The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-06-02

were also taken to the New York
Mills boarding house, and physicians
gave the wounded the best Of medi-
cal care. These who were 100 bad
ly burned to recover were put under
the effects Of morphine and passed
away without a struggle. While
the exercises were being held over
the dying, the most intense quiet
prevailed and the rough laoorers
knelt upon the floor with uncovered
heads, but about the morgue and in
the streets the wailing of the multi
tude was pitiful to hear.
Among the persons in a dying con.
dition, are Mary Lachance, Mrs.
Bridge (the mother ofseyen children,
one Of whom is missing and proba-
bly, among the dead); Bazanth Briggs,
Sophia HILBERT, Annie Lapointe and
Sacosta Elidor. Charles CONNIE is
burned badly, but will recover, as
will probably the brother of father Du-
fresno, and it is estimated that TWEEN
ty or thirty were taken to other
houses, some of whom must die.
LATER.
The following were also seriously
burned: Mary Cooling, Mary and
Lucy Hicks, Louisa Brown "a young
chapel girl, Victoria Brison, Louisa
Terrier, Dizzie Mercies and Lena
Blair. A large majority Of these
must die. One girl was terribly
burned, and was moved to the
House of Providence. One girl es-
capped from the gallery by jumping to
the back Of a 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 the Relief
steamer was out for practice, so that
the fire department was promptly on
the spot.
The scenes at the doors are de-
seribed as terrible. They were block
ed with struggling people, seeking
exit. Outside people cleared the
way several times, but as often it
would become blocked up again.
Windows were broken open and sev.
eral escaped in that way. The las.
to get out Of the church was said tc
be a man and his wife and q little
girl. The father took up his daugh.
ter and rushed with her TO a place 0.
safety. Louis Langlars, Of the
Riverside Mill, went in to render as
sistance, when a girl came tumbliDg
down before the door, under the feet
of the throng. Though be burned
his hands sadly in doing it, he wa:
able to pull her out but little injured
A young woman beat out one of th'
window panes and jumped to the
ground safely. An old woman OIL
sixty went to the sane opening and
hesitating to jump, she was pulled
inside by the hair by a brutal fellow
Hejumped clear and sshe fell anC
was seriously injured. OF a family
of five, four got out alive, one little
girl Of twelve years being burned
She was tearfully sought by her lit
tie brother, and at last discovered
dead. John Lynch, a mason, find
ing the people pressed in at the bot
tom of the church door, pulled many
down who were on top, thus %savieg
a dozen lives.
Ex-Constable Casey describes the
scene as he saw it with a glass from
the top of the Hutchings House
block. The whole affair was over
IN fifteen minutes. He could plain
ly see, through the blazing rafters
and frame, the poor people running
about. Large black spots could be
seen in the flames, and half a minute
later these spots went out in a bril-.
liant light, which was succeeded by
a dark flame.
Lewis Roberts, who, with his fam
lily of four children, was in the gale
ry, saved his three daughters by
forcing them out of the door, bat his
boy, a bright lad of eleven, persisted
in the flames. Many people were
badly injured by jumping from the
gallery windows. Annie HILBERT
and a child six years of age escaped
from the building after their clothing
had became ignited, and many per-
sous had their limbs broken in at
tempting to escape.
SPRINGFIELD, May 25.-Intense
excitement prevailed last night in
Holyoke, c~entering opposite the
church at which the disastrous fire
occurred, and at various points to
which the sufferers were carried.
Wild efforts were made by the peo-
pie TO rush pell-mell into the
burning building to rescue friends,
and it was with difficulty they were
kept back. This was particularly
the case with parents, who had, on
the first impulse, rushed from the
church to save their own lives, but
remembering that they had left their
children behind to perish, returned
impetuously. Actual personal vio-
lence had to be used in several cases
to keep the men back. All about the
streets men, women and children
were wailing piteously and inquiring
if their friends had been saved.
One woman was positive her hus-
band had persisted, and could only
be quoted by the assurance from a
that he had been walking with
One of the most touching
cases was that of two little girls
about twelve years of age rushing for
he entrance of the building while
The fire vas at its height, thinking
10 find their father aud mother who
were within. They could only be
restrained by an officer who took
them in his arms.
1t is a disputed question whether
both the front doors were available
escape. There are those who
state positively that one of them was
and that it was impossible
10 open it on account Of the crush.
One man went to the closed door
md, aourishing a club, threatened
T~iolence to any u who came near.
n order to get the crowd away; but
without success. Others state as
positively that both doors were open.