Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-01-14
Tho Late Horrible Catastrophe at Law
renee, Mass

INC Late ftOrTlDlc SdCuStTOplc Ut AuW-
renee, Mass.
We ind in the New York papers, the following
additional particulars in regard to the recent la
inevitable catastrophe Mt Lawrence, Mass, brief
Geographic notice Of which was givon in the Nir
gilman Of !, ursday, The first dispatch which is
dated Lawrence, Jan. 10, . r. NJ. snys:
ouc 81 tie most terrible cntastrophcs record
occurred in this city this afternoon. The Pcmber
ton Mil, fell with n sudden crash about 5 O'clock
while some six or seven hundred operatives were
Mt work.
The mills are complete wreck. Some two or
three hundred persons nrc supposed to be still III
he RUNS.
At present it ia impossible to give anything
like correct statement Of the loss Of lilc but
from the best authority it ls lievcl that at least
two hundred are dead in tho ruins Eighteen dead
bodies have been already taken out, together with
somc twenty-five persons mortality wounded be
sidcs some fifty in different stages of mutllation.
Mr. Chase, the agent of the mills. and Mr.. How.
the treasurer, escaped by running from the build
ing
1t is impossible ns yet to tell the cause Of the
d,sn~trr Our reporter il ust come from the ruins,
aud the Srrue beggars all description. some two
acres OF ground nro pulled up with every
description Of machinery, aud the fallen building.
Hugo hanircs nre burning to light some two or
three thousand persons who are working IA if for
der own lives, to rescue the unfortunate pcrsohs
many of whom still crying and begging to bo
released from their fortunes. Every few III nutcs
some pour wretch is dragged from his horrid
rriS II, and it is hcartrending to hear their cries
n, they are drawn out. with legs and arms crush
ed or torn. One man. shock,nsly mangled and
rarity under the bricks. deliberately cut his own
lhront To end his agoncs.
The whole city seems in mourning. Many are
running through the streets, and with frantic
cries searching tho ruins. Temporary hospitals
have h.en arranged for those rescued. Many
stand hv the wreck irgil with despair. Often u
terrible crash CAUSED by tic clearing away. threat
ems l44th to those who may still be alive in the
ruins.
General II. X Oliver is CONSPICUOUS and active
IL directing thsse persons Who ARE endcayorinS to
/ The victims of the disaster. Gangs OF men,
! with ropes below. nle constantly dragging out
1 huge pieces of the wreck which iinprison so many
| Some ii tho rescuers were killed in their humane
cituts Since we lett the scene If disaster reports
of moro of the dead and dying are constantly
coming 10 US. Surgeons are coming in from all
dlrcctlons, and everything that can be done ut
such painful moment is being done for the sui
| er,ng yctlmsof the fearful calamity the mystic
~ Of which will have To DO cleared up by an i'll
quest
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS
LAWRENCE, Jan. l0-ll Pm.
AZ about ten minutes of h,c o'clock this after
noon, citizens wero alarmed by the cry of fire,
winch proceeded from the Pembcl ton Mills, about
four hiths OF which had fallen, shapeless mass.
without tho slightest warning to the nearly eight
hundred human beings who were then tat work
The building WAS never considered 10 he rs
stnunch rs il ought To have been. 1t was built
about seven years since. and was then thought n
sham, Indeed, before the machinery was put in
no walls spread to such degree that some TWEEN
tv-two tons of iron plates put in TO save il
from falling by It's weight
From the hes. information that can be now
gathered the building appeared 10 crumble and
tall from the eastern corner or end towards the
Duck mill. 1t feu inwards rs if powerfully
drawn that way.
Tho fire com panic, at once repaired to the spot
but there being no fire, they Immediately set t,
work with will to remove the rubbish They
very soon reached some of the rooms and the deat
aud wounded were taken out as fast rs they coult
be reached.
Mr.. Charles Batchcldcr helped to remove som,
twenty six i'll various cunditons--soue still Twins
others dead and terribly mutilated.
Mcssrs. Chase, Clark Patterson tor Tatterson)
Melvin and Winn, overseers and clerks, ar,
safe.
= MIR. Branch, an ovcrseer, has not been found
The City Hall has bees converted into n temro
rary hospital for the dead and wounded, to re
main there until recognized by their frnds nj
though scores were recognized and taken at ono,
u their homes.
Twenty ct the wounded are now Mt the Hall
9 There are twenty-five corpscs, only six whicl
2 have been recognized.
e Mr. Palmer wns deeply buried in the ruins q
the time, and thinking there was no prospect o
being extricated cut his throat to end his suffer
ings. Still he was. extricated and lived for som,
D tn'e after arriving at the hall
One woman in that part the mill still stand
ing became frightened. and threw her bonnet ant
shawl out Of fifth story door and jumped GU
herself. breaking her and iniuring herself $,
that she cannot recover.
The ab,ring force of the mill was about min,
: hundred and sixty, and it is supposed that abou
seven hundred human beings were actually luret
in The ruins.
\ woman has just been rescued. who says Their,
are some twenty-five more in the vicinity of he
relative.
About half past o'clock the fire was discovered
This additional horror, although somewhat appre
hcnded struck terror to the hearts that had before
been hopeful of saving more lives. Still the WORK
OF emoval went brskly on The force pumps AM
oil the engines which were the ground ut once
got streams of water on, and have been pouring on
: torrents-so that now tll:30 p. m.) although vol