The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-06-04

Ex.Constablc Casey describes the scene
IS he saw it with glass from the top o.
the Hutchine's House block. The whole
affair was over in fifteen minutes. He
could plainly see through the blazing raj
ters and frames the poor people running
about. Large black sheets could be seer
in the flames, and half minute late,
these spots went out in brilliant light
which was succeeded by dark fame.
The dead thus far recognized are
Mrs. Burgess, Mrs. Victor Maria, Mrs
Celext Laroari, Mrs. Lavina, Mr.. Des
pends, wife and children, Isaac Marin
Fabri Moreau, Miss Ida Lasfane. justin
E. Brissau, Alphonsine Mareau, Daucett,
Eta Mener, the daughter Of Augustus
Coache, and Alsine Newton.
Tho following were badly burned:
MIR. Theophile Blanchard, Mrs. Bar.
deaux, Mrs. Dupont, Hermine Laporte
Henrietta Fumeneau, Calette Dufresne
Mary Grading, Lucy Hicks, Louisa Brown,
Victoria R,isen, Louisa Terriere, Lizzie
Msrc,es, Lewis Blair, Mary Lochance,
Mrs: Bridges. Basanth Bridges, Sophia
Hobbert, Annie Lapointe, Lacosta Elder,
Charles CONNIE is burned badly but
will recover, as will probably the brother
or Father Dufresne.
Slightly burned, Louis Perquette and
Louise Terriere.
Wounded. Rosalie Davian and Passe
Pasquettes Fannille.
OF the injured it is stated that ma ny
must die. Those who were too badly
burned to recover were put under the
effects of morphine and passed away with
out q. struggle. When the exercises were
being held over the dying the most in
tense quiet prevailed, and the rough ia.
borers knelt upon the floor with uncover
ed heads. But about the morgue, and in
the streets the wailing of the mutilated
was pitiful to hear. The Sisters Of Mer-
cy from the convent were promptly on
the ground attending to the wounded and
holding services over the dying.
Father Dufrense lost almost everything
in his residence so rapidly was the build
ing consumed.
One woman was positive her husband
had perished and could only be quieted
by assurance from friends that he had
just been walking with them.
One Of the most touching cases was that
of two little girls, about twelve years OF
age, who rushed for the entrance of the
tlilding while the fire was at its highest
thinking to find their mother and father
who were within. They could only be
restrained by an officer who took them in
his arms.
It is disputed question whether both
the front doors were open for escape.
There are those who state positively
that one of them was closed and
that it was impossible to open them, on
account Of the crush. One man went to
the closed door and, f1ourishing
= club, threatened violence to
any one who came near, in order to get
the crowd away, but without success.
Others state as positively that both doors
were open.
The church society was established
about seven years ago, and Father Du-
presne had been the only pastor. The
parish included all the French
Catholic inhabitants Of the city.
estimated at from 1000 to $500 persons.
The church was erected in 1870, entirely
of pine, and was about 100 feet by so, two
stories, with galleries on the sides
and north end about 25 feet wide There
were two doors in the north end and a
vestibule, from which two doors opened
into the body of the church.
The galleries opened into a vestibule. At
the rear end was another door by which q few
persons escaped. Immediately upon the
breaking out Of the fire all the occupants of the
galleries rushed to the east door, falling upon
with their bodies piled in all ways, seven Or
eight deep. Here most OF the lives were lost.
From this mass Chief Mullen rescued one young
woman after having taken off two dead bodies
from above her. The chief and others had
their clothes almost burned from them, and
were badly burned about the hands.