The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-06-04
The HOIyOke Holocaust.
SOME INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE-THE BURIAL
OF THE VICTIMS.


Many who were supposed to be only slight
ly burned will die from their injuries. and
a great many who survive will be MANNED
and distigured for life. The funeral obse
uues took place Saturday in the basement
of the half finished church which was soon
to supply the place of the tlimsy wooden
structure destroyed. An unfoi tunate incl
dent happened, when, after three quarters
of an hours work thirty four bodies had
been placed upon the dais. The weight
of them proved too much for the slender
structure and the middle boards gave way,
allowing it to sink with the collins several
inches. The church had meantime become
packed with people, relatives and friends
of the deceased, who pressed about the
dais watching the movements OF the work
men on and around it. aud when the tim
bers cracked the crash sent a thrill of hor
ror through all present, as it was thought
that all the collins were precipitated to the
ground. But they we've spared this fresh
torture for the dais was soon repaired and
made more secure. One lady gave a heart
rending scream and was carried out in a
fanting fit. The ceremony of ''AdieuX,
or absolution to the dead" was conducted
by Fathers Dufrisne, Primeau and Gagnier,
and consisted of a final sprinkling of the
coffins with holy water while the choir
chanted prayers for the dead. The funer-
~
hundred and thirty-two vehicles, besides
several societies on foot, following the re-
mains of the victims to the grave.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
A sad case was that of Joe Richards,
who was i'll the building with his wife
when the fire was found to be beyond con-
troll. He seized his wife around the waist
and made desperate struggle to reach the
door. He had almost succeeded when "a
of ctt i'm, ha f,c
porarily binding him. His wife was torn
from his grasp by the struggling crowd,
and blind and burning he was pulled out
and will recover, but the woman was burn
ell to a crisp and was recognized al the
Morgue on Friday morning only by ring
on her finger. Several ladies, not burned,
were made seriously i'll by fright, and Mrs.
John Wilkinson, who lived near the church.,
became crazy and raving. The regular or
ganist of the church was absent and Miss
Ida Meunicr played for her. The latter's
lover escaped, but finding that she was
yet in the church turned back to save her
and both died in the flames. She tainted
at the commencement of the panic, and
was afteIward found suffocated by the
smoke, but very little burned or disfigured
One man in the gallery saved his wife and
four children by his wonderful presence of
mind. When the panic commenced he
Then going to the window he dropped
them out one by one, and thus saved the
lives of all with scarcely any injuries.
y stonc-cutter, some of whose family
were iii the burning house, asked some
friends to put him into window. They
hcsitated, and he said if they did not do
SO he should 90 in through the burning
doorway. They finally helped him in, and
he was able to save two or three persons.
Joseph Chattelle, " no perisied in attempt
ing to save his mother, leaves wife and
four little children. Mrs. Marie Roberts.
married but week ago last Sunday, was
burned to death, while her husband. who
was seated i'll another part Of the church,
was rescued from amid the flames by the
heroic John Lynch. One of the most touch
ing incidents Of The disaster was the death
of Mr.. Lep:enx, French Canadian, who
but recently arrived in this country. He
saw his wife surrounded by the flames, and
taking off his overcoat, rushed to her res
cue, and caught her in his arms, but some
how on other his strength abandoned him,
and lie could not retrace his steps. Both
wife and husband, held in each others
embrace, met with the most terrible of
deaths. Mr.. Boulanger, i'll attempting to
save his life by jumping from a window,
was held fast by the rushing multitude,
and burned to death, half of lis body
extending out of the window and the other
half within.
PRESENCE OF MIND NEEDED.
1t is doubtless true that many with more
presence of mind, could have easily saved
themselves as the gallei les were ouly eight
feet high, it would have been an easy mat
ter at the outset, to drop from them and
escape by the rear door. Hundreds who
mourned their friends as lost on Thursday
night afterwards found them safe a home.
\ lame girl was taken out by two friends
her sister who had been home. hunted for
her despondingly among the dead, hearing
that some one Of the same name had per-
ished. At midnight she went home and
found her sister safe and unhurt. Amidst
the terrible confusion inside when help
first arrived a man named Gates saw a lit
tie girl who had been nearly extricated
from the mass Of writhing limbs and bod
les which were piled inside the door; he
reached over and drew out the child almost
unhurt.
The charred remains of some of the vic
Tins Of the terrible fire at South Holyoke
Mass Catholic church arrived at Mon
treal on Monday. When the train crossed
the line there were eighteen collins on
board. eleven of which were left at way
stations.
THE Harrisburg Pttriot states the case
of the Eastern miners as follows:
We will state it in a few words. The
strike forced upon the miners was brought
about by the refusal of the various corpo-
rations, or operators, as they choose to
call themselves, to continue ''the basis
agreed upon for some time past, and which
worked happily all round, for operators
we've making money, miners were fairly
paid, and consumers were getting coal at
reasonable rates The strike has thrown
these men out of work for three or four
months, and the object OF the parties who
forced the stoppage of labor being accom-
rlished, they invite the men to resume
mining at the old rates. The miners say,
''No, gentlemen we have lost through
your doings third or more of a year. To
accept your terms now would be in effect to
admit you are right, and to lose in annual
earnings all you contend for. We do not
intend to submit, and shall teach you a
lesson which may be of service to you in
the FUTURE