The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-01-19
THE DAY BOOK.
The Lawrence Calamity.

The Lawrence Calamity.
The papers continue to furnish accounts
of the horrible affair at Lawrence, Mass, and
we make some further extracts:
The work on the ruins was suspended on
Sunday, and services appropriate to the
melancholy event were neld in all the church
es The Mayor of Lawrence has issued the
following proclamation: "ln view OF the
great calamity which has fallen upon our
CITY like thunderbolt from cloudless sky,
crushing it with a weight of misery which
no earthly power can raise; Surrounding 1t
i, a cloud anguish which no human hand can
dispel: binding it in chains of woe which
despair cannot break, | recommend and
earnestly beseech that on Tuesday next all
rhe residents of Lawrence abstain from their
ayocations and labors; that they set apart
I that day as one OF prayer, that they then
meet in their respective place OF worship 10
ioin in those religious ceremonies which the
occasion demands, and there puDilciy ask OF
Goo that he Guild temper our afiiction with
mercy. that he would restore to health and
strength those now laBguishing in pain and
suffering; that He would provide with
Fathers care fer the orphan and the WIDOW:
that He would comfort and support those
berett of husband and wife, parents and
children; that He would SO order this signal
destruction of property and life as that good
NAV come out of our evil; and that our ex-
perience may teach wisdom throughout the
land"
The Printers Union, OF Boston, subscribed
500 for the relief of the sufferers.
The Duck Mills located near the ruins OF
the Pemberton Mill, have stopped working,
the operatives refusing to continue at LABOR
until the building is thoroughly examined as
to its safety.
The Boston Herald of Saturday says:
About noon Yesterday the dead body OF
female was exhumed and carried to the City
Hall. but such was the frightiul mutilation
of her body that all attempts at recognition
were IN vain. Shortly after this hour, how
ever, man entered the room in state of
great excitement, and scarce had his eye
rested on the remains of her clothing-her
features were perfectly obliterated-than
with deep cry he announced That the body
was that Of his wife, whose tate until row
was uncertain. Her name wa Augusta Ann
AsLworth, and she was about thirty years
OF age.
The following pointed language; relating
m the massacre at Lawrence, is from New
York paper
As fact after fact connected with the Law
renee massacre is developed, the conviction
becomes still stronger upon the mind that
the responsibility of the calamity the
blood, the fears, the groans, the agonles OF
th.. yictims-must rest solely and entirely
nnon the wealthy capitalists who built and
own.d the mill, and attempted to patch it
mn in the penny wise and pound foolish man
ner FIR which Ma sachusetts manufacturers
have been motor ious for these past twenty
five wears back. 1t appears distinctly, from
the evidence, that the walls were too tnln,
that the foundations were Insecure, ana tnat
the General weakness Of the building was SO
far Understood in Lawrence that many ope-
r,tives refused to work in the mills at all,
while some who had been employed there
gave up their places through fear of their
lives One of the owners vi the mill teSti-
ties that he did not know it was insecure,
and rnat il was the intention OF the Company
to make it as strong as possible.
He is obliged to confess, however, that
the weight of the machinery was too much
concentrated and from his statement it
would seem that the accident might have
been caused by difference III aqarter OF
cent pound IN iron. Inc cohVictlon that
the ~ hire slaves of Lawrence were massa-
cred ia CARRYING out sytem which was
srnnosed 10 be the most effective in enrich
inc the fine old Boston gentlemen who fur
nished the Sharp's rifles for the extension Of
their delightful institutions, including free
white labor in the Territories, ana who
helped John Brown in his 'work" is quite
irresistible, And so, while the white slaves
at Lawrence are mourning over their kith
and kin slain by their philanthropic masters,
the black chatteis at the South are making
merry with their holiday festivities. In the
name of truth and common sense, which po-
81 ion that of the cotton picker in Georgia,
or the cotton weaver in. Massachusetts is
the preferable one!
A New York letter, dated Sunday, in the
Philadelphia Ledger, says:
The Lawrence calamity was referred ito in
many OF the churches to-day, and in SOME
at the Mount Olive Baptist Church, Tor tx
ample-it was the theme of a special dis
coarse. One would think that upon so sor
rowlul subject the irrepressible "nigger"
would be kept out of sight-but no!
Brooklyn preacher, and another near Union
Square, in this city, are said to have alluded
to the falling o! tue nhll as judgment from
Heaven upon Massachusetts Tor not oppoS-
ing with greater 2ra, che extension "t sla-
very.
inaportant Southern hlveations.-Mr Henry,
of Mobile. saws the Salem Gala Reporter,