The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-04-05

Our people and others who labored and
worried to get up our Sanitary Fair, had lit
tie conception that it would be SO suddenly
closed by a great and s. d catastrophe. But
about half past six O'Clock last evening, a lad,
son of Nathan Baker, and another lad with
him, began to light up the gas iu tho build.
ing, commencing with the first burner just
within the back entrance TO tho last gallery.
The gas being turned on to full head, az the
light was applied, it stresmed upward and
just caught one Of the hanging festoons of ev'
ergreens. Persons who happened TO be near
at hand, saw the critical condition Of things.
G. B. Hall attempted to snatch down the
burning festoon, and John Reynolds, running
into the ladies' dressing room, caught up
pail Of water and dashed it over the leapipg
flames, bur every effort was useless, the ever
greens having become so dry that the flames
went leaping along the festoon, until, within
a fow moments, the forest of evergreens and
decorations filling the whole interior of the
building was one mass Of see!hiug flames.
Provijentially, just at that time the build
ing was more clear of people than it had been
at any time previous since tho Fair opeued.-
A few statesmen were scattered around the va
rious stalls and booths, and the visitors, for
the most part, were at supper in the dining
hall. The detail of young misses acting as
table walters, about 80 in number, were conse-
quently attending TO their duties here. Sew
eral pessons wero also 10 the store room pre-
pairing food for the table There were quite
a number of young children scattered through
the various parts Of the bliding. Several Of
the occupants were in the New England Kitch.
en-, which was a temporary board building
at the west side OF the church. S. s. Hamlin
and N. NJ. Converse, who rushed from the
New England Kitchen at the first alarm, and
then proceeded to the galleries to save all
who nigh. be in danger. But on !heir re-
turn the flame aud smoke had so filed the
church that, cndeavoring to get down the
front stairway, NJ. NJ, Converse, after getting
little girl ort in safety, in the bewilde'ipg
and suffocating smoke, fell over some impedi-
ment, and before be could crawl to place Of
safety, his entire face and head, hands and fore
arms were SO burned that the skin peeled of.
At his advanced age, near 70, it may hardly
be expected thai he will survive, although to
very late hour last evening be retained his
strength and was cheerfully resigned 10 the
will Of Heaven s. s. Hamliu got severe
fall, which made bad circular cut upon one
knee and generally bruised bis body. His
face was slightly and his hands severely burn
ed. G. G. Hall, Robert A. Hall and Clark
Iugraham were 10 the Bazaar, anl hurrying
to save all the goods possible, stayed until the
way to The stairs leading to the aide entrance
was closed, ths.firs named only offectiug an
egress by that way. m
Robert A. Hall, finding that course cut of,
rushed to tie east gallery, and breaking
through window, assisted lady from Big
Flats in jumping to the roof Of the New Eng
land Kitchen. and be himself jumped after
her, both reaching the ground a, last in safe.
ty. CLARK lngraham was driven to one Of
the windows Of the ladies' dressing room, and
clung to the sill with one hand aud foot, with
bis head thrust outside TO avoid complete suf.
location, Until lie vas rescued BY ladder
raised to where he was. H. escaped with a
severe burn of tho band. Harry Covell, who
ran through the building at the FIST alarm, to
assist any who might be in danger while de
scending the front stairs, became sufocated
and felIF to the hoor below, breaking one :.os
the bones Of bis right fore arm and badly
bruising his righl hip and head. 50 far as
we can learn, every other person, and child,
seen, escaped from the building unframed,
unless by slight casualties, except Freddy
Hart, son Of w. K. Hat, the well known
merchant. The last that is known Of him is
given 10y an eye witness below. Charles lIaz.
ard, who last saw Freddy, says he went up
the font stairway aud met Fred. near tue
postcffics between he iowers, when sujdenly
they were envelopej in dense cloud Of black
smoke. He says he threw his arm around
Fred. and attempted to get down stairs, bat
fell. He himself got down stairs, AMI suppos
ed that Fred. was following b,n, bot saw
nohiug more Of h.m. HsGui csnnot do
scr be how he got down. but supposes be must
have fell aud tumLIed down 10 his partial in
ssosibiiiy, or may have been dragged down
by somebody. lie spGsrsd severe bruises.
Search was made all over town last night
for Fred. Hart, but up to IL O'Clock P. NJ. no
,iJings had been learned Of him, and the con-
cIusion became rresisiibIe TO bis family and
friends that ho perishei in tho burning build
ing, There arc none in our commupity whv
90 not sy,npathise with them in their terrible
affection. Mombcrs Of tho Board Of Mana