Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-28
HEROIC AND THRILLING EFFORTS OF
RESCUE.
A Lighted Candle Causes the Frishtfnl
Disaster.

Springfield, May %. The most terrible disaster
in the history Of IIolyokc occurred tonight in the
burning of the French Catholic Church at South
Holy oke, during the evening service. The catas-
trophe includes the loss of &c men, women and
children.
The exercises had nearly closed, a vesfer SER
vice being sung, when a candle caught on the al
tar, and the wall being low it streamed up and
caught the building. The mass of the people in
the body of the church escaped, the total audi
ence being 100; but on the stairway leading from
| the gallery the people were packed in dense
mass, struggling for escape. The flames rushed
towards them and many leaped to the floor be-
meath and were trampled to death The gallery
skirted both sides of the building, with one en-
trance from the front.
The scene was fearful in the extreme during the
little while it lasted, for the whole in 20
minutes.
Besides &C dead there are enough ia ally wound
ed to carry the total loss up to IS.
The recognized dead up to this hour are fol-
lows:
Mrs. Burgers, Mr.. Victor NORM, Mr.. Cardixte
La RIVE, Mrs. Lavina, Mr.. Desperdins, wife and
4 children, Isaac NORM, Fabier Moreau; Misses
Exidee La France, Justine Brissau, Alphousine
Moreau, and several others, badly burned.
In Pascal Parquettes family there is one dead
and two dying.
In the family of Francis Derry, there are four
slightly burned and one missing
The priests house, which joins the church in
the rear. was also burned The bodies were taken
to Peter Manall's on Main St, ant, the Park ST..
storehouse, for temporary storage. The inquest
will be held tomorrow, at 0 A. M. The loss
the church is total, but il small, being an old
structure. There is $500 insurance on it and
$1,000 on the priests house.
The Priests residence joins the church on the
rear, and many escaped through the entrance
leading to the house back of the altar. The
priests exertions to keep order were fruitess
the screams of the living and the means of the
dying made deafening tumult above the orders
. Al H. .1,oI
was personally instrumental in saving many lives.
One family of four were in the church, and all
were killed.
Many persons were pulled out by the arms aud
feet so badly burned that they lived but few
hours, the flesh peeling eft on being touched.
Some were taken out with scarcely any flesh re-
manning on their bones.
The sisters of mercy from the convent were on
hand caring for the wounded and holding services
of the diving, while Father Dufresne also held
among those terribly buried.
Father Dufresne lost most everything he had in
his residence, so rapidly was the building con-
sumed, being as dry finder.
Prev near the burned church, was thrown open
for the reception o. the dead and wounded, and
several deaths occurred in the building during the
night. Several were also taken to the New York
mills boarding house, and the physicians gave the
wounded the best of medical care. Those who
were too badly burned TO recover were put under
the effects Of morphine, and passed away without
g struggle.
While the exercises were being held over the
dying the most intense quiet prevailed and the
rough laborers knelt upon the floor with uncover
ed heads but about the morgues and in the street
the wailing of the multitude was pitifnl to hear,
Drs. Chase and Smith dres ed the wounds of Is
and other physicians from to persons each.
Thrilling scenes and incidents are mentioned.
Peter Monat was with his children when the
| fire caught He Immediately ran toward the fire
| and attempted to put it out with several pals
| of water. Finding it useless, he then tried to
| save some OF the furniture, but was quickly COM
PEELED to retreat. He and his children were ali
| saved.
| One girl escaped from the gallery by jumping
| upon the back of man, who carried her out,
while her sister, who was with her, was burned.
were playing ball near the church when the fire
| broke out, and the relief steamer was out for
practice, so that the fire department was promptly
on the spot.
The scenes at the doors are described as very
fearful. They were blocked with the struggling
people seeking exit Outside the people cleared
the wav several times but as often it would be-
| come blocked again. Windows were broken out
and some escaped in that way. The last to get
| out the church are said TO have been q man and
wife and a little girl. The father took up his
daughter and rushed with her to place of safe
| ty.
Louis Langlors went in to render assistance,
when little girl came tumbling down before the
| door, under the feet of the throng. Though he
burned his hands sadly in doing is, he was able to
pull her out but little injured.
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