Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-01-12
Gaitst ba Gtlrarapb.
FHE PRMBERrON oALAMIrY.
400 VICTIMS BURNED I


bANhhhVh mhte,, jan ~,
The most terrible catastrophe on record
occurred ia this city this afternoon The
Pemberton mills fell with sudden crash
at about o'clock, while some six or seven
hundred operatives were at work The
mills are a complete wreck Some two or
three hundred persons are supposed 10 be
stil in the ruins At present Il is impossi-
bic to give any thing like correct statement
Of the loss Of life, but from the best author
tiles i is believed that at least 200 are dead
in the ruins
Second Dispatch.
ll30 p. M.--Citizens were warned by
the cry Of Gre which proceeded from the
Pemberton mill, about four fiiths Of which
had fallen a shapeless mass without the
slightest warning to the nearly 500 human
beings who we're there at work The build
ing was never considered to bo as staunch
as il ought 10 have been. II has been built
about eoven years, and was then thought
sham; indeed, before the machinery was put
in the walls spread 10 such an extent that
some % tons of iron slats were pot in TO
save il from falling by its own weight
From the best information that can be gath
cred, the building appeared TO crumble and
fall from the eastern corner or end IL fell
inwards. The FIRE department at once re-
paired TO the spot but there being no FIRE,
they at once set TO work with will 10 re.
move the rubbish. They very soon reached
some rooms, so that the dead and wounded
we're taken as fast as they could be reached
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
deeply buried in the ruins all the time, and
thinking there was no prospect Of being ex,
tricated, ont his throat to end his suiieringE
still he was taken out and lived some time.
One woman in the part of the mill still
standing, became frightened.and threw herr
self out of the fifth story door, breaking an
arm and injuring herself so that she cannot
recover. The laboring force of the mill is
about 900, and il is supposed that about 700
were actually buried in the ruins. A woman
just rescued says there are some % more in
the vicinity Of her yet alive.
About past 9 FIRE was discovered; this
additional horror struck terror to the hearts
that had before 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, SO that at ll.30 the fire
was not seen to gain, and hopes are enter.
tuined that it will be stayed. Those near
the breaking out Of the FIRE were almost on
the point Of rescuing a woman, not much
hurt, but the flames drove them back and
the woman is supposed to have perished.
The Mayor has telegraphed for the Lowell
fromen, who will arrive about l o'clock.
MIDNIGnT.-Calamitys succeeds calamity.
In fifteen minutes the whole mass Of ruins
has become one sheet of flame; the screams
and moaning Of the poor buried creatures
can be distinctly heard, but no person can
save them.
1.30 A. M-The Pemberton Mills are now
black smoking mass of brick, mortar and
human bones, promlscuously mingled
Probably not less than 200 human beings
perished in the flames
The Washington Mill was in great jeop,
ardy, the wind blowing towards the Duck
Mill whose counting room touches PemberN
ton Mills.
Through the almost superhuman
exertions of the tiremen, the Washington
Mills are now considered to be out of dam
ger. Of the Duck Mills the prospect is not
so good; every thing than can be done is
being done; fire companies are present from
all the neighboring towns.
Between and o'clock physicians were
in attendance at the City Hall and other
places wherever the injured need their SER
vices. The ruins having burned up, it will
be many days before true knowledge of
the killed and wounded can be arrived at
The fire which finally sacrificed the
buried human beings, caught without doubt
from lantern Of burning fluid which was
accidentally dropped
One fireman dropped dead on the street.
The streets are filled with q mass of hu.
man beings, every one eager to do, see and
hear.
Friends who before the fire were between
hope and fear, are now setting down in
hopeless despair.
A portion of the operatives had left for
supper previous to the falling of the build :
ing, about 600 remaining.
The building was about Eve stories high,
$50 feet long by 10 wide, with wing on
the west side As feet square, shaped like the
letter l.. 1t ran 2,700 spindles; 900 opera
tiyes were employed.
Among the physicians present, is DR..
Isaac Forrar of Brooklyn. Three persons
are known to have been literally roasted
alive.
The FIRE is subdued. Only two bodies
have been taken since the conAagration.
Coroner Lamb commences an inquest to-
day.
The building was uninsured
LATKR.-We have very little additional
news in regard to the dreadful catastrophe.
A large portion of the killed are young
girls, many Of them the main support OF
their parents.
The fire was confined to the ruins of the
Pemberton Mills. The loss of property is
estimated at 100000.
The Mayor has issued the following no.
tice
LAWRENCE, Jan. II.
Terrible as our calamity has been, think
it over estimated in the number killed. As
near as have been able to ascertain this
morning, l find the dead and missing which
is equivalent to dead lis, and 100 wounded;
some of the wounded will die, but very much
the larger number will survive
N. SAUNDERS, Mayor,