The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-01-20

LAWRENCE, Jan. 1l-9 P. MA portion
of the operatives hadl for supper previous
to the falling of the building, about 600 re-
naming. The building was five stories
high, 28O feet long by 20 wide, with a wing
on the west side 45 feet square, shaped like
the letter l.. 1t ran ZOO spindles, $50 op-
eratives were employed.
We have very little additional in regard
to the dreadful catastrophe.
The fire was confined to the ruins OF the
PembertOn mills.
The loss of property is estimated at $780,
600.
The Mayor has issued the following no.
tice {:
LAWRENCE, Jan. n.-Terrible as our
calamity has been, think it is much over
estimated in the number killed. AS near as
l have been able to ascertain this morning,
l find the dead and missing, which is equiv
alent to dead, Is, and l60 wounded. Some
of the wounded will die, but very much the
larger number will survive.
n. SAUNDERS, JR., Mayor.
John Ward, operative of the carding
room of the second story, who was miracu-
lousy saved with his wife who worked near
him, describes his escape as follows:
Was in the carding room with the second
overseer, lighting up. 1t was five or ten
minutes before five. We had but few
burners lighted. Suddenly heard loud,
laundering crash overhead, and looking up
saw shafting coming down upon US ali over
the room. Terrified, l stood fastened to
the spot, although knew the building was
coming on me. Then heard the overseer
shout. 1 tried to jump out of the rubbish,
but something struck me senseless. When
came to, [ found myself in the rubbish
covered with blood from wounds on nv
face. Finally 1 crawled up and got to the
top, and found a lot of ruins hanging over
me, which liked to have taken my life =; but
I succeeded in getting out. passed dead
girl and two mangled bodies. When first
l was knocked down, fell under heavy
grinding stone, which was too heavy to give
way to the weight above. Ward found his
wife at the City Hall.
The following is one of the heart rending
incidents
Margaret Hamilton aged IA. This was
her first days work. Her devoted mother
attended her, and when asked what injuries
her daughter received, replied, Her arm
is broken and her head is broken, and oh,
my God land here the poor woman burst
into tears) my poor darling is broken p
The unfortunate girl died to day. The
daughter was the main support of her
mother and four children. Miss Olive
Bridges, Of Calais, Maine, who worked in
the fifth story, seized the hosting chain of
the elevator, and went safely down and esca-
ped uninjured.
Before the building caught fire, a number
of those imprisoned beneath the ruins could
be seen and conversed with. Drinks and
refreshments were frequently passed to them;
when the fire spread over the ruins, they
found escape hopeless, and bid adieu to
friends, and in several cases gave directions
as to the disposition of their effects. In
one part of the building hole was battered
through wall, and through it could be seen
three young ladies who said they were not
injured. One thrust her arm through the
small aperture, and begged to be drawn
through it; but before the aperture could
be made large enough the flames drove the
men away, and the prisoners persisted. A
jury was summoned, who, reviewing the
dead, adjourned till to morrow. The insu-
rance on the Pemberton mills was $415,000,
seid to be against fire only.
LAWRENCE, Jan. 1l.-H we could but
forget the crowded condition of our streets,
we should at once conclude that some great
occasion and gala day had arrived; but the
anguish and almost despair so visibly de-
picted on the countenance of our citizens,