Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-01-20
From the Boston Journal
THE CALAMITY At LAWRENCE.
FURTHER DETAILS.


The excitement and horror which had
filed the city spread far around in the
neighboring country.
Approaching within five or six mil es
Of the city between twelve and one
o'clock in the morning, people were found |
riding and walking to OF from the scene
Of disaster. Every house was lighted
up, and knots of people stood by the
roadside, eagerly listening to the latest
news.
At that distance, bright light was
seen reflected in the sky, and it was af-
forwards found that the devouring ele-
ment had seized upon the pile of frag-
ments, obliterating all hopes of saving
any of those who had not been reached,
and ending all the lingering misery with
q misery more intense, though happily
shortened. As the city was neared, the
appearances of excitement increased
The whole community seemed to be
abroad, and a wild throng gathered about
the ruins, which were still fiercely burn
ing.
Of all the number employed in the
mill, twenty-eight dead bodies were taken
from the ruins, and nearly as many more,
who were more or less injured, and prov
ided for at the City Hall. Many escaped,
bleeding and wounded, went to their
homes, so that it is impossible to tell how
many persisted. 1t is estimated, how
ever, three hundred were lost in the
ruins, besides those who were taken out.
About o'clock, fire from the furnace
communicated with the ruins, and soon
enveloped them with sheet of lurid
flame. At Il o'clock, all hope of saving
the lives of any of those in the building
was given up in despair. Engines were
still throwing water upon the fire in the
morning, and an immense throug of peo-
pie waited spell-bound viewing the scene.
At y O'Clock the last part of the build
ing fell towards the East, being support
ed on the westerly side by wings and out
buildings. At IL o'clock dispatch was
sent for the Manchester steam fire en-
CINE, and besides this, engines were pres
ent from Methuen and North and South
Andoyer, and were employed upon the
fire far into the morning.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING.
The building destroyed was built six
years ago. 1t was two hundred and
eighty feet long and seventy feet wide,
with wing forty-fve by fifty. 1t was
situated on the South side of Canal street,
and separated from that street by the
canal which supplied the water power OF
this and other mills. The building was
five stories in hight and contained twen-
ty-seven hundred spindles.
The machinery was carried by water
and the building was heated by steam
generated by boiler situated in an out
building connected with the main on the
south end. The theory that tue fall o.
the building was caused by the explosion
of the boiler, is deemed fallacious. Ir
fact the location Of the boiler in relation t
the main building, makes that impossible
DESCRIPTION BY ONE OF THE RESCUED
The shock was very sudden and tn,
crash immediate. Those who are abl,
to give q definite account of the sound
and scenes of the dreadful moment, unit
in this statement. John Ward, whom
our reporter found bruised and wounde,
by the side of his wife, who was also Sc
riously injured tells a straight forwar
story.
He was in card room in the seconr
story, with the Second Overseer, abou
to light up that room. They heard
slight noise, and looking up, he saw som
shafts falling down. He was astounde
with what he saw, and seeing the eeilin
coming down, while the floor beneat
him gave away, he stood terrified. H
had no power to move. The next me
ment he saw the Overseer running fror
the room, and he followed him.
He went toward window and it fe
out He gave up all hopes OF life, bu
still pressed on towards that part of th
building where his wife worked. A pii
Of ruins ready to fall hung over his hea'
He Was struck on the head sever
blow, and lost all consciousness for
time. When he finally came to b
senses, he found himself In the ruins, ur
der an immense grindstone. which ha
shielded him from the falling ruins.
He remembers of hearing no cries fc
heIp. but as he worked his way out +,
the building he saw three women lyin
dead. He thinks be saw as many {
sftesn persons in the weaving room 2