The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-10-05
Verdict I'm the Granite Mills Disaster.

Verdict I'm the Granite Mills Disaster.
FALL RIVER October 3.-The core-
ner's verdict on the Granite Mills dlsas-
ter was rendered this afternoon. The
: Jurors find that the fire department We're
as promptly on hand as could be expect
| cd from the confusion Of the alarm, caus-
ed by the striking of four different boxes
at about the same time; but that the
| hooks and ladders included in the tre
department were insufficient in every
respect in an emergency of this kind,
and poorly handled on this occa-
sion. The many reports concerning
| other branches of the department are un-
founded. 1t is apparent that due pre-
caution WAS not used in giving the alarm
to persons at work in the sixth story, but
had such alarm been given, and the
care indicated taken, the lives Of all per-
sons in that story might have beer saved,
notwithstanding there was but one escape
therefrom, viz, the tower stairs. 1t Is
remarkable that the fire being discovered
! in the mule room, in the fourth story,
that among allth men employed there
as we'll as those in the fifth story, TO
whom the alarm Wa, general
and ample, they did not have
presence of mind enough to warn their
fellow operatives in the sixth story, TO
flee from their fiery fate, ard had even
the male operatives in tho sixth story not
become panic striIkcn at the first alarm
of fire that reached them, they might
have led all the women and children III
their charge down the tower stairs IN
safety.
All Appliances for Ex the
Fire on Hand.
The evidence fully shows that all APP
planes for extinguishing fires in all
stories, such as tanks, pumps and pipes,
and horizontal pipes and hose in various
rooms, was in this mill apparently ready
for Use 0r, warning III hr",
but apparently the water WAS
wanting in Them and nose and pipes
were useless in the fourth story nj this
time. In the construction "f the mill
the Jurors believe it to bavc been the aim
of the corporation to furnish every tocll-
ity that money could purchase and the
lessons Of the past furnish for the escape
of the help from this mill i'll case of fire;
but it was proved conclusivcly that
There Were Not Ample Means Of Is.
cape from the Attic.
Had there been, the loss of lii" would
have been avoided, and the jurors suggest
aS an additional means Of safety and cs-
cape. that in case Of fire il should be 50
arranged that m alarm struck
in any story should reach all
the Others in the mill. From
the evidence, the jurors say that it clearly
and individually appears that all means of
escape by the doors from every story was
free and unobstructed, except by Nmok"
and flame. there being no locks or bolts
on any door communicating with any
room except the lower door, leading to
the town, and that is always open during
the time the help is employed. The ap-
proximatr cause Of the death of
James Turner and the twenty-five
others, on the morning in question
was caused by the burning of the mill,
they either being destroyed by iir" imSid"
or killed by lcaping to the ground from
the mill. The jurors conclude tn" vcr-
dict rs follows:
Let the Lesson SOt Pass
unhccded, either to the mill owners or
the public in general, that human lii" i
precious, and in all means that tends to
save, either particularly or generally, tn"
precious boon to the poorest mortal, has
the sanction Of all mankind, and an cN-
ample in him who died for all
Failed to Agree.
ALBANY, September 3.-Thc jury in
the case of Phelps, Deputy STATE Treas
urcr, ON trial on a charge of Emhezzle-
ment failed to agree after - hours dclib-
Grafton and We're discharged.
Congregational Council.
New HAVEN, CT., October Alt this
mornings session of the Congregational
Council the Committee on Names rec
commended that State gatherings Of Con-
grcgatiOnal churches be- called a>S"cia-
tions, district gatherings and confer
cnCcS.
The Council then resumed the dis
cussion on the consolidation of societies,
After long consideration Of the fifth
resolution, n motion TO refer il and those
following it to special Committee oftive
to report at the next Council, was lost by
vote of 20 to 50. 4 motion to refer
the resolution To 4 COmmtt"" Of tive To
consult with the Secretaries of til" soCic-
ties and effect the proposed consolidation
if practicable was carried. Mr.. C"ttOd of
the committee, speaking on the subject
expressed the opinion that, in the Ian
guage used by the papers concerning a
recent famous case, the delegates had not
vet got at ''thc bottom facts. This was
followed by mol demonstration.
Discussion Resumed.
In the afternoon the discussion was re-
sumcd.
The sixth resolution. advising churches
To transfer to Denominational Boards.
rcpresenting kindred enterprises, their
present contributions to Union Societies
WA, laid on the table.
The second resolution was then taken
up. commencing the American Mission
ary Association for its work among non
caucasian races. The objectiOnal words
"unn-caucasian' were stricken out
and a general expression was
substituted, and the resolution n an
nounccd passed.
A provisional committee to provide for
the next meeting was chosen, consisting
of Rev. f. p. Goodwin, Of Chicago; l..
F. :. Foster, Of Connecticut; Nelson
Dinsly. Jr. Of Maine: +. 5. Toby. OF
Boston: Rev. Andrew l.. Stone. of Gala
fornia; Warren Carrier, of Missouri, and
A. :. Barns, OF New York.
Address Of the Democratic and Con.
seryntiye Executive Committee of
Alabama.
MoSrGoMERY. October 3.-The State
Executive Committee Of the Democrat
and Conservative party of Alabama have
issued an address TO the people of the
/ United States. denying the truth of the
charges made by Senator Spencer and