Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-02
ANOTHER HORROR.
Sixty-six Persons Lose Their Lives.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass, May 27.-One
OF the most terrible disasters IN the
history OF Massachusetts occurred to.
night In the burning Of the French
catholic Church at Holyoke, during
the evening service, involving the
death OF sixty-six men, women and
children.
The exercise had nearly closed, and
a vesper service was being sung, when
the draperles caught fire from candle
and the walls being low and the flames
streaming up, the building was set on
hre. shIhe audience numbered about
100 people in the body Of the Church,
most OF whom escaped, but on the
stairway leading from the gallery hn-
man beings were packed in 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 skirt
ed both sides of the building, with on
ly one entrance from the front. The
scene was fearful while it lasted-for
the whole was over in twenty minutes.
Besides slxty-six dead, there are
enough fatally wounded to carry the
total loss of life up to seventy-fve.
Ihe priests house which joins the
church on the rear, was also burned.
The bodies were taken to Peter Mo-
watts Main street store and the Park
street school house for temporary de-
poslt. An inquest will be held to
morrow
The priests residence joins the
church Iii the rear, and many escaped
through an entrance leading to the
house back Of the altar. The priests
exertlons to keep order were fruitless.
The screams of the living and moans
OF the dying made deafenins tumult
above tho orders of the pastor, who
worked most heroically and was per-
sonally instrumental in saving many
| lives.
One family Of four were in church
and all killed Many were pulled out
by the arms and feet so badly burned
that they lived but few hours, the
flesh peeling off on being touched.
Some were taken out with scarcely any
flesh remaining on their bones.
The Sisters of Mercy, from the con-
vent, were soon on hand, caring for
the wounded, and holding services
! over the dying. Father Dufresne also
held services. His mother was among
those terribly burned. Father Du-
fresne lost almost everything in his
residence, so rapidly was the building
consumed.
INCIDENTS.
Oce girl escaped from the gallery
by jumping on the back of man, who
carried her out, while her sister who
was with her, was buried. Several
members of one Of the horse compa-
nies were playing ball near the church
when the fire broke out, and a relief
steamer was out for practice, SO that
the Fire Department vas promptly on
the spot.
At the doors are described scenes as
terrible. They were blocked with
struggling people seeking exit. Out
side the people cleared the way seve-
raj times, but as often as they did it
would become blocked up again.
Windows were broken open, and seve-
raj escaped in that way. The last to
get out Of the church was said to be
man with his wife and little girl The
father took up his little daughter and
rushed with her to place Of safety.
LATER.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, May 2S-
Noon.-The bodies Of so persons who
were burned TO death at Holyoke, last
night, have been identified. in addition
to those of fitteen'or twenty who were
at once removed to their homes bv
their friends. Nearly seventy have
died and some forty or more are more
or less burned or otherwise injured.
The hero Of the disaster was John
Lynch, brave fireman, who was the
first to respond to the alarm He de-
scrlbed the scene, when he reached the
burning church, as appalling. Wedged
tight and immovable in the doorways,
was dense mass of humanity, from
six to eight feet in height, none of
them being able to stand upright from
the terrible pressure of the crowd be-
hind, while upon and over them sheet
Of fame rolled like wave, streaming
| far out into the open air.
Without moments pause to con-
slider their danger, Lynch aud Chief
Engineer Mullen rushed into the flames
spurred on by the piteous cries, g For
Gods sake come and help us." and
began pulling out the bodies. A mo-
ment later, and a directed hydrant
stream from the Mount Holyoke hose
struck the brave rescuers, and undoubt-
edly saved them from being burned
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