Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-01-17
VOL. S'-.N0 142.

the whole machinery attached was in like nropor-
tlon. This gives an idea of what the buildings
wsre. has been stated that the foundation for
tie walls was not well laid. and in fact current
rumors vary 81 much in oil matters relative to this
sud affair that ii required much perseverance, yes-
terdny to collect facts sufficient TO form any def.
mite opinion. From the circumstances appnrent
in tho position OF the ruins when tho catastrcpbe
happened, il would seem almost conclusive that
there some defect in the foundation then
again, after taking into consideration tho very
light manner in whioh the building was construc-
ted md tho fact it became necessary on ono occa-
sion, II not more to truss and gifd the whole bull
ding TO keep it together who would wonder thnt il
should crumblo and fall.
Tho company owning tho building, of whom Mr.
j. Lowell was the principal stakeholder in 1863
was. during the financial crisis Of 1878, compel
led to suspend, and eventually the proprietorship
changed into tho hands Of Mcsssrs. Nevenp Howe
and several other gentlemen, the present members
of the company TWAS time about two
wears ago that an accident hap, cned in the mill.
when tho breaking Of one of the pintles, connec.
ting columns. caused the floor to settle considera-
bly,. This wns soon remedicd, and nothing more
wns thought Of it NJ the time. Lately. it is said
considerable talk hns been made about tho unfit
ness of tho building for use. Here. again rumors
take tho whole matter out Of our hands. and no ono
hut the Coroner can give the facts. 1t seems that
many ct tho operatives hayo been fenrful that tho
structure would not hold together and several
have left t"r that reason alone. However this may
he, there Is u blame resting on sgmo party, and
who that one is most likely will be brought to
light.
the PRESENT APPEARANCEao THE RUINS.
The present appearances Of tho ruins is melnn-
choly IN tho highest degree. 1t is n hugo mass of
timbcrs, brick. machinery. wood, slate. &C., from
beneath which issue yolumns of smoke, showing
that fire stl shoulders Mt tho bottom. 1t is a
dreary wnsle Of what was but few hours ago
u stately structure. But one chimney and a
portion of tho southern wall remains. The ruins
scattered in all directions in tho vicinity, and
partake of the same gloomy aspect.
ExTRicATIoN OF THE DEAD BODIES
Our report yesterday gave account of the ex-
trcation of tho bodies from the ruins. The build
ing in it's fall carried down large numbers of oper-
ntves. Their cries Of distress were of the most
heartrcnding nature. From nearly every hole and
crevico in this vast pile, from tho top from tho
sides. aud in fact from every hssurc from whence
n voice from Tho inside could make its wny came
shrieks for help. groans of anguish prayers and
meanings. and in many, very many cnses tho
poor sufferers could be distinctly seen, talked to
md even reached by tho hand from the outside
Many thus imprisoned were encouraged and sus-
tained by assurances Of safety. and in many cases
cups Of coffee could be and were passed down to
those below, who, alas after all thus near mp
proach TO .nfety saw hour after hour pass away,
mud a last the trightf cry Of fire, and the greedy
licking of the flames they approached with fear
iul rapdty cracking and kissing all over tho ro-
mains on the ground, told thom too plainlv that
all hope OF llic was gone.
DESCRIPTION or SUFFERERS by EYEwITNEssEs.
Our reporters were fortunate in seeing q large
number Of those who escaped from tho frightful
tragedy, from whose lips they obtained descrip-
tons and impressions. Below will be found such
of these nre believed to be Of most interest.
onc young woman 90 years Il nee. who was at
work in the second story. heard tho crash Of n
,.T iEa L,,.t,
tumbng down. She immediately started in an
opposite direction Lnt before she reached this
point the walls were crumblings and threatened
instant death Almost panic stricken, she rushed
10 n side door, aud was Just emerging to the on
try when it was crushed in She recollcctcd moth.
ing more. than getting through widow and
laaping 10 the ground. where she was unconscious
mud inuch wounded. She was taken to her honrd-
ing house, MS wns supposed in dying condition.
This happily proved mistake. TWAS par1xysm
Of fright. She recovered during the evening aud
yesterday sufficiently well to stand in tho
door way Of her boarding house.
Another young womnn also about 90 whom We
conyersed with at her bedside. narrowly escaped
mn awful death. Onarprised Of the fall of the
building until the terrible catas.r phc itself camo
upon her, che was ut work in the third story
She only knows thnt the whole flooring above her
precipitated upon that on which she stood, ac-
companel by terrific noise She was crushed
beneath some machinery near which she was at
work her head being pressed against beam.
seeming, IA she described it, as if her head would
Ilit into at every moment" Her limbs were
forced in direction. her arms in another But
one arm could be used at all. Every second tho
heavy weight seemed to be settling closer and
closer upon her. Her feelings were those of the
most agnnizng nature. She said that she PRAYED
God that she might bo delivered from impending
death. Hardly had she ceased uiterng this pray
or thnn the falling OF wall in distant portion
IF hc rplp hcr the ,tp;1
about her. With presence of mind that exhibited
genuine heroism. she struggled amid danger and
death, and in time reached point Of safety. This
after being in the ruins for upwards of an
hour. She was, however more injured than was
at first sunp 'sed. is evident from her inability
not only ,.ot to leave her bed but hardly turn her
body. Her physician apprehsnds some internal
injuries of IL serious nature. She conversed with
difficulty. Her condition was pitiabl,. She was
Intelligent and most interesting, aud expressed
thanklulness for being saved from so terrible
death in manner that is truly touching.
A y1ung man who was taken from ruins after
confinement of some five hours, says his feelings
were o. the most painful and ndescribabe nature
Tho groans of the wounded and dying met his ear
at every moment The shouts Of the people with
out mingled with the terrible sounds within
When released, such had been the pressure upon
his person. that he was nearly unconscious. He
never expected to get out alive, and it is miracle
that he did.
One woman, Trish about forty years old, gives 2
n confused account of her escape from death. She
was on tho secoHd floor when the wall ut the side
ciumbled away. Appalled, with fright, she ran
to the opposite side of the room, when she was
struck by tho descending flooring above her, and
thrust against the gearing Of some machinery,
which caught her dress and threatened an awful
death. The machine. however, stopped suddenly
just then, when the floor buried her beneath the
ruins, where she was saved and subsequently, res