The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-18
The Late Disaster.
THE CAUSE OF THE DIsAsrRR.


raj years the usual running OF the machinery
has caused q continual vibration Of the whole
building, and, as il appears thrt at the time
of the accident some workmen were remov.
ing some heavy machinery, il is probable
that this, together with the recent severe
frosts and sudden thaw, which might have
moved the foundations, was the immediate
cause Of the calamity. Others attribute it
to the spreading of the walls IN the upper
part OF the structure.
II is more than hinted that the walls OF
the building were insufficient for so heavy q
weight as was placed upon them. The ma.
chiDeTy was unusually heavy, while the
floors were immensely massive, and in this
respect presented q marked contrast in pro.
portion TO the walls and foundation. II is
not improbs sble that the action OF the frost
on the foundation and walls had something
to do with it, warm season suddenly fol.
lowing a very severe cold one.
1t Is also stated that about four years ago
a commission pronounced the building IN.
safe, and large number of iron supports
were consequently put into it.
The Herald Gays that the builder Of the
mill alleges that he knows the cause Of the
UUStGtOt6tu
disclose until summoned TO testify 6etors a
Coroner's Jury.
Some persons suppose that the foundation
was undermined by the water during the re.
cent cold term. The sandy nature of the
soil is one reason for this belief.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
Various explanations are given as to the
cause of the fire. This is one: A party of
six or eight persons were discovered in a sort
of pit at the east end of the building, but the
beams and machinery above them prevented
their escape. They called Justify for light,
aRd lantern was lowered to them, which
most unfortunately broke in being lowered
down, and the lamp, still lighted, fell upon
the floor Of the pit, which was strewn with
loose cotton, which being somewhat impreg.
mated with oil was instantly in a blaze.
Another account states that the parties
were passing ccff.e in to those who were
beneath the ruins, and that fluid lamp with
lantern was upset, the contents of which
took fire and communicated with the com.
bustible mass which 10y in every direction.
INCIDENTS.
One Of the hands employed in the Duck
Mill, which 10 the next building toward the
east; happened to be looking out of win.
dow at The time, and says that the FIRST thing
that he noticed was what appeared to be
squeezing out Of piece of brick work at
the bottom of the southeast corner, about
Is feet in height and six or eight feet on
each side. This corner Of the building fell,
FIRST, and the floors, folling upon one another
and crushing in, successfully fell with
wave in the direction towards the canuI.-
The time occupied in falliDg WIS just about
one minute. This time was about ten min
utes before 5 o'clock. 70 persons in the
city the noise resembled that of on earth
quake at first, and afterwards, as it is desert
bed, that of n team loaded With iron posing
over the pavement. The wall next to the
Washington Mills remained standing about
one story in height, until the fire broke out,
and most Of The occupants OF the weaving
room, which was on the lower story, escaped
being crushed by the protection this afford.
ed. They were rescued through the win
dows.
One young woman, 90 years Of age, who
was 1T work in the second story, heord the
crush OF portion OF the building, and saw
portions OF it tumbling down. She imme.
dIately started in On opposite direction, but
before che reached this point the walls were
crumbling and threatened instant DEATH
Almost panic stricken, she rushed to side
door, and was just emerging to the entry
when that was crushed 10. She recollected
nothing more than getting through window
and leuping to the ground, where she was
unconscious and much wouaded She was
taken to her boarding house, es was suppos
ed, In a dying condition. This happily
proved mistake. 1t was o psruxysm OF
fright. She recovered during the evening,
and on Wednesday was sufficiently we'll to
stand in the doorway Of her boarding house.
Another young woman, also about 90, es.
capped en- awful death. Unapprsed Of the
bnildiag, until the terrible catastrophe itself
upon her, she was at work in the third story.
She only knows that the whole flooring
above her was pre,ipitated upon that on
which she stood, accompanied by a terrific
noise. She was crushed beneath come ma
chinery near which she was at work, her
head being pressed against beam, seeming,
as she described it. as if her head would
"split in two ut every moment" Her limbs
were forced in one direction, her trms in
another. But one arm could be used at all. |
Every second the heavy weight uppeared to
be settling closer and closer upon her. She
saw nothing but death. awaiting her. Her
feelings were those of the most ngenizinp
kind. She said that she prayed God that
che might be delivered from impending
death. Hardly had she ceased uttering this
prayer than the falling of wall in distant
0f ho h,,sl, lsn Ioa Al
imminent peril about her. With presence
of mind that exhibited true heroism, she
struggled amid danger and deBth, and in time
reached point of safety. This was after
being in the ruins upwards of an hour. She
was, however, more injured than was at first I
supposed, as is evident not only from her
inability not only to leave her bed, but hurd.
ly turn her body. Her physician apprehends
Internal injuries Of o serious nature. She
converses with difficulty.
A young man who was taken from the
ruins after a confinement Of FIVE hours, says
his feelings we're OF she most psinEul and
indescribable nature. The groans of the
dying and wounded met his cor at every mo
meht. The shouts Of the people without
mingled with the terrible sounds Within
When released, such had been the pressure
upon his person, that he was nearly uncon.
scious. He never expected to get out alive,
and it is a miracle that he did.
One woman, Irish, about forty years old,
gives confused account o! her escape from
death. She was on the second floor when
the wall at the side crumbled away. Ap.
palled with fright she ran to the opposite |
side OF the room. when she was struck by
the descending flooring above her, and thrust
against the gearing Of some machinery, /,
which caught her dress aad ,hreated an aw.