Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-02-13

Over 1900 Persons PERISH.
Since the horrible loss of life in the
earthquake 1t Mendoza, nothing has ap.
preached in mournfulnsss the spectacle
presented to-day by the magnificent capi-
tai Of Chill. By the conaagration Of the
Jesuit Church on the evening Of the 9th
Of December, more than two thousand
victims were suddenly hurried into eterni
ty, by the most fearful of all possible
deaths, that Of ERE. 1t we're impossible
to exsggerate the horror Of the scene-it
cannot even be described; aud although
40 eyewitness Of this terrible reality, I
feel how utterly impossible it is to convey
in language an idea Of the heart.rending
spectacle Of Tuesday evening.
1t has been the custom for the past five
years to celebrate the "month Of Mary"
with great zeal aud pomp. in the Church
OF the Compania or Jesuit Church, stu.
a:ed at the corner Of the street Of that
name and Baudera street, and fronting
the plazuela Of la Compania. The curate
having organized religious association,
known as the Daughters of Mary" and
held annual services during said month,
winding up on the 9Th with grand ilIu-
mination Of tho church and sermon in
the evening. at which all the members
were earnestly entreated to be present.
This year, determined to oatshine all
former exhibitions, he made arrangements
to adorn the church with garIsnds Of flow.
ers, colossal statutes, and with an unpre.
cedented number Of lights. He was vainly
demonstrated with by the Archbishop aud
others in authority, who reluctantly gave
their consent to the display. The church
was filed with the devout all day, and to.
wards nlghtfall . continuous stream Of
human beings, being almost exclusively
Of women, poured into the church and far
out into the plaza we're filed With hushed
and kneeling crowd.
The doors were then ali closed, save the
main entrance, for the double purpose OF
preventing the confusion occssioned by
late comers and Of making the voice Of
the preacher more distinctly heard. At
little before seven the assistants began
lighting up the church and were just EN-
ishing the grand altar, the res. Of the
building being fully illuminated with thou
sands Of lamps, most of them Of parafne
oil, when, from a Transparent: crescent, at
the foot Of the statute OF the Virgin, burst
forth jet of flame The attendant en-.
deavored to extinsui>h it with his punch.
bu. the inaamable liquid penetrated the
taoric and only increased the danger.
In q moment the flames darted up the
garlands Of artificial h,wers to the roof,
:he immense cupols caught fire and the
lamps, suspended from the roof BY strings,
dropped and exploded among the denseIy
packed mass of women kneeIing beneath.
Darling along the wooden ceiling, already
heated to the dryness Of finder. the flames
ran like kissing serpents the whole length
Of the church and rolled down in pillows
on the compac: crowd that had instinc
lively sought the main entrance During
the first few moments Of surprise aud ter
ror, shrieks of sorrow tor the destruction
Of their beloved church rang through the
sisles Of the building but when, rushing
to the various outlets, all were found closed
save one, and that one impossible, loud
screams Of horror burst from the despair.
ing multitude. For few moments the
heart piercing cries OF perishing women
were increasing; they gradually grew
fainter and fainter, and soon an awful 81.
lence reigned within that horrible furnace,
broken only by the angry roar of the
flames. or the crash Of falling towers By
the lurid glare within could be seen hun
dreds Of human forms, some with faces
elevated in prayer to Him before whose
throne they were rapidly fastening. others
with eyes eagerly strain ed and hands out
stretched towards the outer air, vainly i'm.
ploring that assistance that it was impos.
siole to give mothers clasping their little
ones close and seeking to shield their
darlings from the flames already blistering
their own despairing features; children
clinging in tae frenzy of despai. to those
who would have gladly died for them, bu.
could only die with them.
OF the 5000 persons within the pile,
bu: five or six hundred escaped, aud most
OF them wounded, scorched, and naked.
The vast number became wedged toge, her,
and fainting with heat, terror and pre- s..
SURE, los. the ability to help themselves or
second the efforts Of those who risked
their lives to save them. 1t was only by
almost superhuman efforts that some few
were dragged from the tightly packed
mass Of human beings at the tardly
opened outlets; and Of that few great
majority only lived few hours.
-" don't know what to do with my
feet said passenger, endeavoring t"
squeeze into a crowded stage. YOU'D
better leave 'em in the boot" said the
driver.
Washington, Feb. S.--Senator Sumner
presented memorial from colorcd men
Of Philadelphia, asking the privileges Of
the elective franchise. Referred to the