Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-01-18
HORRID CAsUALTYtf

Lives Lost
LAwRkscE, Jan. 1O.-The Pemberton
Mills fell in suddenly at about FIVE o'clock
this evening, while from six to seven hundred
operatives were at work, The Mills are a
complete wreck. 1t is supposed that from
two to three hundred bodies are buried in the
ruins 1t is impossible at present TO give a
correct account of the loss of life. Eighteen
dead bodies have already been taken out,
twenty-five mortally wounded. and fifty in
different stages of mutilation The agent Of
| the mills and the meas1rer escaped, by run
ming from the falling building. 1t is impos-
sible yet to tell the cause of the fall of the
building. The scene beggars description
Some two or more acres of ground are piled
up with every description of machinery and
fallen ruin. Huge bon fires are burning, to
afford light to some two or three thousand
persons, who are working, as if for their lives
to rescue the unfortunate. many of whom are
begging to be released from their tortures by
death. Every few minutes some poor wretch
is dragged from his or her prison, uttering
the most beart-rendiDg cries, while being
drawn out, with legs and arms crushed or tern
to pieces One man. who was shockingly
and still partially buried under the bricks
deliberately cut his own throat. The whole
city seems to be in state of mourning; many
of the friends of the victims are running
through the streets and with frantic cries are
searching the ruins, while others stand look
ing at the pile frigid with despair Tempo
rary hospitals have been arranged for those
taken out alive.
While the ruiLs were being cleared away,
a portion of the mills, which were still stand
| ing, fell with terrible crash, threatening
death to all who were still alive in the ruins
Gangs of men, with ropes, are constantly
dragging out large pieces of the wreck which
imprisons SO many of the poor victims. Some
of the rescuers were killed in their attempts
to relieve the sufferers Siuce we left the
scene of disaster, reports are constantly coming
in adding to the list of the dead and dying
Surgeons are coming from every quarter.
Everything is being done for the suffering
victims.
The following details of the sad event have
been collected. At about FIVE o'clock this af-
ternoon the citizens of Lawrence were alarm
ed By cry of fire which proceeded from the
Pemberton Mills, about four ffths of which
had fallen into a shapeless mass, without the
slightest warning to nearly eight hundred be-
ings who were there at work
The building has never been considered
staunch. 1t was built seven years since, and
1t was then considered sham; indeed, before
the machinery was put 10, the walls spread to
such degree that twenty-five tons of stays
had to be put in to save it from falling, The
building appeared to crumble and fall first
from the Eastern Corner 1t fell inwards, as
if powerfully drawn that way
The fremen of the city at once repaired to
the spot and set at work to remove the rub
bish. They soon reached some of the rooms
hot rha Al
as fast as possible. Charles Bachelor help
ed to remove twerty six of the victims, some
of whom were living, while others were dead
or terribly mutiated. Messrs. Chase, Clark,
Patterson, Melvin, and Winn, overseers and
clerks, are safe. Mr.. Branch, an overseer.
has not yet been found, and it is supposed
that he is lying under the ruins. The City
Hall has been made temporary hospital for
the reception of the dead and wounded, where
they will remain till recognized and taken
care of by their friends Scores have been
recognized and taken to their homes.
There are also twenty-five corpses. the fol-
lowing of which are only recognized; Mary
M'DOnald, Bridget Ryan, Mike O'Brian,
John Dearborn, Margret Sullivan, Mr.. Pal
mer. Mr.. Palmer was deeply burned, and
thinking that there was no prospect of his ex-
trication, cut his throat, but was extricated
and lived some time after his arrival at the
Hall. One woman iu the portion of the mill
that remained standing. in her fright, threw
out her bonnet and shall from the fifth story
and then jumped from the window, breaking
her arm and injuring herself so badly that
she cannot recover.
The laboring force of the mill numbered
about nine hundred and sixty, and about
seUen hundred were actually buried in the ru-
inc A hn hoe haa
says there were some twenty-five more in the
vicinity of the place where she was buried,
who were still alive.
About half past nine o'clock to night fire
was discovered in the ruins The additional
horror, although somewhat apprehended,
struck terror into the hearts of those who
were before hopeful of saving some lives; still
the work of removal went briskly on. Force
pumps and engines have been pouring streams
of water on the flames, so that at the pres
ent time, half past eleven o'clock, although
the smoke and steam are rising, the FIRE does
not seem to gain, and il is certainly to be
hoped that 1t will be stayed. Those near the
place where the fire commenced were at the
point of extricating woman not badly burnt
but the flames drove them back, and she is
supposed to have perished.
The Mayor telegraphed to Lowell, and the
iremen from that city will arrive about one
o'clock.
~ o'clock. the whole mass of ruins is now
in a sheet of flames The screams and means
of the mangled victims are heard distinctly,
but no person can save them.
The fame threaten the destruction of the
Washington Mills, and the brid ge across the
| river.
The Pemberton Mills is a fat smoking
mass. 1t is feared that not less than two
hundred human beings perished in the flames.
The fire made quick work, burning not