The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-01-14
suHerings had not been ended by death. the
bystanders were unable to afford them any

few, after the flames had begun to rage The
| grcans of the sufferers cansed indescribab.e
anguish in the hearts of all around, and to
| them were added the frantic appeals of some
| who knew they were gazing on the funeral pile
OF relatives and friends, to whom no succor
| was possible.
An alarm was sounded, the firemen prornut-
ly manned the machines, and made every eff
| fort to eX,nguish the flames But the copiOus
streams OF water dashing over the hidden ruins
| could only proiong the miseries OF those be-
| meath. Though confined within solid brick
walls, assistance had nearly reached them
| when the fire broke out.
In onecase one of those persons was helped
| TO glass o. water by parties who were en-
| deavoring to extricate them. She said that
near her. separated only by single beams, were
six men, uninlured Alas, they We're ali con-
suraed i'll 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 its beginning, became cognizant
of three parties of indiyiduals-from four to
| six in number-who thus pershed.
The vicinity of the mills looks very much
like a vast charnel house. as Iitters. having Oh
| them corpses, are constantly passing through
the streets in that quarter.
THE SCENE AT THE CITY HALL
| The hall Of the city government building g
| was used as hospital for such of the wountied
| rs it was deemed necessary TO convey thither
Mattresses lined the hall on three of its sides
and on them were stretched mangled bodies
| and others not dangerously injured, but suffer-
| ing from painful wounds.
kind-hearted physicians ministered unceas-
| ingly to them, and some, whom years of prac-
| tice might have excused from sensitiyeness to
| the suffering of others. performed their offices
with fearful eyes, compassionate counte-
nanCeS and all the genticneSS OF sympathetic
natures.
| On one pallet lay a little girl, with beauti-
| full pale conntenancp. knit with the suffering
| she could not conceal, yet unmurmuring. She
| was watched over by weeping friend, appA-
rputlV her i1tlef- ard heart rpiJiPpH
| at the announcement by the physician that
she was not dangerously, though severely
wounded.
Still further, on apalIet, was a young wo-
| man groaning with pain, from several broken
bones internal injuries and 4 bruised head
IIalf-a.doZen disconsolate friends were about
her weeping, fer the physician had said she
must die.
Near the platform was a poor German, suf-
ferins excruciating pain. lie could not talk
English, and no one from the ia ,heriand
| had found him. His case, too, it is feared, is
hopeless.
On the opposite side are three girls-all
young and beautiful, but with the cold hand
of death already on them.
Many others were there who alone would
excite the sympathy of those who saw them
large room Oh the corner of the hall had
| been set apart as a depository for the bodies
of the dead, and this was literally covered
with mangied c0rpSeS. Young men, and those
past the meridian of life, women and young
girls, lay there-a CHASTITY sight to behold.
They lay they had been recovered from
| the ruins-sOme covered with blood. and 9th
ers completely distigured. Another room be-
! low also contained number of bodies, and
| others We're removed as their friends claimed
| them.
A committee of twenty-five are canvassing
| the boarding houses of the city 10 ascertain
the number and the names of ali who are miss
| ing AT the latest accounts dead bodies Were
continually taken from the smoking ruins.
Previous to the fire. two sisters We're together
| w Hhnv hay,
been rescued Hearing the roar of the flames
! they exclaimed, ''Oh God we have got TO die
| Another woman shrieked out piteously that
| the fire was burning her hair, but the flames
| soon after silenCPd her.
1t has already been stated previously, that
one man cut his throat lest he should be burned
alive MI. Branch told his friends who We're
digging for him, that lie should resort 10 The
same meaus TO escape the fortures of the fire.
lie was persuaded To desist, ana fortunately
was rescued.
The awful death of which some died by The
fire was fearfuliy attested by their baked and
blackened forms when taken out--not i'll any
| thing like those OF human beings.
INCIDENTS.
Among the many painful incidents of this
dreadful night, is the following related by Que
| of the fire engineers When The fire was be-
/ Ginning to rage, and before it had stifed the
| cr:as and Sroans 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.
Suddenly he caugh Il glimpse OF three persons,
| imprisoned by cruinbled partition-two men
| and a woman. He even caught one of the men
| by the hand. ard hoped To draw him out, but
! the cracking of the flames around him, and
| the warning voice of IN officer, Impeled him
reluctantly to Gesist, and by a timely retreat
| to save his own life. Neither of the TIN per :
| sons appeared injured at all, and they must
| have literally roasted alive.
As a relief 10 this saddeuing narrative. may
| be men toned the fortunate escape of one OF
1 the female operatives By cooiiess which did
| her infinite credit. She was i'll the filth story,
| in part of the building, when. having but :.
moments warning of the fall of the building
| she sprang To the elevator
She ciasned firmly hold of one of the hoist
| ing ropes and slid rapidly and safely down lis
| length. through five stories, emerging from the
| building Just in season to escape destructiOD.
Her name is Olive Bridges, and she halls from
| Calais, Me.
| Through the whole night she was at the City
| Hall. passing like an angel of mercy among The
couches of the sufferers, anticipating every
! want, relieving pain as far as she was able &c
| do sc, and breathing words of consolation and
| comfort to the wounded and dying.
| Among the numerous recorded cases of sut-
| fering, it may not be amiss TO mention one of q
! different character. In one OF the boarding.
| houses opposite 10 the mills a family were col.
| lected, mourning the loss Of a lady who work.
ed in the mills, when she made her appear
ance, shouting, u ard alive" She was bu'
| slightly injured.
| Singular TO relate. it was currently reported
and generally believed that man was res.
cued from the ruins at II O'Clock this forenoon
only slightly injured. If this were so, it was
a most miraculous preservation.
| ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF AN ovERsEER-HIS
| RESCUE AND DEATH.
| Among the sufferers in the ruins at the time
the fire broke out, was Maurice Palmer, O
Rochester, N. H.. an overseer. He was much
beloved by his friends, and while the diggns
| was going on, his voice was recognized. He
! was nearly reached when the flames broke out
lie implored his friends to save him quickly
or he should die.
| swept around them. He was ooufined, and
| could not assist them. As the heat of the fire
| began to be felt, his horrible death seemed in
evltable. He was able to move one hand and
draw his knife, saying he should commit sui
| eide rather than burn to death.
His rescuers pressed on, but his hope of aid
! gave out, and he drew the knife across his
| throat Soon after they succeeded in remoy.
| ing him, and his self-inficted wound was
| found not to be dangerous, but he had suffered
severe internal injuries, which rendered his
recovery impossible. He was taken to tn.
| City Hall, aud expired shortly after from the
| effects Of the injuries received by his fall and
his sufferings while immured within the fall.
| en- walls.
! Beneath the ruins many sufferers could bt
seen and cOnversed with, aud drinks and re.
| freshments in some instances, We're passed Il
| them. When the fire spread over the ruins
and they found escape hopeless they bid adieu
to their friends, and in several ins tances gave
| directions as to what disposition should bt
| made Of their effects.
| THE KILLED AND WOUNDED
| While the sacrifice of life proves to have
been less than was reported in the first instance
| the circumstances lose none of their tragic
| character. The mayor of LAW renee has pub.
! lished q notice stating that the number o,
| dead and missing is us, and of wounded ld5-
| OF the latter some will undoubtedly die, bui
| much the larger part, II is hought will sur.
vive. Other accounts say that l6a persong are