Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-06-03
AN APPALLING DISASTER.

fHoSt UefTlDle disaster IN the history OF
Holyoke, Mass, occurred tonight in
the burning of the French Catholic
Church at South Holyoke during the
evening service, involving the loss of
sixty six men, women and children.
The exercises had nearly closed, and
vesper service was being sung, when
the draperies ON the alter caught fire
from candle, and the wall being low
and the flames streaming up the build
ing was being set on fire The audience
numbered about seven hundred.
The people in the body ofthe church
escaped, but on the stairway leading
from the gallery human beings were
packed in dense mass struggling to
escape as the flames rushed toward
them. Many leaped to the floor
beneath and were trampled to death.
The gallery skirted both sides Of the
building, with only one entrance from
the front. Scene was fearful in the
extreme during the little while it lasted.
The exercises had already closed
when the fire broke out Immediately
a panic ensued and the people rushed
for the doors. The gallery had but
one entrance from the front. On the
stairway leading to clear themselves as
the flames rushed towards them
The passage soon became blocked
rendering exit impossible. Many jum-
ped over the sides Of the galleries on
the crowd beneath, and number were
trampled on and killed. Many escaped
through a door back of the altar leads
ing to the priests. The priests ex
ertions TO keep order were fruitless.
The screams of the living and the
means of the dying made deafening
tumult above the orders of the pastor,
who worked most heroically and was
personally instrumental in saving many
lives.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, May 2S.-Of
course the intensest excitement pre-
vailed last night in the streets Holyoke,
centering opposite the church at which
the fire occurred and at various points
to which the burned were carried.
Wild efforts were made by people to
rush pellAmell into the burning build
ing to rescue their friends, and it was
with difficulty they were kept back
This was particularly the case with
parents who had on the first impulse
rushed from the church to, save their
own lives but suddenly remembered
that they had left children behind to
perish. Actual personal violence had
to be used ir several cases to keep
women back. All about the streets
men, women and children were vans
dering, piteously inquiring if their
friends had been saved. One woman
was positive that her husband bad
persisted, and could only be quieted by
assurance from a friend that he had
Just been walking with him. One of
the most touching cases was that OF
two little girls about IL years of age,
who rushed for the entrance OF the
building while the fire was at its height,
thinking to find their father and mother
who were within. They could only be
restrained by an officer who took them
in his arms.
Those engaged in pulling out bodies
noticed that almost every woman had
a bracelet on her wrist, and all had
evidently worn their best for a special
occasion. 1t is disputed question
whether both the front doors were
available for escape. There are those
who state positively that one Of them
was closed and that it was impossible
to open it on account of the crush.
One man, it is asserted, went to the
closed door and fourishing 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.
DARING ENTERPRISE.
Without a moments pause to con-
slider their danger Lynch and Chief
Engineer Mullen rushed into the flames
spurred on by piteous cries, ''tor Gods
sake come and help us, and began
pulling out bodies. A moment later
and a we'll directed hydrant stream
from the Mount Holyoke hose struck
the brave rescuers and undoubtedly
saved them from being burned alive.
The first persons drawn out were burn
ing, but they passed directly through
the stream of water, and the flames
which were devouring them were ex-
tinguished. Some of the poor crea.
lures
FELL PAINTING
on long flight of wooden steps lead
ing down to the street, and few were
able TO walk, though with considerable
effort. By this time the entire fire
department had arrived, and worked
with such energy and will that when
the fire was extinguished charred
wooden walls of structure were stand
ing, and were pulled down by hook
and ladder men in order that search
for the bodies might be made.
Only very few moments, compare
lively, elapsed after the water struck
the building before the fire was put
out, but the destruction to life duri NO
that brief period of time was terrible,
some spraug from the gallery windows
and were seriously injured, and one
person appeared at the window com |
pletely wrapped in flames, and after
lettering there an instant fell to the
ground dead and unrecognizable. Hun
dreds of men went to work as soon as
opportunity offered to search for the
bodies, and a force of police was organ"
lied to keep back the large crowd
which had gathered.
EXTRICATING THE BODIES.
The work Of extricatlng bodies was
sad indeed, and greater number of
them were found in the fatal entry