Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-21
THE FALL RIVER HORROR.
Terrible Sacrifice Of Life.

Terrible Sacrifice Of Life.
TIE FLANss-FRIG 4TFUL LIST OF KILLED
AND woUNDRD-sCkNKs AND ISCIDRNTs OF
TIE DISASTER.
kilograms announcing the burning OF Granite
Mill No. I, at FAN River, Mass, and the sad
loss of life. were published in THE STAR OF
Saturday.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
A special to the New York Herald of yester-
day says: The fire originated from heat, oc-
casiODed by the friction of some machinery
which was not properly oiled. 1t caught in the
fourth story, near large tower, in the center
of the mammoth building. When first seen some
of the help attempted to check it with pals OF
water but the folly of this was early apparent,
for in less than three minutes the whole end Of
the building was burning, and forks of flame
and clouds of smoke were forcing their wsy
through the doors and windows.
HoRRIBYING SCENES.
The excitement was teIrihle-men, women
and children running through the streets in
half clad. Not until after the flames had
gained great headway was the alarm sounded.
at that time the flames were pouring out OF the
lower widows. The attic or spool room con-
tanned from fifty to seventy-five young girls,
and the first thing they knew Of the presence
of the approaching fire was dense, sutfocating
volume of smoke. or course this produced a
panic, and the girls were almost paralyZed
with fright. AS the flames were leaping up the
staircase, there was now no possible means or
escape, and the crowd OF shrieking, half craZed
girls fed to the northern section OF the build
ing, huddled together, and, realizing that the
flames must soon reach them, some began pray
ing, others calling for help. One or two heroic
men, by means of a rope, landed several OF
them safely on the ground; others jumped from
the windows to the ground, preferring death in
fIh of those % who threw % themselves from the wins wins
dows were in the sixth upper story, ami OF
course were nearly all instantly killed or go
badly injured as to live but a short time. The
bodies of some were literally dashed to pieces
on the ground, and were only recognizable by
their clothing.
MARVELLOUS LEAP.
Only one person out of all who leaped from
the windows escaped without being killed or
terribly bruised. This was q lad about sixteen
jumped from the upper story and landed on his
feet and was only somew hat Jared by this terri
bic leap.
PARALYzED WITH FEAR.
Miss Smith, girl who was among the saved,
says that her first knowledge of Impending dan
ger was frem some girls at the other end OF the
room running toward her shrieking and crying,
many of them so terror stricken that their
limbs became almost useless. Some of them,
she says, were praying, others wildly lament
ing, ard others, who were so parslyzed with
fear, stood in mute agony aud seemingly almost
unconscious of their danger.
The HERO OF TIE CALAMITY
ii a young fellow named Bosworth, who low
cred on the end OF a rope and then took another
in his arms and descended safely with her down
the same rope to the ground. moment later
and the flames had burned the upper end OF the
rope so mat III was no longer available. one
man, being completely cut off, made his exit to
the roof by means of the scuttle, aud, with a
rope, low ed himself over the roof to the ground
IN safety. When he reached terra frma he
stated that a companion who was Just bshnd
had fallen sSfOcated.
STORY OF JULIA COPPER.
young girl named Julia Coffee states that
she was first alarmed by the cry OF "hre," and
1T the time heavy columns ofsmoke burst
through the spool room door. The Overseer was
surrounded by crowd of little children, and as
tha al uuau nj hn ahaA f,r. .H,a
staircase, but was forced back by the incoming
flames. He then rushed fer the elevator, still
surrounded by the shrieking, terrified opera
tives. crow q of the children were placed on
the elevator, but when he attempted to send il
down it would not work, A number of the
children were taken of, but even it failed to
respond to the belt. A rush was then made for
the window, and a number OF men In the room
began uncOiling long rope 10 let the terrified
crowd TO the ground. Quite number had been
passed down in safety, when the rope, about D
feet from the ground, was burned in two. The
overseer had in the meantime descended the
line and reached the ground with bat a few in
ju1ies. BY this time the smoke had become 50
dc NE that all who remained were compelled to
crowd 10 the windows for air, many Of them
pluneiTg head foremost to the ground, aud
their brains were scattered around for several
yards.
TIE AGONY OF DESPAIR.
About one hOur after the fire had enveloped
the entire story below the attic and had worked
lis way, preceded by immense volumes of smoke
TO the spool room, young girl was seen to pre-
sent herself at a window OF the fifth story, in
the south end, and, throwing up her arms in a
emily in prayer, fell back in the burning room
and disappeared. In other windows the same
heartrending scenes were enacted, and the peo-
pie far benea ath, unable to aid the Door, suffer
ing creatures, looked on in horror. The men
and bows were the first to commence Jumping
from the windows in the fourth ard nfth stories
but soon after the girls employed in the differ
ent rooms began To leap to the ground. Every
WIDOW was crowded with excited persons, all
eager to jump out, but upon stepping on the
window sill they would hesitate a moment about
the distance, and then with wild shout spring
as far as possible out into the air only to fall to
the ground frightfully crashed. MANY who had
sustained only slight Injuries by their fall would
he rendered almost helpless By some one jump
ing upon them.
THE LIST OF CASUALTIES,
a dispatch from Fall River, dated yesterday,
says reports Of the police and mill authortles
reduce the number Of killed by the mill disaster
TO 2O missing. 5; wounded, sc; fatally, q recove-
ty doubtful, 10; slightly wounded, 81. A later
died, making total deaths ..
THE RESPONSIBILITY.
The fire caught from some heated machinery.
IL does not appear that there were any appli
ances for such an emergency beyond few pals
OF water. Ii there was any apparatus IL certain
ly was not used. There were numerous fire es-
capes on the sides OF the buildings, but none on
the ends, where, in this instance, they would
have teen useful. The elevator refused to work
at the critical moment, or many might have
was the imperfect working Of the fre-alarm
telegraph; for at first the wrong number OF
strokes were sounded, and the hrsmen were
confused as to the proper location OF the 6rs.
and when they did arrive on the spot the saving
OF the building was an impOssibility. The man
sgement Of the fire and the capacity OF the chief,
as well as the efficiency OF the department in
general, is also freely criticised. 1t Is probable
that an investigation into the cause and respon-
sibility of the lamentable catastronhe viii ha
had.
THREATENED WAR OF RACES IN SourH
CARoLlNA.-A report reached Augusta Ca,
yesterday afternoon that about 400 negroes, un-
DER the leadership OF negro named Tenant, in
tended to make an attack on the whites near
heese's store, near Edgedeld county, s. c.,
aoout nIteen miles from Augusta. Ii was re-
ported that some unknown parties dred into
the house Of Tenant Saturday night, and tn at
he intended TO retaliate on the whites who as
semblsd to resist assault. A courier arrived
at Augusta with note fro0 pronineut white
citizens OF EdgeAeld asking for assistance.
party organised and were On he eve Of starting
another 0OnriAr axri hrfp - -