The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-17
THE LAWRENCE MASSACRE.
IHquest on tho Falling Of the Pembsr-
ton Mills.

ton Mills.
LAWRENCE, Jan. 10, 1860.
The inquest before Coroner Lamb was resumed this
morning At nine O'Clock.
Newell W. Dean, employed tn the carding room, 30.
cond story described the falling Of the floor above him
The part coming down almost the whole ceiling at
the south end and though a the time was clcar across
the southern did not at that instant perceive that
the floor which stood or the walls were injured the
next instant saw that everything was coming from
above and hurried out Of the northern door and through
the counting room; between the time Of nrst hearing
noise and the time that was safely out Of the door
might have been thirty seconds. Probably twenty
people escaped At the door, some Of whom
were at work twenty thirty feet from the door
do remember any moving Of machinery in tho second
story for year and half do not remember any neces
sy for adjusting altering the gearing feel certain tina
the machines were in their operation a the moment
heard the first crash in the fourth story machinery had
been moved that day. but none in the third story, and
none In my sec0nd story; did not know Of any suspicion
Of weakness Of pillars walls; never knew Of acc
dent TO any pillar In my room; have noticed that the
in Tho middle but not more han have noticed in other
mills; there less jarrpg there than in any other mills
the fly frames in the second story were heavier than those
should eaton nre the building would soon fall, on
account Of the great space occupied by win
south seemed Ss crushed s SoHD in lie
making two obque lines from the centre upwards to each
side WALL the fall not merely between the two ranges
of pillars but included and covered them onward 10 each
wall could see into the inverted pyramid formed by the
falling ceiling and see the machinery which had been on
Mr. Benjamin Coolidge was here recalled 70 identify and
describe the original plan Of the mill and the plans as
altered for the building. He testified a. folows-rhe
floor clear and level through the top Of the floor
level; If q competent engineer should examine with
levels he could ascertain the foundations
touched; 1 think that IL will we found that the
lower floor both gideg of south end
uninured and stand ss built; II 50, then when
cleared examination by levels will establish the fact
whether the foundation bad settled or not an inch might
be allowed for shrnksge by the time and the fire; have
examined the foundations and have nothing TO indi
basement are standing unnjured persons have been up
under the first door and along the bascmcn think the
cause Of the accident was the breaking Of pillar near
'ns sousneriy iN enc; u.s =, , ~. ,,,. ,.,,,.,
on the dsy Of the accident from east 70 west we did
By inserting IRON bars In oil the holes IN the floor and
snu,har aDd ssvsrsv t Sse, o .nd @ :ue
feet from the western wall; the MILL from its size and
weight should not think a stable as some mills have
worked in; the nrst year worked there, the chimney
swayed there were cracks along south and west
after that had NO fears always seemed me that the
pillars and walls mot strong enough for tho weight Of
the machinery the beams were no larger than some
seen one hollow pillar since the accident which was an inch
thick on one side and but sixteenth Of inch ON the
side the pnde here shown looks 70 me Is the aange
on the TOP had broken and lei The hollow column down 30
that the head Of the pndle was In the column there
greater weight square foot on the hrst second and
eouthery ends Of the third floor than have usually
In mills; there were on and towards the southern
weighing some seven and half tons each my feelings OF
insecurity were never such as 70 cause me 70 think Of
change 40 not know whether there was larger amount
ing was lees than usual account Of the looms being
placed as TO beat enghwse rather than croeswe at the
time OF the fall was eighty feet or 30 from the south end
the Wall. eixty th0
was occupied In the centre and the west division BY forty
card frames, weighing 900 or 200 pounds each; the
next twenty or thirty feet by eight fly frames, weighing
5000 TO 500 pounds eacha total Of between thirty and
forty tons; was beyond the fly frames, the west
wall four Of the ny frames were behind me- the floor
WALL whether the other portions Of the floor went q the
came time cannot tell
A..s.s - -' 'aA''' '''''' '-' 0''A'' ''''
wsS 0onunuoo'
Thomas g. winn resuwed-rwo other ptntles, with
Al. ran. .vo ,r,rodr..d ,.r... aescrthoa Tho man.
We .~po, "s'. w. ",-.es' 49, .'
ner which tney were uscd. Hneee commenced u tne
capped, supported the iron pillar and 30 upwards 70
me on c.ner 8 s'cres. M r.. IT,.
Alonxo y. winn recaled-iIad charge OF the winding
room at he time OF the accident was walking towards
tos souther end where there was eklass partition
rating us rom the dressing room, and saw what seemed
eighty feet before the foor went down; hr. Branch
Of machinery; ,tbink the west wall fell invards;
A-l-
nao got wn twenty i've feet OF the wall when felt tho
.ne nocr song down. can't tell whether the floor or the
van hrst portion OF the roof Sided 70 the north and
'ns other part fell towards the north in less than mi
mute after was on the bridge; have not heard OF any
beams falling before the accident the average weight OF
beam and yarns would be l6o pounds mad less yarn on
hand than usual think the lowest poruon OF .ne hoo
az inc TIME h.d 'ne ons ,sn SmndrsS and eI sxtv
operatives in my room; know OF only nine
dead and missing; have thought tnat 'ne oeams \;
he building falling; think that the machinery Of the card
room was very heavy, but was equally distributed a.
,ne weens me IN IN o % ,;. ,pav srs vno
the floor had settled an inch IN the winding perhaps
should not haue noticed the floor Of the beneath
bad settled an inch think would have been manifest
By the machinery.
Tobias W. Roberts sworn-ave been second hand in the
cardDg room four years. the second floor the
northery end; was lighting gas lamp ct time OF the fall
.ss near The centre Of the room ny cas-: ana west n5s
southerv portion: 4 seemed a II quarter part Of The
upper room was coming down; turned round but had
not taken many steps when the aoor socve sucs me
he noor umDeIs .no @sc.noIy sIo SS ~ Sv;c. ~
gether nearly a ne tame nme nesrd .ne Ir,css - ~ ~.