Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-01-13
AWFUL CALAMITY.
FALL OF THE PEMBERTON MILLS AT
LAWRENCE, MASS.
HUNDREDS or HUMAN BEINGS
USHERED INTO ETERNITY.
HUNDREDS WOUNDED.
Seven Hundred Persons Buried IN the Runs
Two Hundred Lives lost by Fire.


FULL PARTICULARS.
LAwRENcR, Mass. Jan. lO-9 p. NJ One Of the |
terrible catasophes record occurred In this city
this afternoon
The Pemberton Mills fell with a sudden crash, about
five O'Clock, while COZ 700 operatives were AZ
work The Mills a complete wreck and some 200 or
800 arc still supposed to be buried in the ruins.
Atpresent n ia impossible 10 give anything like cor
rect accom-, u the loss Of life but from the best
ihoy. il is believed that at least two hundred are dead
in the ruins.
and 25 MORALLY wounded besides some so in differ
cnt stages Of mutiation.
The Agent Of the Mills, Mr. Chase. and the Treasurer
Mr. Howe, escaped BY running from the falling building
1t is impossible, yet 10 tell the cause OF the disaster
our reporter has just come from the ruins, and the
scene there beggars description. Some two or more
Of ground piled up with every description Of
machinery, and the fallen building
Huge bonfres are burning. TO light two three
thousand persons who working for their lives TO
the unfortunate persons, many Of whom still
crying and beggng TO be released from their tortures
Every few minutes some poor wretch is dragged from
his her prison, and IL is heart ckening hear their
cries as they drawn out with legs and arms crushed
and torn out
One man, shockingy mansed and partly buried under
the bricks, deliberately cut his throat TO end his ag
ony The whole city seems in mourning Many
running through the streets, and with frantic cries arc
searching the ruins
Temporary hospitals have been arranged for those who
have been taken from the ruins.
Many stand at the ruins. fugid with despair Ofen
terrible crash caused by the clearing away, threatens
death to a.. who may sill be alive in the ruins.
= n
ing parties who are endeavorng 20 rescue the victims Of
the disaster Gangs Of men with ropes, constantly
dragging out huge pieces Of the wreck which mprson
SO many. Some Of the killed in their hui
name efforts
Since eft the scene Of the disaster. reports are con-
standy coming to us Of more dead and dying.
Surgeons coming In fom every quarter, and every
thing that be dome in such painful moment IL being
done for the Suffering victims Of the fearful calamity
the mystery Of which will have be cleared up by
SECOND DISPATCH.
LAwHrScE Jan. 10-ll p. NJ. About ten minutes of
Ave O'Clock this afternoon citizens alarmed by
the cry Of fire. which proceeded from the Pcmberon
Mills, about fourfihs 0f which had fallen, shapeless
mass with mt the slightest warning to the nearly eight
hundred human beings who we're then at work
The building had never been considered as stauch as
ought 20 have been 10 was built about seven years
since. and was then thought sham indeed before the
machinery was put in the walls spread to such degree
that some Twenty-Five tons ofiron stays put in to
save the building from falling by its weight.
The building appeared, from the best information that
can be gathered crum'e aud fall from the east
ern corner, end, towards the Duck Mil Il fe in
wards, as II powerfully drawn hat way. The FIRE COM
pauies az repaired TO the spot but their being
fire. they AZ once set TO work with will TO the
rubbish They very soon reached some Of the rooms
that the dead and wounded were taken out fast they
could be- reached
NJ Charles Bstqhsider hslne4 Tecye -. H..
and terribly mutilated,
Mr. Chase. the Agent and Mr. Howe the Treasurer
were both proydentay saved They in the -pinn.
usual moi Doth started f5r door which was bv orders
strictly prohibited from being unlocked but it being the
only possible exit they tried that, and found
iably open. They had than made their escape
when the part they had just efi frll 10 the ground
Messrs Chase Clark, Patterson Melvin and VIM
(ovcrseers and clerks safe. Mr. Branch. over
seer bias not been found, and is supposed be is still
The City Hall has been converted into temporary
Hospital for the dead and wounded there un-
til recognized 10y friends.
Scores Of both dead and mangcd and wounded are re
eognized when taken nom the ruins and Immediately
taken to their homes
NAMES or WOUNDED.
. The following wounded are now at the Hall.
h Mary Ann Coleman, Ellen Clary, Sarah Dole, Eliza
/ Ward Ellen Mahoney Thomas Conner Bridget Bradley.
