The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-18
Terrible Aoeidsnt-Two Hundred Lives Lest.
LAWRENCE. Mass, Jan 10.


the ruins. At present it is impossible to give
anything like q correct statement of the loss
of life, but from the best authority it is be-
liesed that at least two hundred are dead in t
the ruins. Eighteen dead bodies have already
been taken ont, togethe with some twenfy-t
Eve persons merially wounded, besides semet
fifty in different stages of mutilation. Mr.;
Chase, the agent of the mills, and Mr.. Howe
the Treasurer, escaped by running from the
burning bnilding. II is impossible, as yet to |
tell the cause of the disaster. -.- g
Oar reporter has just come from the ruins, |
and states that the scene there beggars all
description. Some two or more acres of
ground are filled up with every description of
machinery of the fallen building. Huge bon
fires are burning to light some two or three
thousand persons who are working as if for
| their own lives to reecue the unfortunate per-
sons, many of whom ara still crying and beg
| giDg to be released from their tortures. Eve
ry few minutes some poor wretch is dragged
from his prison, and it is heartrending to hear
their cries as they are drawn out with legs and
arms crushed and torn. One man. shockngly
mangled. cut bis own throat to end his agony.
The whole city seems to be in mourning. g.-l
Many are running through the streets, while
others, with frantic cries are searching the
|
ranged for those rescued. Many stand by the
wreck frigid with despair. /, Gen. 81. K. Oliver
is conspicuous and active in directing those
persons who are endeayoriDg to rescue the
victims of the disaster. y-stir7at
Gangs of men, with ropes below, are con-
stantly dragging out huge pieces Of the wreck
which imprison SO many. Some of the rescus
ers were killed in their humane efforts. Since
we left the scene of the disaster, reports of
more of the dead aud dying are constantly
coming in from all directions, and everything
that can be done at such painful moment is
/ being done for the suffering victims of the
fatal calamity, the mystery of which will have
to be cleared up by an inquest. % ss.aa
/ 1l:30P P M-At about ten minutes after
five o'clock this afternoon, our citizens were
alarmed by the cry of FIRE, which proceeded
from the Pemberton Mill about four-ffth OF
which had fallen into shapeless mass without
the slightest warning to the nearly eight hun
dred human beings who were then at work
The building was never considered to be as
staunch as it ought to be. 1t was built about
seven years ago and was then thought sham
Indeed before the machinery was put in, the
walls spread to such an extent that some
twenty-five tons of iron Stats were put in to
save it from falling by its own weight. From
|
building appeared to crumble and fall from
the eastern corner or end The building fell
inwards. The fire department at once re-
paired to the spot. but there being no fire,
they at once set to work with will to remove
the rubbish.
They very soon reached some rooms, go
that the dead and wounded were taken out as
fast as they could be reached. -.
Mr. Charles Bachelor helped to remove
some twenty-six 10 various conditions. Some
are still living Mr.. Branch, an overseer, has
not been found,
The City Hall has been converted into a
temporary hospital for the dead and wound
ed until recognized.
Mr.. Palmer was deeply buried in the ruins
all the time and thinking there was no pros
pect of being extricated. cut his throat to end
his suferings, Still he was taken out and
lived some time. - -.
One woman in the part of the mill still
standing, became so frightened, and threw
herself out of the fifth story door, breaking
an arm. and injuring herself so that she can
not recover.
The laboring force o. the mill is about $50,
and it is supposed that about 700 human be
ings were actually buried in the ruins 80
A woman, just rescued, says there are some
1
found, yet alive.
About half-past nine fire was discovered -
This additional horror struck terror to the
hearts that had before been hopeful of saving
more lives. Still the work of removal went
on. The force pump and engines on the
ground were at once got to work, and have
been pouring torrents on, so that at IL ~ the
fire does not seem to gain, and hopes are en-
tertained that it will be stayed. Those near
the breaking out of the fire were almost on
the point of extricating woman not much
| hurt, but the flames drove them back, and the
woman is supposed to have perished. The
Mayor has telegraphed for the Lowell fremen,
who will arrive ae one o'clock.
IL Calamity succeeds calamity. Inj
ten minutes the whole mass Of ruins became
one sheet of fame The screams and moaR
| ings of the poor buried creatures can be dis
tinctly heard, but NO power can save them
| 1:30 A. M-The Pembertou, Mills are now
a black, smoking mass of bricks mortar and
human bones, promacuously mingled. Prob
ably not less than two hundred beings per
ished in the flames The Washington Mill
was in great jeopardy the wind blowing
towards the Duck Mill, whose counting room
touched the Pemberton. i2 s1. no 90
| 2P. Although the almost superhumanl
exertions of the fremen, the Washington
Mills are now considered out of danger of
the Duck Mill, the prospect is not SO good
Everything that can be done is being done
Fire companies are present from all the neigh
boring towns Between forty and fifty phy.l
sicians are in attendance at the City Hall and
other places, wherever the injured need thefrI
service. The ruins having been burned up it
will be many days befote a true knowledge of
the killed and wounded will he arrived at
The fire which finally sacrificed the buried
human beings caught, without doubt from, q
lantern of burning fluid, which was accident.
ally dropped.
One fireman dropped down dead in The
street. The streets were filled with mass
of human beings, every one eager to do, and
see, and hear md those who, before the fire,
we're alternating between hope and fear, are
now settling down into hopeless despair.
A portion of the operatives had left for
supper previous to the falling ofIthe building.
about 600 remaining. The building was FIVE
stories high, 280 feet long by 70 feet wide,
with wing on the west side As feet square,
shaped like the letter L 1t ran 2700 spin.
dies $50 operatives were employed. alF
Three persons are known to have been lit.
orally roasted alive. Eliza Dow has since
died; and Others are dying The fire is Sub
dued.l Only two bodies have been taken7o out
since the conflagration. 10 Coroner Lamb, will
commence an inquest to-day. The building
was insurhd. q q a6 zas9fq bsf9hs
Laurence. one ps m We have very little
additional in regard to the dreadful catastro
phe. A large portion ofthe killed are young
girls, many of them being the main support of
their parents The fire was confined to the
ruins of the Pemberton Mills The loss of
property is estimated at $500, 600 oHfaa a5
The Ma7nr has issued the following notice: