New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-31
THE CHURCH CALAMITY.
BURIAL OF THE VICTIMS AT HOLYOKE.
THE EARLIER REPORTS SLIGHTLY EXAGGERATED
sIxTY-Two PERSONS DURNED-sERvICEs IN THE
NEW cHuRCu-AN EXCITING EPIsODK-How 30

MANY persisted IN so SHORT TIME.
lrRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRIBuSs.l
SPRINGFIELD Mass May 29-Thc number OF
victims OF the Holyoke Church disaster was somewhat
exaggerated In the first repOrs This was due partly 10
the in which the names wero collected aud partly
the fact that nearly all the killed were French Canad
aus. who know little of any Language save their own
The list OF killed. ascertalned last night contained 10
names. During the night five died; but this morn
ing tho statement OF Coroner Kingsbury was that
the entire number Of killed was only o. The
error IN the frat account was occasioned
by the duplication Of in some cases and by vafi
tons spelling in others Some nainos originally
French transferred into English and hence per-
sons we're known to their friends by different names
which were somelunes spelled In different ways. The
names of the dead obtained from statements OF
friends and physicians, and also from cards attached 10
tho bodies they lay In the basement Of schoolhorse
The OF those who died last night from J res re-
ceived at the burning church rs follows Christine
Don Mrs Charles Beaudroau. Miss La France, and Lucy
Hicks.
The funeral OF the victims OF the sad catastrophe was
held this morning the basement OF the partly completed
church OF tho French Catholic Society Of Hoiyokc II
adons the burned edce The Mayor Of the CITY Issued
the following proclamation this morning:
To ne People Of UOiyole: 80,
caIm,ty almost un ted In the history OF this
or any country has fallen upon portion or our commit
nty destroying alike aged and the young, rendering
MANY homes dcsolaie aud carrying sorrow TO many
hearts In view Of this great disaster. token Of r.
sIec the unfortunate dead and sympathy for the ly
ing would request That all places OF business be closed
so far as practicable on Saturday dnrng the burial ser
yicce which will commence nj y O'Clock a. IN.
w. b. C. PRAIsONs, Mayor.
I'm accordance with this request nearly all the stores
and factories closed and quiet pervade The usually
busy and busting town. The new church, In tho base
meu OF which the funeral services held ia built oil
hc and ,s only completed far the first floor the
walls being about 20 feet hight The flooring timbcfs
were in poticn and these planss were placed Tor
protection from the In the southeast corner the
marks Of the plainly visible In the searched ti'n
beers and charred window frames Little damage, how
ever was done the church by the flames Across tho
rear end of this basement apartment rude altar was
constructed OF planks which covered with white
and black cambria. In tho central portion OF the
church q platform about three rect hish was
erecied upOn which the collins were arranged
in rows While the preparations were In progress
the altar being ilsecurely built gavo way
under the weight OF the co5ns and settled several inches
This accident caused considerable excitement among tho
o,scnce which had already begun TO assemble, and n
general fear was felt that tho bodies of the dead were to
be subjected dissertation before the burial was
contaminated. The planis, however, settled only We"
inches and damage was caused TIE structure Was
speedily repaired and the coins OF AZ victims were
placed upon it, Orders had been issued by City Clerk
Ramsey for the conveyance Of eight of the bodies to the
homes OF their relatives in Canada and one was aken 10
Greenfield Mass At either end OF the platform twelve
candles we're lighted. There present delegations
from the Ancient Order OF Ibcrnans and tho society oi
St Jean Bapste In the audience were Mayor Pearsons
City Clerk Ramsey, members of the Police and city ON
Gals the church about 900 people were assemDi'd
to witness tho solemn ceremony, and many hundreds
gathered the exterior Of the building crowdnS the
doorways and windows anxious to catch the words vi me
priests and the solemn chanting OF the choir.
The exercises were opened az 10 O'Clock by the sprin
ling Of the collins with holy water by Father A. - Du-
frcsne priest of the parish. The other ccrgymh
who participated In the exercises were Father L. g. Gan
cder OF this city, Father j. b. Prmeau OF worcester
Father Bonchier of Ware Father G. c. Revier OF South
ALBANIA and Father c. Ondreau of Bellows Falls. VI A
funeral Delivered in French by rather fr
lDea,i who for his text: In Rama was therc
voice heard, lamentation. weeping. and great mourn
ing Rachel weeping for her children. and would not be
confored because they not" During the exercises
telegram was read by Father Primeau from the french
Canadians Worcester. expressing Their sympathy Win
the Hoyoko Parish IN their calamity, ana pioneering
assistance, II it needed. Father Gangier made
brief address in English. and the OF absolution
which consisted In tho sprnking OF the collins with holy
wafer WAS perormel while the choir cliated prayers
for the dead Soon after III o'clock the procession was
formed which con ucted the bodies OF the deal 10 the
cemetery They were carried in hearses and %
WAGONS and escorted by G5 members OF the Ancient
Order OF Hbern,ns, and about equal number OF the
members OF the ST. Jean Bapste SOcoty The mourncrs
and friend, Of the dead were conveyed in about 100
ar,.s aud the procession nearly haif n mile IN
length They proceeded to the French Catholic Gene
terry at South Hadcy Falls where the bodies wcro placed
in one ncosure Over them single monument Il 10 lbs
erected in commemoration of the disastrous fire which
has desOlated multitude OF homes, and thio"h mo
mourning the entire population.
To many incredible that disaster so horrible
nits character and extensive In its results could have
occurred in short time. Those who witnessed II say
that the time which elapsed from the breaking out OF the
flames until they extinguishcd, was not more than
70 or 20 minutes There doubt that little thought
would have saved many lives. The galleries were not
more than eight feet in hight and leap from them to
the body Of the church would not have been difficult,
and there was easy cgess thence by the rear door VI The
church. The windows were not very hlgh ana many
moro could escaped in that readily Us those
who cid avail themselves Of o leap to the ground
beneath There was a single narrow stair
way from the gallery and those seated thcre-they
formed the larger part OF the congregation for
the doorway and there met tho audience from below. In
the eageess Of all TO secure egres the PASSAGE became
hlockaded and the fearful which have been de-
serbed ensued. The priest busted himself In carrying
out the books of tho church and the altar furniture Tie
is blamed by because he directed Of the hose
which we're playing upon the flames to be carried to the
rear OF the church. be used In protecting the furniture
from the From the moment tho altar draperies bo-
came igned flames spread with inconceivable rapid
y They leaped toward the front OF the church. and In
moment the woodwork was all ablaze The church was
built entirely of pine. which is very iniianma-
bic. 1t was only temporary structure, erected
in the short space OF month in 1869 There was no
cell TO with the progress OF the fire. and
long Of dry weather CAUSED Tie ROOF 10 ourh
almos; like finder Tomorrow was to have been the oc
cason OF q confirm alton service in tho church, aud
plumber Of young people Of the congregation on Thursday
night among those who were to receive tho rite IN
the burned edco In tho loss Of life accustomed By the
fire. when short space Of time during which 1t con-
tnued is considered this disaster Is probably unpara
leed By any sCar calamity which has occurred ln this
country.