Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-01-23
An Awful Calamity at bennington,

NINE PERSONS KILLED-sIX WOUNDED.
An explosion of gasoline occurred in
the Green Mountain Knitting Mills. at
Bennington, on Tuesday afternoon last,
setting the building on lire and killing
nine persons and wounding six others.
1t appears that gasoline is used for light.
ing the mill, and it is supposed there was
leakage from waat was left in the pipes
from the burners, and as this accumula-
ted during the day, and came in contact
with the oxygen Of 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 oe
the boiler room, a brick wall two feet
thick, was blown out. The explosion
was heard for more than fifteen miles
around, and was heard at Arlington, six.
teen miles distance. The building was
instantly in blaze. The explosion car
ried up the roof of the ell which came
down crashing upon the heads of the EN-.
p'oyees and caused instant death to some.
The names of the dead are Mrs. Vaughn,
Augusta Buss, Mrs. Martin Clarity, Mrs
VIM. Gould, Mrs. Cunningham, Minnie
Hurley, Mary Rudd, Serina Moon, Fan
ny Wood.
The names of the wounded are; Hor-
alto ii. Fields, carpenter employed in
making some repairs, was badly injured
about the face and head. VIM. Morse's
head was bruised and his face was badly
scalded. Ada Morse had her wrist sprain-
ed. Harriet Morse had her back in
jured. Ella Bissels chin was cut and
bruised. Herbert Moon had his arm
scalded.
As the explosion occurred the entire
mill was filled with fame, from the per-
vading gasoline vapors which ignited
like powder. the screams of the poor
girls and women imprisoned by the fall
en- walls, crying for help in their agonies,
was heart-rending and created scene OF
intense horror. The Fire Engine Co.
we're quickly on hand but all efforts were
vain, and they were not only burnt to
death but most of them beyond recogni-
ton. The only mode left for identified
ton, was the finding of remains at the
benches where they we're known to work.
The correspondent of the Rutland Her
aid says that the excitement in town
was intense, and nearly every able bodied
man and woman was on the ground
searching for their friends. All the stores
were closed, and employers and employ
ed were alike busy. The mill had EN-
ployed something like one hundred when
in full blast, but were now working only
to close out the stock, as stated in the
Herald a few days ago; consequently,
much smaller number were now engag-
ed ; but enough were in the mill to make
the catastrophe an awful one'
Many were injured whose names are
not given above. Sad and touching in
cidents are told of husbands, parents and
friends seeking those who lost their lives
in the mill. One young man was soon
to have been married to one of the vic
tins.
The Sisters of Charity have taken
charge of the seven children made or
phaus by the death of Mrs. Cunningham.
The eldest is Is.
One OF the most touching incidents in
connection with this sad affair was the
presence of little boy among those who
were searching for the dead. He was
crying bitterly and asking in piteous
tones for "My Mamma l want my man.
ma" His mother was one of the victims
of the disaster.
The loss of property in this disaster is
estimated at over $4,000.