Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-09-23

stairs. We rolled two barrels behind
the door, which we did not fear woulc
catch fire, as it was covered with iron
and then we waited, while it began tc
grow hotter and hotter. 1t was quite
dark there, although We were so close
to the bright flames. l could hea,
Blackwood praying as he knelt on the
floor of the cellar. He was a good man
l believe, and well prepared for the
death that met him that night. 1 soo1
felt the choking stencil of burnt sugar,
and on putting my hand to the floor, j
was burnt severely. The melted sugar
and scalding molasses were flowing
down the stairs, and filling the place
where we were. The floor sloped con-
siderably. and retreated to the end
farthest from the door. The heat was
growing intense, and the yapor was
sitting. l became unconscious, and
how long l remained SO cannot tell.
When l recovered my senses the heat
had gone, and there was about six
inches of water in the place where
was lying. This had come from the
fire-engines, and was luke-warm. |
could not feel this with my hands, as
they and my face were fearfully
scorched; but did so with M tongue.
l had called on Blackwood, but there
was no answer; and, by wriggling over
with great pain for few yards, 1 found
both he and his son dead. The scald-
ing sugar had reached the place where
they were, and had apparently stopped
there. I.could feel the hardened cake
under the water. / coniectured that
they, like myself, had become uncon-
scious, and had been burned to death
by the boiling sugar. In the agony /
was enduring, envied them. Death
had no alarms for me then.
The time during which remained in
this place seemed like weeks. had no
hope Of escape, and as l knew above
there must be an immense mass, formed
by the parts of the building which had
fallen. l had not strength even to
reach the door. At last, when my pain
had decreased little, fell asleep. or
fainting, cannot tell which; but when
L awoke felt somewhat relievc1, and
a longing for life. 1 managed @ get
some beer, which revived me consider
ably. 1 tried to open the door, but
was unable. The silence which per-
vaded the place, and the consciousness
of the presence of the two dead bodies,
had their effect on my weak state, and
l knew was becoming delirous. l re-
member 1 laughed hysterically, and
began to shout. When / stopped, l
heard a faint sound far above me, this
made me perfectly wild. There was a
hammer, which my hand had accidently
come against, and l took it and began
beating an empty barrel in frenzy.
Then heard shout from above, but 1
was mad now, and remember, as if it
were yesterday, that 1 attempted
to strike my head with the hammer, and
then lost all recollection. When I
regained my consciousness, L found /
was in the infirmary. They told me
that when the men were clearing away
the rubbish, they heard sound, and
the cellar, had dug down
to it. They thought at first that We
were all dead; and it was not till med
ical man had seen the bodies, that it
life left in me.
/ lay there for months and was never
expected to recover. A young and
strong constitution, however, served
me in good stead; ;and was at last able
10 fill a good situation, which the own
ars of the refinery kindly procured for
me in England. Ten years have passed
since then, and am glad to say very
lew effects have remained of that ter
-ible experience.