The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-01-25

operation, with several hundred men wO-
men aud children quietly performing
their accustomed labor, on the one side,
It's unheraIied destruction, producing de
Hastallon and the mos. horrible Of death
on the other. Let US be thankful that
lew such scenes ever meet the eve or pain
the heart.
The origin Of the catastrophe is vari.
onS stated, but that which appears the
more probable is Il detec, in the founda
ton wall, the more particularly in .heup
per or Northern portion. 1t is also hint.
ed that the walls Of the building were in d.
sufficient for so heavy weight as was
placed upon them. The machinery W $
unusually heavy, while the floors were
Immensely massive, and i'll this respect,
presented marked contrast in proper
ton to the walls and foundation. il is
not improbable that the acton of the
frost on the foundation and walls had
something to do with ii, a warm season
suddenly following II very cold one As
before hin,ed, there are numerous reporrs
as to the Origin of tie catastrophe, some
OF which are reasonable, and others are
not. those above mentioned, SO far as
our INQUIRIES went, are nearest the tue
ones. The. inquest which is TO be held
will be thorough, and will, no doubt,
bring out the real facts Of the case.
DESCRIPTION OF SUFFERERS AND EYE WIT.
NEssEs.
Oar reporters were fortunate in seeing
II large number of those who escaped
from the tIghtfuI tragedy, from whose
lips they obtained descriptions aud i'm.
pressions.
one young woman, twenty Years Of
age, who was at work in the second story
heard the crash OF a portion Of the build.
~, and saw PORTIONS Of it tumblinp
down. She immediately started in an
opposite direction, but before she reached
this point, tho walls were crumbng and
threatened instant death Almost panic
stricken, she rushed 20 side door, and
was Just emerging 10 the entry when i,
was crushed in. he recoccted nothing
more than getting through window and
leaping to the ground, where she was un
conscious and much wounded. She was
taken TO her boarding house, rs was sup
posed -" living condition Tbs hap
PLY Prv'r' uis'aEr, Ii ,va, pQ.uH
ism o! nigh. She recovered during the
evenin-, and Yesterday WAS sufficiently
well to stand in the doorway Of her board
ing house.
y maiden aly, thirty eight, who
worked III the upper (dreSsn.) room
Was p:ecipltated to the ruins. or with
them, nmi sustained tao particular injury
Her e>"ap" IS most extraordinary. She
cam" among umher>. portions Of the
root, bricks, machinery, DC, but was un
harmed IL was one OF the most wonder
'rl "t all ti'c escapes Of this terrible irag
edv.
Th"r" ",rG score. Of similar escapes
from tie most imminent and horrible OF
deaths. lhe narration of them bv those
who were Tie unarluuaie subjects, was
OF intense inteTest. Their CONDITION was
me of mc"nceyab.e horror. Death stared
them It's the face. Every moruen, thew
expected to be their last. With many.
alas 1t WAS true. Until the cruel flames
shot through lie ruins, hope Was strong.
Then It was that many hope died ont,
and death in its most horrible form came
upon them. Who can tel, who imagine
the agony "f those thus situated |,
WAS like diving two fold. Every etror,
watch ingenuity aud humanity could de
Wise Mas put INTO oPeTalion. BY means oi
rpeS, bars and other coutrivauces, some
seventy five were taken cut more or less
wounded, and their lives thus fortunately
preserved. Besides those thus saved, a
large number oi operatives, mostly males
who were ia lie weaving room, which Is
IN the lower story. managed to escape
from that room by crawling up from that
room through couple Of low window 5
which were not ohStrucied. The weav
ing room was partially saved 10y n heavy
stone fioor OF the story above, and many
III this department were thus saved.
Among the sufferers in the ruins ar
the time the fire broke out was Maurice
Palmer, OF Rochester, y. IL, an overseer.
lie WAS much beloved bv lis friends, aud
while the digging MAS going on III, voice
was recognized. He was nearly reached
when the flames broke out lie imp'ored
his friends 10 save him quickly OF he
should die. Trey struggled to reach
him, but The flames swept around them.
He was confined and could not resis:
them. As the heat Of the fire began to
be feIt his horrible death seem inevitable
T, tie was able to move one hand and draw
his knife, say yipg lie should commit suicide
rather than Lurn to death. His rescuers
pressed on, but his hope OF aid gave out,
and he drew the knife across his throat.
Soon after they succeeded in removing
Eim, and his self inflicted wound was
found not 10 10 dangerous, but he had
uttered severe internal injuries which
rendered his recovery impossible. lie
was taken TO the City Hail, bat expired
shortly after from he effects of the iniu
res received 10y his iall, and his sutferipg Is
while immuned within the fallen walls.
! No few Of The escapes are providen
tial. Two cousins, females, worked in the
mSil. One left IN hour before the acci
| dent. The other was taken from tho