Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1864-01-26

WHY THE VICTIMS WERE NOT SAVED
BRUTAL SCENE ON THE REMOVAL OF
THE DEAD.

WHY THE VICTIMS WERE NOT SAVED
BRUTAL SCENE ON THE REMOVAL OF
THE DEAD.
The Providence Journal publishes letter re.
ceived by Mr.. W. A. Pearce Of Providence, from
bis father, resident iu Santiago. Chill, who wit
nessed the recent appalling catastrophe by which
more than two thousand human beings were
burned to death, II appears that the failure to
rescue the unfortunate victims was owing to the
idiotio police system Of the Chillians. The
writer says:-
hear you asking, Why were those sufferers
not rescued Yes, why were they rot rescued
My heart sickens within me ut tho question:
Those determined, stupid ignoramuses Of police
men Fifty Foreigners had they been allowed to
work, and to work in their own way. could and
would have rescued nearly or quite the whole
mass. But no, as is always the case here on the
alarm of FIRE, the police place sentry on every
avenue leading to the fire. They have, as you
know, no fire engines except some two or three
old Gordon pumps | fought my way past the
police one entire square, by wrestling gus and
aabres from their hands. knocking them out OF
my way, and being Knocked in return, until
was Overpowered by numbers and compelled TO
retreat and all within the hearing of the most
heart rending lamentations that ever sounded on
similar to myself; was kept back. Mr. Demiow,
of the gas works, received bayonet wound at
the fire while in the act of rescuing young lady
that he recognized, a Miss Larren.
lie had fought his way in company with one Of
the workmen at the gas works to the church, and
battered down side or private door and saw
Miss Larren she at the same time recognized
him and called on him to saw her. He could not
enter in consequence of a sheet OF flame between
them lie reached his cane to her which she
grasped with both hands, when he and his friend
attempted to drag her through the flames. but she
was 80 surrounded aud hemmel in with the dead
aud dying that her strength was not sufficient
They abandoned this method and went in pursuit
of some other means to rescue her. and returned
again, and on presenting themselves with the
means of saving her at the door, the police or
deied them back, aud not needing the order, he
(Demilowl was bayoneel. His friends wrested
the gun from the police knocked him seuseless
to the ground, and made second attempt to
save the poor girl But the time lost in dispute
with the police was a life lost with her This is
only one Of many similar scenes.
Your brother Charles battered door down on
Gale Bandera, or Flagg street, entered aud found
in small anteroom some thirty females and all
living, but like 30 many statues, perfectly uncon-
scous. lie was compelled to take many of them
in his arms and carry them into the street, and
saved them ALL Mr.. Meiggs and II. Keith
fought their way through the police, aud reached
the church ata hate hour, and when the tower
was falling about them succeeded in saving
several Mr.. Nleiggs saw Il woman still alive,
under II crowd Of others then dead. She recog-
nized him and called to him, saying, "for Gods
sake, save me lie pushed through the fire to
her, and pushed several Of the dead from her,
but they were so firmly wedged in about her and
on her he had to abandon that, lie then pro-
cured lasso, fastened that about her waist, and
the united strength of eight men could not ex-
tricate her from her companions, aud they had
to leave her, amid such cries for help ns no chris
tim heart eau endure, neither can language de-
scribe.
The police had full charge Of the font of the
church, and in such totee TINT the foreigners
could do nothing there. The police rescued but
a few. Axes aud crow bars were not to be Ind
until late hour. single instance will suffice
to show the stupidity of the police. An officer
of the police set some half dozen of his men to
hew or batter down one of these large front
doors with their old broad aworls. Tho doors
are made of two inch hard wood double thick
ness, aud rveied through and through with iron
riyels. You eau Judge the effect their old cut
nsses made on the doors better than eau des-
crbe it,.
The scene at the church the following day was
the most revolving, Notwithstanding thht ever
was witnessed since the world vas created -
There were the poor unfortunate dead III all
stngIs Of consumption, the greater portion OF
hem naked. But u lew could be recognized by
heir surviving irisnus' Inc ponce orueteu Oh
IN peones' or hoorers' TO remove the dead
Inose lemons, worse man ueslis uaulhsu' com
iheneeu lne'r "otk WIN US huoh hilarly as you
ever se" sc"To'-eh'luIeh enter Oh s3me pleasure
eASursiou' lne ueau mS,e pu,'eu Aoou' Su'
puleu aPa'' vs. one noulu pun apart 'anele'
olushwpOu' lou cou'u see TWO or more peone