Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-21
lives who were mostly women and children.

lney dld not use the escape ladders, but mud
died about windows or sprang through them
in desperation. Flames spread 20 rapidly
and smoke was 60 thick that the loss OF life
was terrible. Those who jumped fell City or
sixty feet and were either killed outright or
suffered such a shock that they died after
wards. Two escaped alive.
When the fire had been got under, search
was made for ladies' nearly all were in the
NTH story where they were wrapped in sacks
and quilts, and, dripping with blood, they
were let down, put in express wagons and
carried to the station or chapel Ten were
recognizable, but some we're terribly mutia-
ted. Agonized parents filled the streets with
cries and shrieks, which mingled with the
| shrieks of the wounded
The following are some of the casualties ::
Annie Daily, leg broken; Vincomb, internal
injuries; b. w. Wordel, back and LEG bro
ken; Isabel Moorhead, arm broken; Ella
Jones, internal injuries Dumped from win
dow; Maggie Drowney, shoulder and head
broken.
| Eleven dead women are in the mis- sion
chapel, and more at the police station. The
Murphy girl is dying there. Loss of life as
Tar as heard from, is twenty-nine. The loss
by fire 100000. Fire caught by friction of
n mule. The walls of the mill were standing
at noon. engines were playing and clouds Of
| smoke rising.
| There was plenty of time for every human
being to have saved itself had the right course
in each instance been observed, and it is not
from lack of directions that the girls lost
| their lives. The superintendent as soon as
the alarm was given, rushed to the upper
story and with the overseers did all that WAS
possible
The Granite Mills have been for some
! time and were running full capacity, which is
5000 pieces ofprint cloth per week, and it is
supposed that considerable stock is ruined
either by fire or water and smoke. large
| amount of machinery is also rendered USE
| less; most, however, that was in the two up.
per stories. but most expensive, is still good,
and engines and boilers are uninj ured. The
insurance it is therefore expected will cover
| all loss 40 property.
When the fire was seen and understood by
| the manager of the Mechant's mill, orders
| were issued to suspend the forenoon work,
and the people thus released were marshalled
by their overseers to go and do what they
could for the poor girls in Granite Mills, and
their services were appreciated.
1t Is reported that the wall of mill No. !
will have to come down, as the granite, of
| which the building is constructed, had cracked
| and become soft.
A Coroner's Jury has been summoned con-
sisting of Daniel Stillwell, Chester w.
Greene, Earl z. Bowen, job B. French,
Charles Almy and Charles Il, Dean, to thor
oughly invt stigate the sad catastrophe. They
will meet on Monday. The citizens demand
this, humanity will sanction it and justice to
the relatives and friends of the suffers require
it.
The total insurance is $450,000 The in
surance agents have reviewed the ruins and
estimate the loss at GO per cent. of the amount
insured They estimate the value of that
portion not burned at Sl57,501.
LATEST.
Fall River Sept. 20. There has been an
increased interest manifested to-day over the
great calamity of yesterday.
The streets leading to the ruins have been
thronged since early morning. and thousands
OF citizens and strangers have visited the
scene of the sad catastrophe, which was
guarded and no one was admitted within the
enclosure.
AS the larger portion of the poor victims
occupied house belonging to the corpora
ton and in the vicinity of the mill, this por-
ton of the city during the preparation for the
funerals. has indeed presented mourntul
sight, as many as six hearses being counted
on one street att time.
The funeral corteges of Maggie, Katie and
Bridget Murphy passed through the streets
about five o'clock this evening. The three
hearses were only divided by the pail bearers
and carriages.
Allusion was made by the city pulpits gener-
ally.
Rev. Father Quinn delivered a touching
discourse from "In the midst of life we are
in DEATH" Many of the victims were his
Pensioners. Rev Father Murphy also alluded
in an impromptu manner the sad catastrophe,
and expressed the most heartfelt sympathy
with the afflicted.
Total number killed and since died, %.
Wounded, 81, of which it is feared a humble r
will die.
Preparations will be made Immediately to
rebuild.