Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-07
4 CURIOUS STORY ABOUT. THE
FAIL RIVER FIRE.

The editor Of the Brunswick Telegraph,
in the issue of his paper for last week, tells
the following:
On Monday last we called on Mr. John
Fitzgerald, the well-known temperance
lecturer, Giving on Bank street,) who is
coniued 10 his bed, quite feeble, but still
able to converse quite briefly with friends
who call. At this interview he related to
us remarkable experience, for SO we
will call it, through which he passed on
Saturday morning, 10Th ult., the day up
on which the fire occurred in Fall River
Mass. Mrs. Fitzgerald had arranged her
husband for his morning nap, and left to
enter the stable, in the rear of the house
and attached thereto almost as soon as she
| had passed into the building, she heard a
cry of fire in tones so startling that she
rushed back to the house in the greatest
alarm, to hear her husband repeat the cry
in tones as loud as the first call--all the
more startling to her as for several days
he had spoken not above a whisper; he
was evidently greatly excited, catching at
the bed.clothes, ard attempting to get out
of bed--saying he must have his clothing.
Mrs. Fitzgerald asked hor husband "What
does this mean p
wife" says Mr. Fitzgerald, "there is
a fire in the factory in Fall River, Mass,
in the upper story, the mule room; | see
the sparks flying from the machinery as
sparks fly from grindstone when men
are grinding their tools, and the factory is
full of men women and children. | see it
ALL"
Mr. Fitzgerald remarked that his wife
must tell us the rest, which she did sub
| stantially as i,ollows-put in as brief a
form as possible, as our only object Is to
make plain recital of what we heard in
the course OF the conversation. Mrs. Fitz
gerald then went on TO remark that her
husband all the time was endeavoring to
get up from his bed to escape the fire.
saying that it was near him, and he mu st
assist the poor people-closc that door in
to the entry or the women and children
will be burned to dealh-an old sailor he
could RIG better ladder than that-splice
this. splice that--don'i Jump from the win
dows, (this expression olt-repeated,) for
it is only choice of death between fire
and being crushed upon the pavement
TO the tiremeE, why do you do this why do
you do that-see those poor women aud
little children filling the room, and yet the
laws Of Massachusetts forbid the employ
ment in factories of children under Ger
tain age. Mrs Fitzgerald was alone with
her husband, and excrted her utmost
strength to keep him in bed. 1t seemed
to her almost an age, but she took no note
of the time. All at once Mr. Fitzgerald
fell back upon the pillow and said its all
over; the roof has fallen in, and those
poor people are burned" After that he
was completely Frustrated; and Mrs. Fitz-
gerald Tor some time Feared he would not
not recover from the shock.
Mr.. Fitzgerald said he never thought of
looking at his watch, but that he saw the
fire in the morning somewhere from to
80 o'clock. 1t was not until Monday that
Mrs. Fitzgerald heard of the fire, and not
until Tuesday, 22d, she got Il paper con
tanning an account of it. This she read to
her husband he several times stopped her
as to what was to come i'll the newspaper
account, as che had seen it all" Suisse
quently Mr.. Fitzgerald repeated some
what and said 81 saw the fire, but some.
how could not tell the building, and it
must be Il factory put up since | was ac
quainted with Fan River" He ha, often
lectured there.
AhpoNN tit lut Nt'lttlll'H gwen W Us
and all we vouch for is Il correct render
ing OF them. We offer no explanation,
but it is due to NJ, Fitzgerald to say that
he dlsavows all belief in spirilualstic
manifestations, and finds it marvelousy
strange that such an experience should
beial him. Mrs Fitzgerald is equally de-
cided in her belief, and remarked to US
that the scene in that bedroom had reality
enough for her without thought OF seek
ing an exl ltnation OF its strange features.
Mrs. Fitzgerald, like her husband, lectures
upon temperance, and both told us the
story free from excitement, with an evil
dent determln n 10 avoid every express
sion that could impart To 1t supernatural
air. 1t was a plain recital of the events
OF the morning To those who do not
know the parties we have only to add
that they are entitled to belief as speak
| ing at least what they hold to be truth.