Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-01-17

We giyo additional particulars to-day of tho
destruction of the Pcmherton Cotton Mills in Law
renee, and of the fearful loss of life consequent
upon the fearful catastrophe. 1t proves Ia be
# the saddcst calnmies TINT has occurred in this
country for years. We doubt, in inct il its fcar-
iul parallel can be cited Its darkest shades--its
most painful aspects tho loss of human life,
which, though not probably ms lnrge MS Mt first
ported s vet terribly large.
DETAILED ACCOUNTS OFTIIE DISASTER.
tfrom the Boson Bee, Jan, Ia
INV EALING oL THE nrlhplNG AND now IT oRIGi-
MATED.
The Mills building. as has already been noted,
fell Wi II tremendous crash shortly after five
o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. 1t was ns sudden
it vns fearful. Very few, if any Of the opera
tivc1 were aware Of the impending danger until it
came upon them in the fll of gigantic walls pom
dcrous tporing. machinery, and other numerous
contents of the building. 1t was the !rightfnl
work Of IN instant. Two scenes Of wider or moro
painful contrast could not be imagined mill
in full operation. with several hundred men, wo.
med and children quietly performing their accus-
toned l"bor, on the Que side; its unherallcd de
sruciion, producing devastation and tho most
horrible ot deaths on the other Ist ~ be thank
'al that few such scenes ever meet Cue - or ran
tie heart.
The origin Of the catastrophe IN variously stated,
Int that which nppca the more probable il de-
lect in the iouhdation wall. tho more particularly
IN the upper or northern portion. 1t IL also more
than hIutc tlnt tie walls Of tho building were
insuih.icn for. heavy n weight as was placed
uppn them. Tho machinery was unuaunlly heavy,
while the doors were immensely massive, and in
this respect presented n marked contrast in pro-
portion IT, tho wall and foundation. 1t is net i'm.
probable that the ac N of the frnet on tho foun-
dation and walls bad something 10 du with it.
warm season suddenly following IL very cold one
KS lcl"rc hInled. there are numerous reports IA
Il the origin Of the catastrophc some which nra
reasonable and others arc MT. Those above men.
toned, so far our inquiries wcntare nearest the
true ones.
The inquest which s to be held will be tho.
rough, and will, no doubt bring out tho real facts
oi tho cnse.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING.
The building was erected in 1853 hy the Essex
company of Lawrence. FIR the Pcmberton Mills
Company. and was of brick 1t extended north and
south, and was eighty four feet eight inches wide,
aud 28l feet in length The coast Of tho whole
machinery included was about 81 900, 600 The
work It bnilding, NJ we ascertain, was done by
tho lay and nol contract 1t appears that It
had been considered hv competent Judges of worry
light construction forthe amount Of heavy machine.
ry. &e with which it filed The foundation
sunk some ten ortwelve feet. and it was sup
posed to be good and substantial Tho walls were
about two feet four inches in thickness, making
the rooms there twenty eight iron columns or
supporters set ten icct apart one way and twenty
six the other. Those columns were considered by
|. many to be insufficient supporters. Over them
were placed double beams Between the two
beamr and resting on the coumes n large peace
Of iron, shaped something like spool about eg gh-
teen inches long, WINS placed upright SO as to lock
the beams together the upper end extending up
wards into the iron aDuve.
There arc several ways ofstaying these columns
in use by the builders nni Of all others this would
tn lao tha ,i.ol ,f
have been instances heretofore where these pintes
have been broken and let the beams sway off, and
it thought that an accident of this kind would
be very dangerous to the building. How it may
be in the in hand it is impossible to tell. The
facts of the case can only be arrived ut by the
Coroner's investigation. TIE building was dou-
blcd trussed with iron rods. The floors were of
three thicknesses first, three inch spruce plank,
dowelled and laid across the beams, next / inch
spruce boards laid dagonaly across the plank and
finally another flooring Of ! inch Southern pine
boards, also laid dag )nay across the two first
thicknesscs, This would appea to be flooring enou-
gin to stificn tho building very thoroughly, as the
whole was well spiked down.
The building was, rs originally constructed, five
stories high, which, in consequence of the neces-
sarlv high studding of each room to admit OF the
requisite machinery, made considerable lofty
huilding. Within few years basement story
has been added to the building. AT the south
west corner chimney l42 feet high was built.
This was built a foundation of large stone laid
rock pack, near the bed of the river. 1t was
stated that this chimney, during q heavy gale Of
wind not long since, swayed- several inches from
its natural position and that fears were then en-
tertaned for its safety. About middle way ON the
west side oe the building tier Of prives ran up.
They were, rs is usual, built out from the main
building. On the northeast corner a wing branch
ed off; this was 45 by so feet. The engine hon.c