The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-01-24
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF LIFE.

We published last week short account of a
terrible accident at Lawrence, Massachusetts, by
the falling of the walls of large Factory in which
were some six hundred men, women and children.
We now give further particulars:
The building fel-the different parts almost
simultaneously-at minutes before o'clock A
portion of the operatives had left, but it is proba-
BILE that about 600 were in the building at the
time
The report that an explosion of the boiler caused
the fall is incorrect The boiler was not located
in the main building. and it fell, nearly as can
learn, from mere weakness of the walls and their
inability to support the structure itself and the
weight and constant jar of the machinery within
it, and not from any sudden shock or pressure
brought upon it.
The building seemed to crumble first near the
east end and fell in towards the east, being pressed
in that direction by the workshops, chimney, &C.,
on the west side. The L remained standing for
an hour or two, but in an instant the main build
ing was lying heap of fragments, and the groans
and screams of the wounded could be heard issuing
from the ruins.
About o'clock fire broke out from the en-
gine room at the south-end of the building, and
soon spread over the whole ruins. The scene now
was heart-sickening, according to every descrip-
ton. Conscious ofthe tortuous death which await
ended by death, the by-standers were unable to
afford them any relief.
A few more bodies were got out, but only few,
after the flames had begun to rage. The groans
of the sufferers caused ndescribable anguish in the
hearts of all around, and to them were added the
frantic appeals of some who knew they gaz-
ing upon the funeral pile of relatives and friends
to whom no succor was possible.
An alarm was sounded, the fremen promptly
manned the machines and made every effort to ex
tinguish the flames. But the copious streams of
water dashing over the hidden ruins could only
prolong the miseres of those beneath. Though
confined within solid brick walls, assistance had
nearly reached them when the fire broke out.
In one case one of these persons was he ped to
glass of water by parties who were endcavoring
to extricate her. She said that her, separated
only by single beam, were six men uninj jured.
Alas, they were all consumed in the flames, which
spread with great rapidity. How many were thus
burned there is no data for estimating. person
who was at the fire from the beginning became
coSnizant ofthrce parties of individuas-from four
to six in number-who thus perished.
Persons who were at the scene of this calamity
through the night say that language utterly fails
to convey an adequate idea of the melancholy spec
tacle the ruins presented. Conversations were
carried on with many of the victims and refresh
ments were passed to some of them by their anx-
ous friends, hoping that they would survive until
they could be extricated. 1t is thought that fire
was communicated to the cotton materials by per-
sons removing the light from their lanterns, and
holding il arms length in the ruins, in searching
for missing friends and relatives.
Among the many painful incidents ofthis dread
ful night is the following, related by one of the
fire engineers: When the fire was beginning to
rage, and before it had stfed the cries and groans
Of those in the ruins, he, with Others forced his
way against the smoke and fame, to try and rescue
some Of those whose voices he could hear. Sud
denly he caught glimpse of three persons, i'm
prisoned by crumbled partition-two men and a
woman He even caught one of the men by the
hand, and hoped to draw him out, but the crack
ling of the flames around him, and the warning
voice Of an officer compelled him to desst, and by
a timely retreat to save his own life. Neither of
the three persons appeared injured at ALL and they
must have Utterly roasted alive.
Among the sufferers in the ruins at the time the
fire broke out was Maurice Palmer, of Rochester,
n. H., an overseer. He was much beloved by his
friends, and while the digging going on his
voice was recognized. He was nearly reached
when the flames broke out. He plored his
friends to save him quickly, Or he should die They
struggled to reach him, but the flames swept around
them. He confined, and could not assist
them. AS the heat of the fire began to be felt, his
horrible death seemed inevitable He was able
to move one hand, and drawing his knife, said he
would commit suicide rather than burn to death
His rescuers pressed on, but his hope of aid gave
put, and he drove the knife across his throat.
Soon after. they succeeded in removing him, and
bis se'finfcted wound was found not to be danger
ous, but he had suffered severe internal in urics,
which rendered his recovery impossible
SENATOR DOUGLAS AND THE ENGLISH QUEEN. |