!, Kate Harykee, Joannah Comery Morris Palmer George
{, Heodalpha Mrs FucdleT Robert Hays, - Courtney,
r MarY York Margaret Hamilton Margaret Hanneghll,
e NAMES DEAD,
+ There are twenty-five e9pses' only the following Of
Il which have been recognized
" Mary Mcdonald, John Dearborn Bridget Ryan, Mar
II garet sullivan, Mike OBren, and Mr.. Palmer Mr..
Palmer deeply buried in the ruins the time and
his own throat TO end his suerings, but still he
tcated aud lived some time after arriving at the Hall
One woman, in the part Of the mill still standing be-
l. came frightened threw her bonnet and shawl Of
NTH story door, and then jumped herself breaking
arm and otherwise innrng herself that she canno,
The labong force Of the mill was about 900 and Is
supposed that about 700 human beings were actually
I.3l p. NJ a woman has just been rescued, Who say,
there some twenty-five more in the vicinity Of tn,
place from which she was eytricaied, stiil alive.
Il her mother She had only entered the in the day pre-
70 yous.
An engine ha. just arrived from Manchester, bringing
four more physicians
ANOTHER HORROR.
About hatpast nine O'Clock hrew was discovered. This
G additional horror although somewhat appreheuded
= struck terror hearts that had heretofore been hopef
" Of saving more lives. Still the work Of removal went
= briskly
e The for e-pumps in the vicinity and all the hand fir,
engines which had been kept on The ground at once go
streams OF water on tb hre, and have kept pouring
torrents so that nov IN ? o'clock. although volumes
Of smoke and steam are rising yet the fire does
gain and it certainly to be hoped that has been stay
' ed
Those the breaking out Of the FIRE were almost or
A. the point Of extrcaiing badly hurt but tn,
70 flames drove them back, and the Is supposed
% have persisted in the flames, when delivery seemed 81
" The Mayor has teogaphed Lowell for the fremer
~ Of that city WIN will arrive here about l O'Clock.
l. is estimated that not less than 200 abeboded mel
" have been constantly at work the ruins but notwith
standing many at work in small space, yet no acct
e dent mat we can learn has occTrred.
ct CALAMITY SUCCEEDS CALAMITY
r Within the past minutes (mduighp the Who'll
mass OF ruins has become one sheet OF flames
D. The screams and means Of the 20 T. buried burnin
as ana suheang creatures can be distinctly heard but
HaflpaN one Ocioek.-Ihe Pemberton Mills ar
now a Hat smoking
he Brick, mortar and human bones are promiscuousl
~ mingled.
s. Probably not less than two hundred human being
! : persisted in the flames
. The FIRE made quick work, burning not only the mai
- buildings they lay fat but spreading to the mater
a that had in kindness been removed
~ The Washington Mills are in great jeopardy the win
being towards the Duck Mill the counting room Of viii,
IN almost touches the Pemberton and is feared that ma
ut also be sacrificed
IT. THE WASHINGTON MILLS SAVED.
ItcO O'clock, 4. M.-lhrough the almost superhuma
20 eXertons OF the tremen the Washington Mills are no
ed considered out OF danger OF the Duck Mills the pro
do pee is not so good Men actively az work rcmoyir
bales of cotton and such other matters as appear in in
is mncnt danger.
Il Everything is being done that can be thought Of
save property or life.
H. Fire companies present from Mehuen, Andoye
on Bradford, Haverhill and Lowell
,rs Between forty aud fifty physicians in attendance
the City Hall and other places, wherever the iniuu
nd need their services.
L. The ruins having burned up It will be many DAYS
- fore true knowledge Of the number Of killed and wou
l. ded can be arrived
Ter The fire, which finally sacrificed the buried human
m ings, caught without doubt from lantern eontanir
80 burning huid. which was accidentally dropped
ne One fireman dropped down dead in the street probah
J." nom overwhelming and oyerexcrtion. His is u
known.
The Pembroke boarding houses IN which nearly all
= the operatives Of the mills boarded WERE al one tim
IN great danger from the conAagatsn but are now saf
ls The streets Of the city from end 10 the other
n hed with one mass Of human beings every one eager
render assistance in any way or shape and all anxou
ne to see or hear what may ranspire
ny Friends OF the operatives. who were alternating prf
K Nous to the bursting out Of the flames between hop
n ana tear are now sitting down in hopeless despair
~ Amer the fire. hope could longer hold supremacy
Ma ihfee Oefock-Ihe Duck Mil will be saved, wthou
. a doubt
&C..