New-York tribune., 1874-09-21

municating with each story. Inc nro o'u~r" ,ba
in the mule spinning room, in the northwest emu
In I'D ., "a s,ated from friction In mule neao Nv
once igniting the oil waste about IL, and spreaos "
means of oil on the floor and about each piece VI
ehipery directly and with great quicKness 'o" a.,
center tower the only source Of escape for tno'o %
fourth and fifth stories, besides the rour ni .he
two on the sides OF each gable end. AS III rushcu
flooring 1t instantly found substance IN tue ,,rn
and once getting into the tower, ran up 10 ana
,h oe entrance 10 the fifth story. then springns W
the roof timbers and filling the two great rooms pO
on feet with dense black smoke and flame. Wh'o '
flames were making such terrible heauway 'ao ,noo
tiyes became fairly Wild The overseers saw az So
that there was way possible 10 checA 'no 80,
gave their sole attention those whom they hau Nv
They called to them save themselves ana Po'"'ss
wavs OF escape These were principally nre-auueia
, bo ,imid creatnres dared not run tho fire gaun'e'
Of the tower The overseer Of the spoofng ROOM "no
himself remained till he had nearly sunocateu III VI.
smoke states that the scene III his room-anu ~ ~
have been worse in that next below stairs-oauuVs
dencted Children ran about without any knowieuge
NJ what thew were doing cry Sg and begging peou''
10 be saved, yet wrenching themselves away w w"
taken forcbly and carried to the tower while ye'
was some chance or to the iron ladder 10 the t"o
lie windows of the south end which opened upon 'no
roof balcony at the head OF the Twelfts fire ladders
II was imposslble 10 get great majority to take even
this method In order TO save their lives some ""n'
clothing, and some this or that thing they Ano"
not what. As the fire frightened them ava,
from their deliberations at the foot OF .no ~
ladders they rushed the windows at the south epis
end bnt they were nearly 60 feet from the ground anu
dared not lump down. Cotton ropes were put out ior
them 10 slide down by and took this means ou'
IN the effort several met with death or injury, ior ~
sooner would rope be lowered before there was i
for it from the story below Too many would take ho
Of the rope which would part and all cing'ns " ~
would come down in bunch. While such scenes "eio
being enacted here similar ones Were Boinb on - w.
mule spinning room.
The flames had ascended with the quckness oi
thought TO the entrance OF the tower on the fourth oor
thereby cutting OFF this means OF escape Dut tne op
atiyes had the fire ladders of the south gaOe uecu'
before them and were urged by the overseers anu e
zens below to take them. Some did, but Others DIS
they were mad rushed upon the balcony ana oroppeu
or threw themselves from the guards, hardly IoohnS
at the iron ladders There was ample time ior every
one to have been saved the right course been pu
sned and IL was not for of direction that tho girls
lost their lives. The superintendent as soon as 'e
alarm was given, rushed TO tue upper STORY anu WIN
the overseers did all that was possible 10 save me- anu
when the provided for escape in the construction
Of the mill were rendered unavailable by tue heA'
flames and smoke. the people on the ground procured
beds and mattresses for the poor unfortuhates
to lump upon aud many did throw themselves from the
ndows in almost every case TO receive fatal or terri
Bile injuries for the distance nearly 81 feet The
greatest CONSERVATION felt by the people on the
streets who had assembled in immense NUMBERS ana
their cries and acts did not help greatly to compose the
mill hands the disciplined tremen ana poncemen,
as soon they arrived In sufficient numbers "orAeu
with will and to advantage. The hremen IN every
way worked to stop spread Of tue fire. and especially
to keep it out of the south end whittier the operatives
had fed. Ladders as long as they had at command
were used in this and in the efforts TO rescue the girls
very brave acts were performed ana II Is sad th'
several remen-the number is given as sfour-gaVe their
lives In this humane endeayor.
Morgues and hospitals were speedily improvised; the
Mission Chapel by taken for Of the latter,
and as could be picked from under the win
dows MILL stretchers were ready to carry her 10
either the chapel the Central station At this latter
place Is bodies were cold in DEATH and other unfortu
mates had taken to other stations or to their homes
In number OF instances the bodies were not recognized
partly from the fact that they were so dishgured be-
grimed and drtcoyered and especially from the fact
that their friends relatives were looking elsewhere
In the Mission Chapel those whose suerngs were
intense The injuries various but OF course largely
TO the limbs of the individuals Every doctor III the
city was summoned at the earliest moment ano
all exhibited the greatest sollciude for the suner-
ers. Some remained at the church, others accom-
panied the ambuances to this that place. while Others
worked without cessation at the chapel. 80 much OF
and every is moved TO do all that lies In his power
The extent of the fire is not great might under the
circumstances, have been expected. The hre was
under control shortly before 81 o'clock Then the entire
roof had not fallen in had the walls crumbed much
below tho caves on the north side The fire was kept
almost wholly out OF that part of the building south OF
the tower and portion Of the fourth and fifth floors
was left. North Of the tower the destruction was
greater The roof in that section fell in and took with
it thu of the wall and
portion Of the fifth floor with It, crumbed of the
side walls. and crashed through to the third
story thus leaving sound the cardng and the two weav
ing floors The Granite Mills have been for some time
running full time, and 5000 pieces Of print
cloth per week. and it is supposed that a considerable
amount Of stock IL ruined either by fire water and
smoke large amount OF machinery is also rendered
useess principally, however that in the two upper
stories. The expensive Is still good and the engines
and boilers unnured The Insurance. IL is therefore
expected will all the loss to property. When the
fire was seen and understood by the manager OF the
Merchants Mill orders issued TO suspend work.
and the hands thus released marshalled by the
and went to do what good they could to the
unfortunate girls in the Granite Mills and their services
were appreciated 1t is reported that the walls of Mil
No. will have to down, the heat was SO great
that granite of which the building constructed
had cracked and become soft.
LOCAL VIEWS OF THE DISASTER.
THE INSURANCE LOSSES CONFINED TO EASTERN MU-
TUAL CoMPANIEs-AN ACCOUNT GIVEN BY CAPT.
SIMMONS.
Extensive inquiries among the insurance
companies American and foreign doing business IN this
Al. -.