Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-16
m. Torrlblo Lawrence un,n,,ropho.


The recent calamity at Lawrence has hardly
a parallel in the loss of life aud amount of phys
ieal agony involved. The suiIsTinas Of many
Of the unfortunate victims were almost ineon,
ccivabis, as to the agonies of crushed limbs
were added the tortures OF Ere. The recovery
of bodies was still going Oh last Friday, most
Of those taken out being horribly burned, and
recognizable only from detached portions Of
dress, so pressed under the rubbish as to re
main uuburnOd Eight hundred aud thirty two
names have been recorded ON the books of the
Pcmberton Mill Company, and still the lst is
not complete. OF this number. seventy dead
bodies have been rlcoveIcj, aud sixty one are
missing total of one hundred and thirty
one. One hundred and thirty four are badly
wounded. A large proportion of tho killed,
missing ard wounded are fcmalcs-tho largest
portion young girls Of Irish descent 'of the
bodies recovered sOmo fifty five arc females, Of
the missing thirty.twO are females, and of the
severely wounded large proportion arc Of tho
same sex,
The testimony before the Coronor's inquest
establishes tho fact that the walls were insufN
ieiont for building ofsuch sizo,and that they
were dangerously weakened by numerous win.
dows The mill was nearly double in width Of
cotton mills generally, and some Of the broken
iron pillars supporting the interior are found
to be full Of flaws and blow holes.
The origin Of the flames which soon changed
the ruins into a vast funeral pyre, now accepted
at Lawrence is, that man jealous to relieve
suffering and save life, sndeaored to pass some
hot coffee through an aperture into space
where several men and women, unharmed by
tho crash, were yet imprisoned between the
wall and the beams. To find his way safely ii
for his pitcher, he first introduced bis lantern
It met with some resisting substance, and was
knocked from his hand. 1t broke as it fell, and
the camphene with which it was charged, o
course ignited while it was scattered. Th'
loose cotton took fire at once, and thus trans
formed the fallen building into fiery furnace
filed with imprisoned victims.
The Pemberton Mill was built some sever
years since, and the principal owners at tha
time were A. J. Lowell, F. O. Lowell, s. r
Putnam, and Lawrence, Stone d Co.
It was originally intended that the mill should
cost $3.50, 900 to 100000, but the plans wer'
enlarged until finally the total cost was fulIl
100000. There was in the outset trouble witt
the foundation, as quicksands are common OF
the banks Of the river at that place, and thi
may have tended TO gradually undermine thr
building.
It is stated, however, that with the presen
increase Of manufacturing business, the ma
chinery and operatives of the mill have beeI
lately increased. After the failure of Lawrence
Stone l. Co the mill was sold to Geo. How
and David Nevens, for S225, 900, and has since
been carried on by them.
It was five stories, 290 feet long by 40 fee
wide, with an L As feet square on the ives
side 1t ran 27O0 spindles, aud $50 operative
were employed, and was not very thorough
constructed, according to the statements G
builders, architects and others, who say the
had no confidence in the durability Of tn
structure.
Il was insured for s4l5. 600 against fire only
The following diagram, from the COurier,wi
serve to give an idea of the situation of th
building, and its surroundings;
, man ~