Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-01-14


who before the fire were alternating between
hope and fear are now settling down in hopeless
despair.
The disaster at Lawrence, on Tuesday, marks
a day in history of the present year with fear
full tale of horror. Everything considered, the
fall of the Pemberlon mill with 800 persons in
side, and the connagration of the ruins while
hundreds were buried helplessly beneath them,
is the most appalling event that we remember
to have befallen so many persons. Scarcely
ever did war, in so brief space of time, count
an equal number of victims. The details as
they come in, do but add to the horrows of the
earlier dispatches, and while they render certain
and almost unparalleled loss of life the loss is
happily not as great as was at first feared.
The Pemberton mill was chartered in 1858,
and the factory was erected soon afterwards.
John A. Lowell and Samuel Lawrence were the
leading owners. Its size may be inferred from
the fact that it contained 600 looms and 10000
spindles. 1t was three hundred feet long by 81
feet wide. The mill was involved in the failure
of Lawrence Stone & Co., and was sold by
auction late in 1857. 1t was purchased by Mes
srs David Nevins and George Howe for $780,
600. The original cost was SS00,000 The
present owners have run it about two years.
The main building was in the form of paral-
telegram. 1t was built Of brick, five stories
high, and has always been considered one of
the finest mills in Lawrence 1t had a fiat roof
with an ornate eveing. The exterior was of
handsome appearance, with very large windows
extending through two stories. The spinning
rooms were high studded, long and narrow
without partitions, and crowded with looms
1t is supposed the strength of the mill has been
severely tried by the recent introduction of
heavy fancy looms. The goods manufactured
were principally ticks, denims, stripes and fan
cy cottons, and have always taken the highest
rank for superiority and worth. The operatives
were mostly girlsj great many of them were
of Scotch origin, and were regarded as the most
skillful and faithful operatives in Lawrence.
At about o'clock, Tuesday afternoon, when
the mill was being lighted and was then in full
operation, disaster, with one sudden crash over
took its hundreds of inmates. The falling of
the walls commenced at the southeast corner,
where, portion of the brick work, fifteen feet
high, was seen by a bystanders to force itself
outwardly. In less than a minute thereafter, the
walls of the mills, with the exception Of the
chief wing, were precipitated into hdeous
mass of ruins The noise produced by the aw-
ul event was said by some to resemble that of
a terrible snow slide-a quick, sharp rattle, Civ
ing promotion of the occurrence of an awful
catastrophe. The sound was heard quite dis
lance, and was regarded by many individuals as
the shock of an earthquake.
The people present then went earnestly at
work to rescue the imprisoned victims, and to
relieve the immediate necessities of those who
could not be Immediately removed At late
hour man entered the ruins carrying a cam
phene lantern. STOPPING down to give water
to person buried there, he dropped the Lam
tern and the cotton was instantly ignited. This
was the easterly corner of the building and the
wind blowing from that quarter, the fire in a
few minutes swept over the entire ruins and the
remaining wing. This additional horror, al
though it had been somewhat apprehended.
struck terror to hearts that had before been
hopeful eff saving more lives. Still the work of
removal went briskly on. The force pumps and
all the engines which were on the ground at
once got streams of water on. and kept pouring
on torrents until at midnight it was hoped the
fire had been stayed. Volumes of smoke & steam
were still rising, however, and few moments
later the flames broke out afresh and with such
increased violence that hope fled from that instant
The screams and means of the poor creatures,
burning and scalding in their charnel house.
could be distinctly heard above the roar Of the
flames and the shouts of the firemen, zealousy
and desperately renewing their labors. Words
are unavailing to describe the excitement of
that fearful period; but it lasted only for a few
moments and all was over to the wretched suf-
ferers within the wreck, now forever released
from the pains of earth.
1t is impossible yet to determine the number
of the dead. 1870 dead bodies have been re-
moved to the city Hall, or have been delivered
to recognizing friends. 1t is admitted by those
who have gone into the investigation that at
least 80 bodies remained under the wreck of
the mill, Thursday noon. There are from $50
to POO wounded most of whom will recover.
The total loss of property is put down at
S6OO,000. There was an insurance of S4l5 900.
but the insurance will not apply except to the
actual damage done by the confiagration after
the mill had fallen, which will be Compare
lively small amount.