that, 1 fire.
quently expressed myself TO the hands and
others; used to talk with Mr.. Coolidge some
but never with Mr.. Bigelow | think l have
told Mr. Coolidge / thought the building un-
safe.
TESTIMONY OF HORACE KNOWLES.
am carpenter and live in Lawrence
worked on the Pemberton Mills; there was no
contract but made statement of what |
would do; | received from Capt Bigelow
specifications of the size of the tmbers, &C.
There was plan at the office of the Essex
Co; do not know that the plan was altered |
think there was some talk of having the build
ing only four stories high, but received no d.
rectlons; the materials furnished were order
ed for five stories the work was paid for in a
round sum think now it was settled to have
tive stories. The timbers for the third story
were cut under the supposition that the pilas-
tiers would not be discontinued; projections
were built out to secure bearing do not
think these projections added much strength.
The mill was wider than any other | was
ever occupied upon. The width of the mill
would require thicker walls. l think the
Pacific is the next narrowest; it is II feet
wide. The Pemberton Mill was 81 A; do not
recollect whether | ever worked on any
building with such thin walls. | never eX-
| pressed any opinion as to the insecurity of tile
brick work, but have as to other parts; thought
the snoring was not strong enough. The caps
resting upon the pillars were insufficient to give
the support required of them. l thought the
pillars were not large enough. Mr.. Dodge,
my partner, expressed the same opinion; they
were liable to break. | never saw mill with
SO much space for windows it very materially
weakened the walls; think the walls were
hardly strong enough upon the east side.
L have never been called to the mills for the
purpose OF covering up or concealing the
cracks; l have been called on to do work in
the spinning room | covered up one crack
there, but | do not think the work was done
with especial reference to covering the crack
don't recollect ever having any suspicion
that was ever called to the mill for the espe-
clal purpose OF covering up any crack | did
have some conversation with Mr.. Chase about
the alterations, in which we remarked that
they would cover up the cracks
Ihls witness hesitated somewhat in his tes.
umony, and an impression that he desired to
eYade direct answers was created on the Jury
and spectators.
While was at work on the Pacific, one of
the pintles in the Pemberton Mill broke, caus-
ing the mill to settle Mr.. Hodgeman, think,
made the repairs; | made a remark at the
time to some person that | thonght the nintles