Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-01-26
AN AWFUL CALAMITY AT BEN
NINGTON.
NINE PERSONS k1LLEp-sIx WOUNDED

NINE PERSONS kILLEp-SIA WOUNDED
An explosion of gasoline occurred i
the Green knitting Mills, at Bennington
on Tuesday afternoon last, setting tn,
building on fire and killing nine person
and wounding six others 1t. appear
gasoline IS used for lighting the mill
and it is supposed there was leakag,
from what was left in the pipes from
| the burners, and as this accumulated
during the day. and came in contact
with the oxygen Oft the room and fire, the
explosion took place
The scene which followed the explo-
sion was as would be expected in such
an awful calamity. The entire end Of
the boiler room. brick wall two feet
thick. was blown out The explosion
was heard for more than fifteen miles
around. and was heard at Arlington,
sixteen miles distance. The building
was Instantly in 4 blaze The explosion
carried up the roof Of the ell which came
down crashing upon the heads of the
employees and caused instant death to
some. The names of the dead are: Mrs
Vaughn, Augusta Boss, Mrs Martin
Clarity. Mrs VIM. Gould, Mrs Cum
ningham, Minnie Hurley, Mary Rudd,
Serina Moon, Fanny Wood.
The names of the wounded are; Hor-
alto H. Fields, 4 carpenter employed in
making some repairs, was badly injured
about the face and head Wm. Morse's
head was bruised and his face was badly
scalded Ada Morse had her wrist
spraIned. Harriet Morse had her back
injured Ella Bissel's chin was cut and
bruised. Herbert Moon had his arm
scalded.
As the explosion occurred the entire
mill was filed with flame, from the per-
vading gasoline vapors which ignited
like powder. The screams of the poor
girls and women imprisoned by the fall
ing walls. crying for help in their agonies
was heart-rending and created a scene
of intense horror The Fire Engine Co.
were quickly On hand but all efforts
were vain, and they were not only burnt
to death but most Of them beyond recog-
nition- The only mode left for identi.
fcation. was the finding Of remains at
the benches where they were known to
work. The correspondent Of the Rutland
Herald says that the excitement in town
was intense, and nearly every able-bod.
led man and woman was on the ground
searching for their friends. All the
stores were closed. aud employers and
employed were alike busy. The mill
had employed something ike one hund.
red when in full blast, but were now
working only to close out the stock, a:
stated in the Herald few days ago
consequently, a much smaller number
were now engaged; but enough were il
the mill to make the catastrophe an aw
full one
Many were injured whose names are
not given above Sad and touching in
cidents are told of husbands, parent
and friends seeking those who lost thei
lives in the mill One young man wa
soon to have been married to one Of tn
victims.
The Sisters of Charity have take
charge Of the seven children made OF
phans by the death of Mrs. Cunninghan
The eldest IS 10.
, One Of the most touching incidents /
, connection with this sad affair was tn
, presence Of a little boy among those VII
were searching for the dead. He wa
crying bitterly and asking in piteou
tones for My Mamma; I want my m:
ma" His mother was one Of the victim
of the disaster
= The loss Of property in this disastt
is estimated at over $4,000.