Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-09-26
THE FALL RIVER DISASTER !
Burning Of Granite MN No. i.
% KILLED---34 INJURED.

Between Z anl s o'clock Su,ur
day one of the largest cotton mills
at Fall River, Mass, was burned
causing the death of % persons and
the injury of 81 more. The ,Iescrip,
ton Of the appalling scene, as the
frightened inmates of the doomed
building, many of whom were mere
children, rushed purposelessly hith
er and thither in the suflocating
smoke, are heartrending in the eX-
IRENE. From the Journals report
we make the following extracts.
The fire caught in the mule spin.
ming room in the northwest end OF
the mill from an unoiled mule head,
in charge of twelve years old lad
named Samuel Young, ut once ig.
hitting the oil waste about and then
spreading by means of the oil on
the floor and about each piece of
machinery, directly and with great
quickness toward the centre tower,
the only source of escape for those
on the fourth and fifth stories, be-
sides the four fire escapes, two on
the sides of each gable end. AS it
rushed over the flooring it instant
~ found substance in the wood
work, and once getting into the tow
er ran mp to and through the single
entrance to the fifth story, then
springing to the roof tinIbers and
filing the two great rooms (45OX95
feet) with dense black smoke and
flame.
The fire alarm was sounded ut
nine minutes before seven, about
twenty minutes after the starting of
the mill, and the flames were spread
ing so rapidly, dense volumes of
smoke pouring from the fourth and
fifth stories, that a second alarm i'm
mediately followed, summoning the
entire Fire Department to the scene.
AS soon as the fire was discovered
six of the spinners hurriedly pro,
cured pals of water and dashed it
on the flames until they were al
most eXtinguished. Starting off to
procure more water, they had scarce
ly turned their backs when the
flames broke out with renewed
and like d whirlwind
sprang from one machine to another
tapping up with avidity and gain
ing redoubled power from the innu-
pieces of lint and thread
that lay scattered about and the
oily matter that encased the ma
chimes. In less than twenty five
seconds from the time Of the first
discovery the entire room was one
mass Of flames, the smoke was pour
ing out of the windows, and the
little band of determined spinners,
who had at first faced the fend.
were, with all their comrades, forced
into the entry and down the. stair
case, seeking safety in flight.
Mr.. McCreery, the Superinten-
dent of the mill, states that he was
coming from Granite Mill No. 2,
about eighty rods north Of Granite
Mill No. /, on the opposite side of
Bedford street, and when he reach!
ed the corner of Bedford street he
glanced upward and was startled
BY the sight of the smoke bclching
forth in massive columns from the
row of windows on the fourth story
If the west side, occupied as Il spin
ling room. Rushing to the mill en-
rance in the tower he immediate.
y turned off the gas, at the same
line sounding the city alarm. Pass
ne up the stairs he screamed to the
,verseerS to get their hel out, as
he positive conviction struck him
hat the mill was doomed and could
lot, unless by a miracle, be saved.
Reaching the third flight he met the
lelp rushing down us rapidly as
possible, all in state of terrible ex,
,itement. AS he reached the fourth
tory where the fire originated the
moke was pouring out in the tow
r hall, at the head of the staircase,
md all help had, as far as he could
discover, escaped. On the fifth fiat
10 one apparently was remaining in
he room. Reaching the top of the
taircase, at the door leading into
he spool room, he was envclOpcd
n a heavy, thick mass Of sutfocat-
ne smoke that fairly took his breath
way. He peered into the dark ness
f the room, speaking and calling
o see if any remained who might
e rescued. Receiving no response
e felt his way into the room a dis
ance of several yards, in the hope
f rescuing any of the children who
light have been overcome. Find
ng himself losing consciousness. he
urried forward, stumbling over a
roken beam, aud made haste to
rasp number of towels hanging
II the wall. Selling Oh one Of them
e dashed it into a vessel of water,
nd wrapping it around his face con
nued his way forward, thinking
nat his only chance of escape was
y the window i'm the south end
no answer to his repeat,
Il shriekS, he determined to return
nd make desperate effort to dash
trough the flames on the staircase
nd secure safety. He CROPPED his
'ay back and passed through the
DOR down the first flight of stairs
nd along the short vestibule to the
nyt Stnitcscn md thnn with n rusl