New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-29
FIRE RECORD.
Catholic Church Burned and Seventy. fl We
Lives l.Osr.

Lives LOST
SPRINGFIELD, May 2S-The French Cath
Ole Church in South Holyoke has been
burned a candle on the altar fred the
drapery. Most OF those in the body of the
church escaped of those in the gallery the
majority persisted. Services had nearly
closed, and vespers were being sung. There
was but one exit from the gallery, which
extended around the building. There were
700 worshipers present. seventy-fye of
whom persisted.
The efforts of the people to get into the
church to rescue their friends increased the
confusion and added to the disaster. Per-
sonal violence had to be used in several in
stances to keep the women from rushing
into the flames to save their children.
The church was established seven years
ago, and the parish included all the French
Catholics in the vicinity, umbering 2500.
The church was built in 1870, was 100 by
sixty feet, and two stories, entirely of pine,
and had galleries on the sides and north
end about twenty five feet wide.
There were two doors in tbs north end
and vestibule, from which two doors opened
in the body of the church. The galleries
opened into the vestibule; at the rear end
was another door, by which few persons
escaped. Immediately upon the breaking
out Of the flames all the occupants of the
galleries rushed to the east door, and
crowded SO that they fell upon one another
and choked up the doorways with their
bodies, piled in all ways seven or eight feet
deep, and here most OF the lives we're lost.
From this mass, Chief Mullin rescued
one young woman, after taking Oft two dead
bodies from above her. 1t was almost i'm
possible to face the flames. and Chief Mul-
lin and others had their clothes almost
burned from them and were badly burned
themselves about the hands. In the rear
of the church was the priests residence,
which was also destroyed.
The walls were pulled down after the fire
was nearly put out. One woman jumped
from the highest window down upon the
front steps, breaking an arm, but she is not
known to have been otherwise injured. A
man, with two children in his arms, jumped
from the widow and escaped. One poor
women. enveloped in the flames, shrieked
out "For Gods sake, save me!" and she
was dragged out by John Lynch.
The latest dispatch to the Republican
from Holyoke say it is not quite certain
that all the bodies have been taken from
the ruins. In the haste to get as may as
possible from the building before it fell
many were taken out short distance and
it s possible that few more may be taken
from the debris.
Later = Recovering tho Bodies of the
Dead.
HoLYoKE, Mass, May 2S-Fifty bodies
have been identified in addition to fifteen or
twenty that were at once removed to their
homes. The loss as far as ascertained is
seventy dead. forty more or less burned and
otherwise injured. A person who lost his
wife and daughter has become insane.
The Forest Fire-A Town In Danger.
PHILLIPsBURG, Pa, May 2S-The forest
fire is fast approaching the town. Assist
ance has been sent for.
Children Burned to Death.
VERSAILLES, Ohio, May 2S.-Four chill
dreR were burned to death to-day. One OF
them endeavoured to light the fire with
coal oil.
Nail Factory Burned.
WHEELING, May 2S.-The Riverside mai
plate mill and new nail factory were tc
tally destroyed by fire at six o'clock to
night. The loss will probably reach $75, 900
nearly. if not entirely, covered by insur
ance. The greatest loss is on the machinery
and stock. The plate mill having run con
tinuously throughout the nail feeders strike
was literally filled with stock. The old
nail factory, which was the largest of the
two. was saved, uninjured.