Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-01-12
Awful Catastrophe.


Awful Catastrophe.
FALL OF rHE PExBERroN MnLs OF LAWRENCE,
4Ass.-FRox 500 TO 700 PERsoNs KILLED on
MORALLY WoUNDsD.-By dispatches received
in this city last evening we learn Of one of the
most hssrt-rending catastrophies it has ever
been our lot to chronicle.
About five o'clock Tuesday evening while
some one thousand operatives were busily en-
gagged In the Psmbsrton Mile, the walls of the
building fell with an awful crash, burying
nearly the whole number in the ruins. The
latest accounts set down the number Of killed
and dreadfully wounded as being between 500
and 7oO-an awful number Of human beings
to be hurled into eternity without moments
warning
To add to the horror of the calamity, at
about nine o'clock in the evening the ruins
we're discovered to be in flames, and notwith-
standing every exertion was made. the fire
gained ground and it is supposed two hundred
human beings perished in the flames. Other
mills were in great danger. but at the latest
accounts it was hoped that the ravages of the
fames would be stayed without further loss of
life or property. The fire caught from large
lamp OF burning fluid which Was accidentally
dropped.
These mills have long been considered ~
dangerous, being built Of poor material and
not at all adapted for the purposes for which
they were used.
The horrors of the scene are said to have been
beyond description. The shrieks and means of
the dying and wounded filled the air, and
chilled the blood. Friends gathered round the
ruins in search of those near and dear to them,
and their cries of distress added greatly to the
universal gloom. How many families will be
plunged into mourning by this terrible calam-
ity The operatives were mostly young girls,
the hope and support of many an aged parent,
whose heart will be wrung with agony when
the tidings Of the fearful death their daughter
met, reaches their ears.
II it be tue that these mills were in the
dangerous situation reported. the directors or
owners who are cognizsnt of the same deserve
to be hung up as high as Haman. They are
nothing less than wholesale murderers We
hope to be able to give still further particulars
to morrow.
LEAsKHoLD EsTATEs.-One of the
worst relics left US of Federal days was the
system of large landed proprietcrs leasing
their estate in perpetuity. In the State of
New York large grants of lands-in some ca
ses whole counties, were made by the crown
to it, favoritss, who leased it ont, in perpetu-
ity in small farms to tenants at fixed annual
mt payable in money, grain. products Of the
farm. and days labor. These leases provided
that If the tenant sold the farm, one quarter Of
the sales was to be paid to the landlord or pat
room. The tenants made valuable improv ovsmsnts
and after paying rent number of years. found
the system to be very onerous. It was against
the policy Of the government, was op posed to
it, institutions; it Vas the cause Of rebellion,
civil var and bloodshsd. The tenants refused
TO pay their rents. disregsrded the legal pro-
essses Of the courts. murdered it, officers, and
for time whole counties were in state Of
After paying the value Of their
farms several times over, the tenants found
they we're still but tenants. and they and their
heirs liable for al time to the same exaetions.
The Legislature and courts subseq qusntly re-
fused to sanction the doctrine Of quarter sales,
and . law was passed making oil leases of farm.
lands. for . longer time than twelve years.
void. The whole eystsm vas rspuguant to the
genius and spirit Of the people. and the land
loros found 80 little 'ympathy that they were
obliged in many cases to cell out their revsr-
lionary interests to their tenants.
We cannot but regret that the system of
leasing lots for . term Of years has found its
way into Western cities and especially into
ours. 1t 10 entirely at war with the genius aud !
'pirit Of osr age and times, and our policy is
% give every man home. He will then i'm |
prove his property BETTER be less liable to sell
,ut TO seek another home, will take more In
;srsst in the managemt Of city affairs, improve
nents, sehools and ehurches He will make .
peter citizen.
Tae system Of leasing lots for term of ten. |
wenty or thirty yesrs gives the lessee great
'dvantasss. By Leasing enc lot the adjoining
,roperty is rendered more vsluable, and the |
the lessee makes will, at the
'spirasioa ef the leass. belong to the Lessor
moving this. the lessee srssts The most tom
,orary and cheapest kind Of building-eps |
hat instead ef bsiag IN ornament to the city,