Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-01-14
UNPARALLELED DISASTER.
Fall Of the Pembcrton Cotton Mills ut Law-
renee, Mnss.
700 PERSONS IN THE RUINS.
200 PERSONS BURNED TO DEATH.

Lawrence, Mass, Oh Tuesday. The Pemberton
cotton mills, one of the largest establishments
in the city, fell to the ground at about o'clock,
just before work was to be stopped for the day.
Its GOO or 700 operatives were buried in the
ruins, and of this number it was calculated that
not less than 200 were killed instantly, while
perhaps as many more have lost their lives in
the burning of the ruins before they could be
extrcated. The loss of life, immediate and
probable, may not fall below 800 souls. No
such horrible affair has ever before appalled, the
American people. The following particulars of
this awful catastrophe appeared in Wednes-
days papers:
The scenes at the place of disaster beggar all
description. Some two or more acres of ground
are piled up with every description Of machine
ny and parts of the fallen building. Huge bon
fires are burning to light some two or three
thousand persons, who are working for their
lives to rescue the unfortunate persons, many of
whom are still crying and begging to be re-
leased from their tortures. Every few minutes
some poor wretch is dragged from his or her
prison, and it is hcart-rcnding to hear their cries
as they are drawn out with legs and arms crush
ed or torn out. One man, shockingly mangled
and partly under the bricks, deliberately cut his
own throat to end his agony
The whole city seems in mourning Many
are running through the streets, and with fran
tic cries are searching the ruins. Temporary
hospitals have been arranged for those who have
been taken from the ruins. Many stand at the
ruins frgid with despair. Often a terrible crash,
caused by the clearing away, threatens death to
all those who may still be alive in the ruins.
Gen. ii. X. Oliver, ex-mayor of the city, is ac-
tive and conspicuous in directing parties who
are endeavoring to rescue the victims of the
disaster. Gangs of men with ropes below are
constantly dragging out huge pieces of the wreck,
which imprison so many Some of the rescucrs
are killed in these humane efforts.
Since we left the scene OF the disaster reports
are constantly coming to us of more dead and
dying. Surgeons are coming from every quar-
ter, and everything that can be done at such a
painful moment is being done for the suffering
victims of the fearful calamity, the mystery of
which will have to be cleared up by an inquest.
EIeren ociock D. m.
About ten minutes of five o'clock this after
noon our citizens were alarmed by the cry of
fire which proceeded from the Pembcrton mills,
about four iths of which had fallen, a shapeless
mass, without the slightest warning to the near
500 human beings whe were then at work. The
building had never been considered as staunch
as it ought to have been. 1t was built about
seven years since, and was then thought sham.
Indeed before the machinery was put in, the
walls spread to such degree that some % tons
of iron stays were put in to save the building
from falling by its own weight. The building
appeared, from the best information that can
now be gathered, to crumble and fall from the
eastern corner or end towards the duck mill
1t fell inwards, as if powerfully drawn that way
The lire companies at once repaired to thespot,
but there being no fire they at once set to work
with a will to remove the rubbish. They very
soon reached some of the rooms, so that the
dead and wounded were taken out as fast as
they could be reached. Charles Batchelder
helped remove some &C. in various conditions,
some still living, others dead and terribly mutt
lated. Messrs Chaee, Clark, Patterson. Melvin
and VIM, overseers and clerks are safe. Mr.
Branch, an overseer, has not been found and is
supposed to be under the ruins.
The City Hall has been converted into tenn
porary hospital for the dead aud wounded to
remain until recognized by friends, although
scores are recognized and taken at once to their
homes. The following wounded are now at the
HALL Mary Ann Coleman, Ellen Clary, Sarah
Dole, Eliza Ward, Ellen Mahony, Thomas Con-
ner, Bridget Bradley Kate Harykee. Joannah
Connery, Morris Palmer, Geo. Heodalpha, Mrs.
Fridler, Robert Hays, - Courtney Mary
York, Margaret Hamilton, Margaret Hanney-
kill, Mary Kennedy, Eliza Yaw. There are
twenty-five corpses, only the following Of which
have been recognized Mary Mcdonald, John
Dearborn, Bridget Ryan, Margaret Sullivan,
Mike O'Brien, and Mrs Palmer. Mr. Palmer
was deeply buried in the ruins at the time. and
thinking there was no prospect of being extri-
Gated cut his throat to end his sufFerings. but
still was extricated and lived some time after
arriving at the hall. One woman in the part of
the mill standing became frightened, threw her
bonnet and shawl out of fifth story door and
jumped out herself, breaking an arm and other
wise inluring herself so that she cannot recover.
The lahoring force of the mill was about nine
hundred and sixty, and ii is supposed that about
seven hundred beings were actually buried in
the ruins.
woman has just been rescued who saws
there are some % more in the vicinity of her
yet alive.
A New Horror! The Ruin. ON Fire.
About half past 8 p. M. fire was discovered.
This additional horror, although somewhat an
pretended, struck terror to the hearts that had
before been hopeful of saving more lives. Still
the work of removal went briskly on. The force
pumps and all the engines which were on the
ground at once got streams of water on, and
have kept pouring on torrents SO that now.
III l-2 o'clock,) although volumes of smoke
and steam are rising yet the fire does not seem
to gain and it is certainly to be hoped that it has
been stayed.
Those near the breaking out of the fire were
almost on the point of extricating woman not
badly hurt, but the flames drove them back.
and the woman is supposed to have persisted in
the flames when delivery seemed so near.
The mayor has telegraphed to Lowell for the
fremen of that city, who will arrive here about
one o'clock. 1t is estimated that not less than
two thousand able-bodicd men have been con-
stantly at work on the ruins, but notwithstand
ing so many are at work in a small space vet
no accident that we can learn has occurred among
them.
Ldter-l2 O'Clock
At IL O'Clock (midnght), calamity succeeds
calamity. In ten minutes the whole mass of
ruins has become one sheet of flames The
screams and meanings of the poor buried crea-
lures can be distinctly heard, but no power can
save them. The flames threaten the destruction
OF the Washington mills and the bridge over
the river.
Hdlf past a. M.
The Pemberton mills are now a fiat. smoking
mass. Brick mortar and human homes ora No