Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-06-04


from being burned alive.
The first persons drawn out were
burning, butthey passed directly through
the stream of water and the flames,
which were devouring them, We're extin-
guished. Some of the poor creatures
fell fainting on the flight of wooden steps
leading down TO the street, and few
were able to walk away though with
considerable effort.
Several not burned, were made seri-
ously i'll by fright, and Mrs. John Will
kinson, who lived near the church, be-
came raving crazy.
Louis Desjerdin, 81 years old, whose
wife and daughter were both burned to
death, became insane Friday, from grief,
and cried continually in agonizing tones,
90 my Julie my juliet
A large woman weighing some $50
pounds, was pulled out yet alive and
screaming in agony as the flesh parched
from her back, and she fell over dead
as they set her upon the grass.
One woman led from the flames had
hardly reached the air when her hair
burst into blaze, and as soon as she
was laid upon the grass she threw back
her head, and as the flesh fell from her
cheeks she breathed her last.
The body of one woman was discov-
cred sitting in the seat she had occupied,
her clothing entirely burned off
One of the few amusing incidents oc-
Cured at the rope drawn around the
plot where the wounded were laid. A
woman who calls herself mesmerist
tried to pass in, when she was confronted
by young man doing guard duty. She
began to operate upon him, expecting to
overcome his will, but she soon went
away disguised, remarking, That's the
strongest-minded man ever saw"
Those pulling out the bodies noticed that
almost every woman had a bracelet on
her wrist, and all had evidently worn
their best at the special occasion.
SAD WORK OF IDENTIFICATION.
The sad work of Identification pro-
ceeded Friday, in which were many soul
narrowing scenes. The most touching,
perhaps, was the recognition by Paul
Jeter of the crisped body of his wife,
Louise Jeter. His left arm hung use
less stump, and his face was swathed in
cloths and fearfully blistered. He look
ed like corpse in its shroud, as sup
ported by men he was held over the on
ly unidentified body and knew it must
be his wife, Family he gazed as he was
questioned if he knew her, and for a
long time it seemed doubtful that the
remains were those of his wife, but bits
of clothing were shown him and other
things upon the body and suddenly a
CLEAN OF recognition lighted up his bis
tered face, and he was sure it was her
Some Of the victims were burned to
crisp cinder down to the very bones
about their faces, and then a ring, a
shawl or some article of apparel, the
peculiar formation of finger even
would recall them to loving and seeking
friends
An old man, of perhaps 60 years, one
Of the first admitted to the basement
after long and unsuccessful search
among the bodies after his lost daughter
went home and soon returned with his
feeble old wife, whose anguish, as she
eagerl y lifted the cloth from each char.
red and revolving form in search Of some
clew to the missed loved one, was pitifu
in the extreme. She was about to aban
don the search when she espied garter
which she knew belonged to her daughter
and by this slight clew the body was
identified.
Another equally singular coincidence
was the Identification of the littl,
daughter of Joseph Briggs, of Cabo
street, by her young sister, who instantly
recognized her by the shoes she had on
The head Of the poor unfortunate was
charred beyond all recognition, and the
grief of the surviving sister was one Of
the most painful features of the morn.
ing. Indeed, she could only give vent
to her terrible anguish by low, piteoui
means
The body of one woman was recog
nized by a ring which was taken from
her hand, upon which the fingers were
nearly burned off, while her head anC
the upper part Of her body were burned
to the bone.
The body of man, whose head wa:
nearly burned off, was principally iden
titled by charred postal card in hi,
pocket.
HE LATEST SwINDLE.-A stranger
with no guile in his face and no overcoat
on his shoulders, wandered into a cloth
ing store in Newport, the other day, and
asked If he could be fitted with a spring
overcoat. The proprietor promptly ans
wered in the affirmative. You speak
very positively" replied the stranger
- am bigger than you take me for. .