Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-01-27

night Tho names. spett fot want ol tnalk
rial io feed upon had lowered. and Nv
morning had entirely ceuod. The spec.
lnole, 10y The glatinp light Of duy, was In
dcscfibably horrible. Itro housond corDs,s.
IN eyety stage Of combustion from the
chntred Cinder 10 the slightest scorrh, loy
10 heaps around tho several exit doors,
The last struggle painfully visible on the
eager position, the outslrctched hands and
the staring eye-balls. The upper portion,
ol the bodies were, with few exceptions
distigurcd beyond recognition-tho lower
eXuemities were scarcely touched by Tia,
flame.
Although many heroic men performed
rrodgies Of daring aud strength, in tear
ing some from the death-grasp Of the pha
lanN of death that chokrd the door, M
some cases literally tearing oil their arms
without being able to extricale them, the
number of the saved by this means fall,
short of fifty. Tho greater part OF the
victims were young girls OF l5 to 20 years
One mother has perished with her five
daughters. Two thirds of the victim,
we're servants, and there are many houses
in which not one has escaped Severa
houses have been noted by the police n
empty, because all its inhabitants hav,
persned
/ A few Of the victims evnce6 considera
bic presence Of mind, but we're not in
position to carry it into effect One younl
lady finding all hope OF escape cut of, tieC
her handkerchief tightly round her knee
In the morning her body was discovered
charred about the head beyond all recog
milton; but the precaullon she had takei
J identified her her name being in tn
corner Of the handkerchief.
1t was an awful spectacle to behold mo
theirs, sisters, tender and timid women
dying that dreadful death that appals th
stouteSt heart OF man, within one yard Q
salvation, within ono yard of men VIII
would have given their lives over and owe
again for them. 1t was maddening-th
screaming and wringIDg OF hands for he'll
as the remorseless flames came on an,
then save when some already dead will
fright were burnt into ghastly indifference
0 their horrible agony, some in prayer
some tearing their hair and batterini
their faces. Women seized in tho EN-
brace of the flames were seen TO underg
a transformation rs though by an optica
illusion-frst dazzling brlghtly-th then hor
ribly lean and shrunk up-then blacl
statues rigidly fixed in wrilhing attitude
The fire had devoured every thing combus
tible by 10 o'clock. Then, detying ,h
sickening stencil, people came TO look fol
| their lost ones.
Oh what a sight the fair placid moo
looked down upon Close-paclled crowd
of calcned, distorted forms wearing IL
fearful expression of the last rang, who's
smile was once a heayen--the ghasll
phalRnX OF black statues twisted in ever
variety Of agony, stretching out their arm
as imploring mercy-and then of til
heap that had choked up the door, multi
tudes with the lower parts perfectly III
touched, and some all "A shapeless mas.
but with one arm or foot unscathed. Th
silence, after those piercing screams veI
nushed in death, was horrible. 1t was III
silence of the grave, unbToken but by III
bitter wall and fainting cry. Two thou
l and souls had passed through that orde,
of fire 10 the .judgment-seat ofGod. Hell
; was all Tut impossible. Hercules mlgt
; have strained his strength in vain 10 pu
one from the cerred mass of frenzed b.
, ings, who, piled one above another, Q
they climbed over TO reach the sir, Wild
fastened the gripe OF death upon any on
; escaping in order that they might /
dragged out with them. Those who lon,
ed to save them were doomed TO bear ii
most narrowing sight that ever scared hl
man eye-balls.
The mourners have, it seems, applied {
; the authorities to remove the scene {
their melancholy bereayemeuts, and r.
place it with an appropriate monument t
the ill-iated victims o! the contlagralion
, and they will doubtless succeed.
| am conscious how feeble the foreroin
details portray the horrible scene ut to
ture it was my misfortune to witness. \
human pen could possibly convey the nv
ful reality-no language could depict tll
heart-rendinE nature Of the spectacle
Santiago is to day city Of mourning
the eutire Republic is partaker in h,
3 grlet. Yours, sc.
DoN +. l.. G.