Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-01-12
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NEARLY ALL or TBsx KILLED OR MoRrAILY
WOUxDED!!
The Rains take Fire from a Flsid Lamp and 400
Persoss Perish in The Fldmes I!
LAwREsCE, Mass, Jan. 10. 9 o'clock p N.
One of the most terrible cstastrophies on rec
ord occurred in this city this afternoon. The
Pemberton Mills fell with . sudden crash at
about 8 o'clock, while some 600 or 100 opera
tives were st work.
The Mills are . complete wreck. 200 or 500
peresns are supposed to be still in the ruins.
Al present it 10 impossible to give anything
like . correct statement OF the loss OF lite but
from the best authority it il believed that At
least two hundred are dead in the ruins Some
Is dead bodies have already been taken out TO-.
gether with some rs persons mortslly wound
ed, besides some 80 persons in different stages
of mutilation. MIR Chase, the agent, and Mr..
Howe. the Treasurer. escaped by running from
tho falling building.
II 10 impossible as yet to tell the cause Of the
disaster.
Our reporter has Just come from the ruins,
and the scenes there beggar oil description
Some two or more acres Of ground ere piled up
with every description Of machinery from the
fallen buildngs
Huge bon6res are burning to light some two
or three thousand persons who are working as
| 1t for their own lives. to rescue the unfOrtu-
| nate persons many Of whom are crying and
begging to be released from their terrors
Every few minutes some poor wretch IL
| dragged from his prison, and it is heart rend.
ing to hear their cries they are drawn out
| with legs and arms crushed, and to see one
man shockingly manglsd and partly under the
wreck. deliberately cut his own throat to end
his agony.
The whole city seems to be in mourning
Many are running through the streets, and
with frantic cries searching the ruins
Temp rary hospitals have cen arranged for
theirreception.
Many stand by the wreck frigid with des.
pair.
Another terrible crash caused by the clearing
away. threatening death to all who may still
be alive in the ruins, occurred
Gen. II X. Oliver is conspicuous and acting
in cheering those persons who are endeav voring
to rescue the victims Of the disaster.
Gangs of men with ropes below are con.
stantly dragging out huge pieces of the wreck
which imprison So many.
name efforts.
Since we left the scene ofthe disasters. renorts
of more Of the dead aud dying are constantly
| coming to US. Af
Surgeons are coming in from AZ directions
and everything that can be done at such
painful moment 10 being done fJrthe suffering
victims Of this fearful calamity, the MYSTERY.
of which will have to be cleared by, an ia.
quest.
SECOND DESPATCH.
1880 F. M-About ten minutes after :5
o'clock this r. NJ, our citizens were warned by
the cry OF fire, which proceeded from the Penn
berton mill, about four.fifths of which had fall
en- shapeless mass without the slightest
warning to nearly 500 human beings, who
were there at work.
The building was not thought to be safe II
was built about seven years ago, md was then
thought sham, indeed before the machinery
was put in the walls spread to such an extent
that some % tons OF iron stays were put in to
save it from falling by its own weight.
From the best information that can be now
gathered the building appeared to crumble and
fall from the eastern corner or end. 1t fell
inwards. The fremen at once repaired to the
spot but there being no fire they at once set
to work with will to remove the rubbish.
they very coon relieved some rooms SO that
the dead and wounded could be taken ont az
fast as they could be reached. Mr.. Charles
Batcheldar helped to remove some 25 in var
ious conditions, ssme still living Mr. Branch,
an over=ser, has not been found
The City Hall has been converted into a
temporary Hospital for the dead and wounded
till recognized.
MIR. Palmer was buried in the ruins all the
time, and thinking there was prospect Of
being relocated, cut his throat to end his suff
srings. still he was taken out and lived some>
time.
One woman in the part of the mill still
standing, became frightened ard threw hereelf
out Of the 9th story door. breaking an arm and
injuriDg herself so that she cannot recover.
The laboring force Of the mill s about $50,
and it is supposed that about 100 human be-
ings were actually buried in the RUNE.
A woman just rescued says there are some
rs more in the vicinity Of her yet alive.
About half past Q o'clock fire was discov-
cred. This additional horror struck terror to
the friends that before had been hopeful of
saving more lives.
Still the work Of removal went on The force
pump and engines on the ground were at once
got 10 work, and have been pouring torrents OF
water on the flames 20 that, at ll:3O, the FIRE
does not seem to gain, and hopes are enter
tanned that it will be stayed
Those near the breaking ont Of the fire were
almost on the point Of extricating woman not
much hurt, but the flames drove them back,
and the woman Is supposed to have perished
The Mayor has telegraphed for the Lowell
fremen. who will arrive about 10 o'clock
IL, Midnight-Calamity succeeds calamity
In ten minutes the whole mass OF ruins has be.
come one sheet of flame The screams and
moans Of the roor burned creatures can be dis
tinctiy heard. but no power can save them.
The Pemberton mills are now . . black
smoking mass of brick. mortar and human
bones, promiscuously mingled. probably mot
han hnsn kaA Sr
The Washington mill was 10 great jeopardy,
the wind blowing towarks the Dock mills.
whose counting room touches the Pemberton
mills.
"A M.-Through the almost supsrhnmsn
exertions q danger and peril, Of the foreman.
the Washington mills are now considered
to be out OF danger, Of the Duck mill the pres
pect 10 not % good.
Evsryih hing that can be done 10 being done.
Five companies are present from al the neigh
boring towns Between forty and fity phy ! si-
clans are in attendance ct the city hail and
other places. wherever the injured need their
Befvicea
The ruins having burned down It will be
many days before . true knowledge of the |
killed and wounded can be arrived ct. The |
lire which finally sacrificed the buried uman /
beings. caught without doubt from lantern /
u burning fluid which vas accidentally /
dropped
One fireman dropped down dead in the
streets. The streets are filed with msss Of
human beings. every ons esger to see and hear
Df f,iends, who before the fire were alterna
liag between hope and fear, are nov settling
down into hopeless despair.
XXXvIth Congress..FiTst session.
WARRINGTON, Jan. II.