The New York herald., 1874-09-20
AN AWFUL DISASTER.
Burning Of the "Granite" Woollen
Mill at Fall River.
Four Hundred Girls and Men
Shut In by Flames.
GREAT SACRIFICE OF LIFE.
Forty Operatives Crushed and
Burned to Death.
Eighty Seriously and Fatally
Injured.
Despairing Girls Fling Themselves
from the Upper Windows.
All Escape Cut 0ff-Bodies Charred
Beyond Recognition.

FALL RIVER, Sept. 19, 1874.
One of those fearful caamities which shocks and
saddens o community beyond the power OF ex-
presso has visited the industrial city of Fall
River to-day. Besides nre OF colossal proportions,
involving heavy loss ofvaluabe property, there is
added the terrible record Of twenty or more hu-
man lives among the sacrlfces, many have been
manned and injured beyond recovery, others hope.
4essiy crippled Tor life. The story OF the fire and
It's consequences is brief and simple one, but
the event has cast mantle of gloom and sorrow
over the community which no brief time will OBJ
literate. 1t was about seven O'Clock this morning
when the fire alarm bells indicated that there was
q con1agration IN the manufacturing section of the
city, and Of course, there was more than ordinary
excitement among the citizens. 1t was soon
learned that the large Granite Mill, No. l, was in
names, and the wild and painful rumors followed
that nearly all OF the four hundred operatives EN-.
plOyed there were being literally roasted alive.
Everywhere there was the widest terror and ex-
citement, and it seemed as If The whole commu-
nifty was parayzed with grief and insanity.
AT THE BURNING MILL.
1t was but q few moments before the wild stories
were circulated in the other mill, and almost
simultaneously work was suspended and the fren.
xled operatives gathered around the fated factory
1t was soon enveloped in flames from one end to
the other, and It's almost entire and speedy
destruction was 40 once foregone conclusion.
The story, as told by those who were in the
room is to the eject that the fire originated from
heat, occasioned by the friction Of some machin-
cry which was not properly Oiled 1t caught in
the fourth story, near large tower in the centre
of the mammoth building. When first seen some
OF the nelp attempted to cheek 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 way through
the doors and windows The door leading out on
the tower staircase had been closed, IN order to
prevent panic and keep the help back; but it
was found the fire had gained such headway that
1t was impossible to subdue the flames. The re-
treat OF the girl operatives being cut Off, the
shrieks from the frightened and halEcrazed crea-
lures at the blazing flames were heartrending.
They rushed together ina body for the fire escapes;
but volumes OF smoke poured into the room,
where, to their horror, there were no means Of
escape; and quite number in the meantime had
tainted away, while others jumped from the WIN
dows, and were picked up some with limbs man
gled, others bleeding profusely and dying.
HoRRIFYING SCENES.
The excitement was terrlbe-men women and
children running through the streets in half
crazed manner, many being not more than half
headway was the alarm sounded. At that time
the danes were pouring out of the lower windows.
The attic or spool room contained from fifty to
seventy-fve young girls. and the first thing they
knew OF the presence OF the approaching fire was
Q dense, sufiocatng volume OF smoke. or
course this produced panic, and the
girls were almost parayzed with fright. As
the flames were eaping up the staircase
there was now no possible means of
csc ape, and the crowd OF shreking, hali-crazed
girls ned to the northern section OF the building,
hudded together, and realizing that the flames
must soon reach them some began praying, others
calling for help. One or two heroic men by means
OF rope landed several Of them safely on the
ground; others jumped from the windows to the
ground, preferring death in such q manner rather
than by burning. Most of those who threw them
selves from the windows were IN the sixth upper
story, and, OF course, were nearly all instantly
killed so badly injured as to live but 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 a lad about sixteen years old;
and, incredible as 1t may seem, he jumped from
the upper story and landed on his feet and was
Ouly SOUueWudJ JdTTcu ny Ills berilUlc leap. bc-
sides those who were killed by jumping
from the windows some were burned
10 death, but exactly how many Is
not yet known, as it is impossible to examine the
interior OF the ruins at this writing. There were,
indeed, numerous scenes Of the most narrowing
description. Mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters
were running hither aud thither in wild despair,
seeking learn the fate of their kindred, and the
ground around was covered with the dead and
wounded. Nearly all were children OF tender
years, and the piteous means Of the manned that
nlled the air were truly agonizing.
Miss Smith, q girl who was among the saved,
says that her nrst knowledge OF impending danger
was from 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 lamenting, and Others, who
were so paralyzed with fear, stood In mute agony
and seemingly almost unconscious OF their dan
ger. The hero OF the calamity Is young fellow
named Bosworth, who lowered one woman on the
end OF rope and then TOOK another in his arms
and descended safely with her down the same rope
to the ground. moment later and the names
had burned the upper end of the rope 80 that 1t
Was n" longer available One man, being COM
pletely cut on, made his exit to the roof by
OF the scuttle and, with q rope, lowered himself
over the ROOT to the ground in safety. When he
reached terra frma he stated that companion
who was just behind had fallen back surocated.
JULIA coFPEEs STORY.
young girl named Julia CofIee states that she
was first alarmed by the cry OF "Fire ~ and at the
time heavy columns OF smoke burst through the
spool room door. The overseer was surrounded
IVY crowd OF little children, and as soon as the
a,arm was given he rushed for the staircase, but
vas forced back by the incoming names He then
rushed for the elevator. still surrounded hy the