The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-06-04
ANOTHER HORROR.
Burning of "a Catholic Church at South
Holyoke, Mass. Persons
Either Burned or Crushed to Death.


Either Burned or Crushed to Death.
One of the most terrible disasters in the his
tory Of Massachusetts occurred on the evening
Of Thursday, May q, in the burning Of the
French Catholic Church at South Holyoke,
during service, involving the death of sixty-six
men, women, and children. The following are
the particulars of the dreadful calamity, rs
telegraphed to the daily press:
The exercises had nearly closed, and vesper
service was being sung, when the draperies on
the altar caught fire from a candle, and the
wall being low and the flames streaming up,
the building was set on fire. The audience
numbered about 700 people. In the body of
the church the people escaped, but on the
stairway leading from the gallery human beings
were packed in a dense mass struggling TO
reach the floor. As the flames rushed toward
them, many leaped to the floor beneath and
were trampled to death.
The gallery skirted both sides of the build
ing, with only ore entrance from the front.
The scene was fearful while il lasted, for
the whole WAS over in twenty minutes. Be-
sides the sixty-six dead, there are enough fatal
ly wounded to carry the total loss up to seven
ty-fve.
The exercises had nearly closed when the
flame from the candle caught the drapery
around the statue of the Virgin Mary streamed
up and caught the building. Immediately
panic ensued and the people rushed for the
doors. There was but one entrance to the gal
lery. and that from the front. On the stairway
leading from the gallery the people were packed
in solid mass struggling to clear themselves, ~
the flames rushed in that direction, and this
soon became blocked, rendering exit impossi
bic. Many jumped over the sides Of the gale
res on the crowd beneath, and were trampled
on and killed. The priests residence joins the
church on the rear and many escaped through
an entrance leading TO the house back of the
altar. The priests exertions to keep order were
fruitless.
The screams Of the living and means of the
dying made adeafening tumult above the orders
of the pastor, who worked most heroicaly, and
was personally instrumental in saving many
lives. One family of four were in the church.
and all were killed. Many were pulled out by
the arms and feet so badly burned that they
lived but few hours, the flesh peelng of on
being touched. Some were taken out with
scarcely any flesh remaining on their bones.
Those who were too badly burned to recover
were put under the effects of morphine, and
passed away without struggle.
While the exercises were being held over the
dying the most intense quiet prevailed, and the
rough laborers knelt upon the floor. with I'M
covered heads. But about the Morgue and in
the streets, the wailing Of the multitude waA
pitiful to hear.
One girl escaped from the gallery by jump
ing on the back of man, who carried her out
while her sister, who was with her was burned.
Several members of one of the hose companies
were playing ball near the church when the fire
broke out, and a relief steamer was out for
practice, so that the fire department was
promptly on the spot.
Scenes at the doors are described as terrible.
They were blocked with struggling people seek
ing exit. Outside people cleared the way sew
eral times, but as often it would become blocked
no again. Windows were broken open and sew
eral escaped in that way.
Lewis Langlars, of the Riverside Mill went
in 10 render assistance. when little girl came
tumbling down before the door under the feet
of the throng Though he burned his hands
badly in doing it, he was able to pull her out
but little injured. A young woman beat out
one Of the window frames and jumped to the
ground safely. An old woman of 60 went to
the same opening. and, hesitating TO jump she
was pulled inside by the hair by a brutal fell
low. He jumped clear and she fell and was
seriously injured.
OF family of five, four got out alive, .one
little girl of IL years being burned. She was
tearfully sought by her little brother and at last
discovered dead.
John Lynch. a mason, finding the people
pressed In at the bottom Of the church door,
pulled many down who we're on top, thus saw
ing dozen lives.
Ex-Constable Casey describes the scone as
he saw it with glass from the topof the Hutch
ings House Block. The whole affair was over
in fifteen minutes. He could plainly see through
the blazing rafters people running about. Large
black spots could be seen in the flames, and
half a minute later these spots went out in
brilliant light, which was succeeded by a dark
flame.
Levi Roberts who with bis family Of four
children. were in the gallery, saved his three
daughters by forcing them out Of the door, but