The interior journal., 1874-09-25
Particulars Of fhe Fall Rirer Dis


was sounded, but the locality could not
beproperly understood, consequently the
fi-emen did not reach the Granite Mill
No. |, on Twelfth and Bedford streets.
until the flames had made fearful head
way. Finding themselves unable to cope
with the flames, sccondalarm wass struck
and the remainder of the department
brought to the spot. Meanwhile the re-
suits had been heart rending in the ex-
trsme.
As far a. can be learned under the
present excitement and turmoil, the FIRE
originated at tower in the fourth story,
and the attempt was made TO extiSguish
it with pals of water, but Intellectually.
During this endeayor Il dcor leading to
the -pool-room, which opens south on the
lower staircase, had to be closed to keep
the girls back and prevent panic; but
when the flames had gained such strength
that it was impossible to quench them,
the escape of the girls had been cut Off
The frightened and terrified creatures,
with the roaring flames on the lower stair
case, rushed in body for the fire escape,
but the dense volume Of smoke that
poured into the room, and the biting
flames, forced them to the northeast end
Of the apartment, at which end, uniOr-
tunately, there were no means Of escape.
Many in the meantime became suilocated,
and Others preferring death by falling to
the ground, .prang recslessly from the
windows, and were picked up mangled,
bleeding and dying.
The excitement was terrible, every
mill nearly emptying its contents to swell
the sympathi,ing crowd. All medical
men in the city were promptly Oh hand.
Mattresses, wagons, stretchers and all the
paraphernalia of a hospital were
promptly furnished, aud the dead aud
dying and suffering attended to. 1t is
certain that nearly thirty or forty lives,
nearly all girls, have been lost, while the
list of wounded is probably as great
An investigation seems to prove that
the fire originated in the mule room,
having started in unused mule heads, In
charge of boy, named Samuel Young.
As soon as the flames were discovered
by the lad, he shrieked out fire, and
made his escape. The spinners in the
room tried to check the flames with
boxes and sticks, which broke all the
threads attached to the machines.
Then efforts were made to subduc the
fire, but Intellectually, and when it was at
last found necessary TO sound an alarm,
the flames hal gathered such a strength
that they were darting from the lower
windows to the upper story, or attic, used
us a spool room, which was at the time
occupied by sixty persons, and the first
intimation they received of the danger
was a cloud of dense, binding, and suf-
locating smoke, that swept up the stair
case, and forced them to seek safety in
the northern section of the building.
Ayoung girl named Katie Smith states
that her first announcement Of danger
was received by the girls from the other
end Of the room rushing toward her
shrieking and crying, many of them 40
terror stricken that their limbs became
almos. useless.
Some Of the girls were praying and
lamenting their situation, while Others
were so possessed with fear that they stsod
in mute agony, watching the brave con
duet Of one man who, regardless of his
own safety, worked with heroic ardor,
and by means of rope landed on the
ground number of girls in safety.
One man, being completely cut OF,
made his exit to the roof by means Of the
scuttle, and with rope lowered himself
over the roof and to the ground in safety.
lie stated that a companion who was
Just behind him had fallen back suiio-
Gated.
Many of the girls became unconscious
from fright, ere the flames reached them,
and though the number Of lost at this
writing is not known, ii can not but be
great.
Some leaped from the windows pre-
ferring 10 he crushed and manned than
burned. The heartrending sights that