Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-12
BY TELEGRAPH.
i = = = = y y = = :
Hep0rted BY the Union TELEGRAPH,
OFFICE, wARtHG's BLOCK, CORNER OF BANK AND
ST. CLAIR STREETS.
Yesterday Afternoons Report.
AWFUL CATASTR0PHE!!
FALLING AND BURNING OF A COT
TON MILL IN
LAWRENCE, MASS.
SEVERAL HUNDRED LIVES LOST!I
SEVERAL HUNDRED LIVES LOST Il!


LAwRENoR, Mass, Jan. 100 P. NJ.
One of the most terrible catastrophies on record
occurred 10 this city this afternoon. The PemDer-
ton Mills fell with 3 sudden crash at about I'VE
O'Clock, while some six or seven hundred opera
tors were at work. The mills are q complete
wreck. Some two or three hundred persons are
supposed to be still in the ruins At present It Is
impossible TO give anything like correct state
ment Of the loss Of life but from the best authority
1t IS believed that two hundred are dead IN the
NFuins
Eighteen dead bodies are already taken out, to-
gether with some twenty five persons mostly
wounded, besides some thirty in dihe. ent stages
ofmutuation.
Mr.. Chase, the agent of the mills, and Mr.. How,
the treasurer escaped by running from the falling
building.
1t is impossible as set to tell the cause Of the
disaster.
Our reporter has just returned from the ruins
and the scenes there beggar all description =
| Some two or more acres Of ground are piled
up with every description Of the machinery OF the
fallen buildings.
Huge bonfires are burning some to light some
/ two or three thouiand persons who are working,
as If for their own lives, TO rescue the unfortunate
persons-many of whom are Logging and crying TO
be released from their tortures.
Every few minutes some poor wretch is dragged
from hsprison, and it is heartrending to hear
| their cries as they are drawn out with legs and
arms crushed or torn. One man shockngly
mangled cut his own throat to end his agony
! The whole city seems to be in mourning. Many
are running through the streets With frantic cries
sad others searching the ruins.
/ Temporary hospitals have been arranged for
! thosa rescued.
Aspg stand by the wreck irenz.ed with disDsir.
! Afterwards there was s'teIrible crash caused by
! the clearing away which threatened death TO all
who were stin alive in the ruins.
Gen. II. K Oliver is conspicuous and active 10
| directing those persons who are endeaYoring to
rescue the victims Of the disaster. Gangs OF men,
with ropes below, are constantly dragging out
4 huge pieces fthe wreck which imprison so many
Some of the rescuers were killed in their humane
Efforts Since we left the scene Of the disaster,
reports of more Of the dead and dying are con-
staDtly coming 10 US. Surgeons are coming IN
from all directions, and everything that can be
done OF such painful moment, is being done for
the suffering victims Of the fearful calamity, the
| mystery OfWhich will soon be cleared up by an in
quest.
SECOND DESPATCH.
Il.30 P. M.-At about ten minutes after five
O'Clock this P. N our citizens were aroused by
the cry of fire, which proceeded from the Penn
berton Mill, about four ffths of which had fall
en-a shapeless mass-without the slightest
warning to the nearly eight hundred human
beings who were then at work The building
was never considered to be as staunch as it
ought to be.
Il was built about seven years ago, and was
then thought a sham. Indeed, before the ma
chinery was put in. the walls spread to such an
extent that some twenty two tons cf iron were
put in to save it from falling by its own
weight.
From the best information that can De now
gathered, the building appeared to crumble and
fell from the eastern corner or end. 1t fell IN
wards. The fire department at once repaired
to the spot but there being no fire, they at once
set to work with will to remove the rubbish Z.
They very soon reached some rooms, so that
the dead and wounded were taken out as they
could be reached. Mr. Charles Bachelor help
ed remove some tEenty-six, in various condi-
tions, some still living. Mr.. Branch, an over
seer, has not been found.
| The City Hall has been eoRyertedihto tenn
porary hospital for the dead and wounded, until
recognized.
Nj Palmer was deeply buried in the ruins
all the time, and thinking there was no pros
, pect of being eItrcated, cut his throat to enc
biH sufferings. Still he was taken out and ll7et
ssule time.
One women in the part olthe mill still stand
ing, became frightend and threw herself out o
the sth story door, breaking an arm, and luJur'
ing herself so she cannot recover.
The iaboring force of the mill is about $50
and it is supposed that about 700 human wert
actually buried in the Iuins. A woman jus
rescued says thera were some twenty-five mor'
in the vicinity Of her, yet alive.
about balf past nine fire was discovered
This additional horror struck terrer 10 the heart
that had before been hOpefll Of saving NOR
lives. Still the word of removal went on =
The force pump and engines on the groun'
were at once got to work, and have been Pooi
inc torrents on the ruins, so that at IL 80 tn
ere does not seem to gain, and hopes are enter
n tanned that it would be stay Those nea
The breaking out of the fire were almost on tn
I =, 1oint of extricating q woman, not much hurt
=, the flames drove them back. and the Woma
20, sed to have perished. The Mayor ha
,oIsgrs95,., COR the Lowell Firemen, who WI
arrive about s'ei0ck.
10 M.LCalsuaiTy succeeds calamity. l
ten minutes the whole PASS OF ruins has beeom
one sheet of fame. The s7el1l2ams and moaning
oF the moor buried creatures can be distinct
J heard, but no power can save them
40 a M-The Pemberton Mills are now
hsck smokipp mass Of brick and mortar, sn
human bones promiseuously mingled. FrI
babIyruot less than 200 beings perished IN ID
flames. The Washington Min was in, gre
jeopardy, the wind blowing towards Duo
ID Mill, whose counting room touches the rem
berton.
M.-ThrOugh the almost suPerhuman e
l, ertiops ofthe fremen the Washington Mills al
now considered out Ofdanger.
.-tAs Duck Mill the prospect is not so goo
VI =. e,at can be done is being done
Everything -. -,aseut from all the neig
Fire Companies are -.
boring towns N atten
Between 40 and so physicians are
ance at the City Hall and other places, wher,
ever the injured need their assistance.
The ruins having burned up it will be som
days before a true knowledge Oftho killed an
wounded can be arrived at