The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-18
AWFUL CALAMITY |!
Fall of the Pemberton Mills Building
at Lawrence, Mass.
Over Two Hundred Killed ! 4!


noon, burying nearly every person in the
ruins.
The mangled bodies are being taken ou
by the cart.load.
1t Is supposed that over two hundred per.
sons were instantly killed.
SECOND DEsPATcH.]
LAWRENCE, Mass, Jan. 100 o'clock
denly at Gbout 5 O'Clock this evening, while
from six to seven hundred operatives were
at work.
The Mills are q complete wreck.
1t is supposed that from two to three hun
dred bodies are buried in the ruins.
1t is impossible at present to give a cor.
rect account of the loss of life.
Eighteen dead bodies have already been
taken out; twenty five mortally wounded,
and fifty in different stages of mutlation.
The Agent OF the Mills and the Treasurer
escaped by running from the falling build
ing.
1t is impossible yet to tell the cause Of the
fall of the fall of the building.
The scenes beggar oil description. Some
two or more acres Of ground are piled up
with every description of machinery and the
fallen ruins. Huge bonfires are burning to
afford light to some two or three thousand
persons, who are working as if for their
lives, to rescue the unfortunate, many oil
whom are begging to be released from their
tortures by death.
Every few minutes some poor wretch is
dragged from his or her prison, ultering the
most heurtrending cries while being drawn
out with legs and arms crushed and torn to
pieces.
One man who was shockingly mengled
and still buried under the bricks, delbera te.
y cut his own throat.
The whole city seems to be in a state Of
mourning.
Many of the friends of the victims are
running through the streets, and with frantic
cries are searching the ruins-while others
stand looking at the ruins, frigid with des-
pair.
Temporary hospitals have been arranged
for those taken out alive.
While the ruins were being cleared away
portion of the mills which were still stand.
ing fell with terrible crash threatening
death to all who were still alive in the ruins.
Gangs Of men with ropes are constantly
dragging out large pieces of the wreck
which imprisons so many of the poor vic,
tins.
Some of the rescuers were killed in their
attempts to relieve the sufferers.
Since we left the scene of diaster, re.
ports are constantly coming in, adding to the
list Of the dead and dying.
Surgeons are coming in from every quar-
ter.
Everything is being done for the suffering
victims.
THIRD DESPATCH
THE PARTICULARS.
LAWRENCE, Jan. l0.-Eleren o'clock, p
M-The following details of the sad event
have been collected:
At about five O'Clock this afternoon the
citizens Of Lawrence were alarmed by cry
of fire, which proceeded from the Pember.
ton MilEs-n6out fOur-flihs of which had
fallen into shnpeless mass without the
slightest warning to nearly eight hundred
beings who were then at work.
The building has never been considered
as staunch. 1t was built seven wears since
and it was considered a sham. Indeed, be-
fore the machinery was put in, the walls
spread to such u degree that twenty two
tons of stays h1d to be put in to save it from
falling.
The building appeared to crumble and fall
first frcm the eOetern corner. 1t fell in
wards, as if powerfully drawn that way.
The tiremen OF the city at once repaired
to the spot, and set ut work to remove the
rubbish. They soon reached some of the
rooms, so that the dead and wounded were
taken out as last IS possible.
Charles Batchelder helped to remove
twenty six of the victims, some of whom
were living, while others were dead or terri.
bly, mutiated.
Messrs. Chase, Clark, Patterson, Melvin
and Winp, overseers Ond clerks, are safe.-
MIR. Branch, an overseer, has not yet been
found, and it is supposed that he is lying
under the ruins.
The City Hall has been made temporary
hospital for the reception of the dead and
wounded, where they will remain till recog-
nized or taken care of by their friends.
Scores have been recognized and taken at
once to their homes.
Mr.. Palmer was dreadfuly burned, and
thinking there was no prospect of his extr-
cation, cut his throat, but was extricoted
and lived some time after his arrival at the
Hall.
One woman, in the portion OF the mill
that was left standing, in her fright threw
out her bonnet and shawl from the fifth sto.
ry and then jumped from the window, break.
ing her arm and ipjuring herself SO badly
that she cannot recover.
The laboring force of the mill numbered
about $50, and about 800 were actually bu.
ried in the ruins.
A woman who had just been rescued saws
there were some twenty five more in the vi.
clnlty OF the place where she was buried,
who were still alive.
A FIRE BROKEN OUT IN TUE RUINS,
About half-pust nine O'Clock tonight, a
fire was discovered in the ruins.
This additional horror although somewhat
apprehended, struck terror into the hearts OF
those who before were hopeful of saving
more lives.
Still the work OF removal goes briskIy on.
Force pumps and engines have been play.
ing streams OF water on the flames, so that
at the present time, (half-past eleven o..
clock) although the smoke and steam ere
rising, the fire does not seem to gain, and il
is certainly to be hoped that it will be stayed
Those near the place where the fire COM
menced were at the point of extricatiDg q
women not bodly burnt, but the flames drove
them back, and she is supposed to have per-
shed.
The Mayor telegrophed to Lowell, and
the tiremen from that city will arrive about
one o'clock.