The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-06-03
Church at South HOlyOke, Mas
sachusetts Takes Fire
During Services
SIX. fSIx PERSONS BURNED AND TRAM
- PIED TO DEATH
Many Others Fatally Injured
spRINGFIELp, MASS, May a7.

4 One of the most terrible disasters in
the history of Massachusetts occurred To-
night, in the burning OF the French
Catholic church at South Holyoke, dur
ing the evening service, involving me
death of sixty-six men, women ana chii-
dren. The exercises had nearly closed
and vesper service was being sung,
when the draperies on the altar caught
fire from candle and, the wall being
low and the flames streaming up the
building was set on fire. The audience
numbered about seven hundred people.
Those in the body of the church escaped,
but ON the stairway leading from the gal
lery. human beings we're packed IN
dense mass, struggling to reach the
Aoor. AS the flames rushed toward
them, many leaped to the iioor beneath
and we're trampled to death. The gal
lery skirted both sides of the building,
with only one entrance from the front.
The scene was fearful while it lasted for
the whole was over in twenty minutes
Resides sixty-six dead, there are enough
fatally wounded to carry the total loss OF
life up to IS. 49,.
The recognized dead up to this hour.
are as follows:
Mrs. Burgess, Mrs Victor Norm, Mrs.
Calxte Larivie, Mrs. Lavina, Mr.. Des-
nerdins, wife and four children, Isaac
MORN, Faber Noieau, Miss Ida La
France, Justin Brissau, Alphonsine Nor
an ,Morv Daucette. Eta Meneuer, the
daughters of AugustusCoache and Alzene
Naoton
Badly burned-Mrs. Theophile Blan-
chard, Mrs. BurdeauX, Mrs. Dupont,
Hermine Laporte, Henrietta Timlneur,
Caiixte Dufresne.
Slightly burned--Louise PuXuette'
Louise Terriere.
Wounded-Rosalie Davian and Pas
cal Paquettes family. There are one
dead and two dying in the family of
Francis Derey There are four slightly
burned and one missing. The priests
house, which Joins the church on the
rear. was also burned. The bodies were
taken to Peter Movau's Main street store
and the Park street school house for tenn
porary deposit An inquest will be held
tomorrow.
The exercises had nearly closed when
the fame from candle caught the dra-
pery around the statue of the Virgin
Mary ,streamed up caught the building.
Immediately panic ensued, and the
people rushed for the doors. There is
hut one entrance to the gallery, and that
from the front. On the stairway leading
from the gallery the people were packed
in solid mass, struggling to clear them
selves as the flames rushed in that direc-
ton, and this soon became blocked rem
dering exit impossible. Many jumped
over the sides of the galleries on to the
crowd beneath, and were trampIed on
and killed The priests residence joins
the church on the rear, and many escap-
ed through an entrance leading 10 the
house back of the altar. The priest ex-
ertions to keep order were fruitless. The
screams of the living and the means OF
the dyingmade a deafening tumult above
the orders of the pastor, who worked
most heroically and was personally in
strumental in saving many lives.
One family of four were in church and
all killed, Many we're pulled out by the
arms and feet so badly burned that they
lived but few hours, the flesh peeling
off on being touched. Some were taken
out with scarcely any flesh remaining on
their bones. The Sisters of Mercy from
the convent were soon on hand, caring
for the wounded and holding services
over the dying. Father Duiresne also
held services. His mother was among
those terribly burned. Father Dufresne
lost almost everything in his residence,
so rapidly was the building consumed,
The large wooden tenement block Of
| Joseph Prev, near the burned church,
was thrown open for the reception of 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
physicians gave the wounded the best Of
/ medical care. Those who were too bad
" burned to recover were put under the
effects of morphine and passed away
without a struggle. While the exercises
were being held over the dying, the
most intense quiet prevailed, and the
rough laborers knelt upon the floor with
uncovered heads, but about the morgue
and in the streets the wailing Of the null
titude was pitiful to hear.
Among the persons in a dying condi-
ton was Mary Lachance, Mrs. Bridge
tthe mother Of seven children, one of
whom is missing and probably among
the dead Bazanth Briggs, Sophia Hib-
bert, Annie Lapointe and Lacosta Elidor.
Charles CONNIE is burned badly, but
will recover, as will probably the brother
Of father Dufresne, and it is estimated
that twenty or thirty we're taken to other
houses.
Later.-The following we're also seri-
ously burned: Mary Goding, Mary and
Lucy Hicks. Louisa Brown a young
chapel girl, Victoria Brison, Louisa
Torrier, Lizzie Mercies and Lena Blair,
A large majority of these must die. One
girl was terribly burned, and was moved
to the House of Providence. One girl
escaped from the gallery by jumping on
the back Of a man, who carried her out,
while her sister, who was with her, was
burned. Several members of one of the
hose companies 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
d on the spot.
The scenes at the doors are described
as terrible. They were blocked with
struggling people. seeking exit Outside
people cleared the way several times,
butas often it would become blocked up
again. Windows were broken open and
several escaped in that way, The last
to get out Of the church was man
with his wife and little girl. The father
took up his daughter and rushed with
her to place Of safety. Louis Langlar:
Of the Riverside Mill, went in to render
assistance, when little girl came tumb.
ling down before the door, under the feet