The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-05-29
APPALLING DISASTER.
BURNING OF A CHURCH AT HOLYORE.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Loss az Sisty-siN Human Live. IN
Twenty Minutes.

SPElNCrIELD, Mass. May 2..-Onc of
The most terrible disasters in the history
OF Massachusetts occurred in the burning
OF The French Catholic church at Soutl,
iiolyohc during evening service. involv-
ing the death of siXty-SiX men. women
and children. The exercises had nearly
closed and vosper service was being
sung when the lrapcric, on the
altar caught fire from n cam
die, and the wall being low ana
the flames streaming up, the building
was set on fire. The audience numbered
about 700. The people in the body of
the church escaped. but on the stairway
leading from the gallery human beings
We're packed in dense mass struggling
to reach the floor 4, the flame, rushed
toward them many lcaped to the floor
beneath and We're trampled TO death.
The gallery skirtcd both sides OF the
building. The scene was fearful while il
lasted. for the whole wa. over i'm twenty
minutes. Besides siXty-slX dead. there
are enough fatally wounded TO carry the
total loss of life up to scyenty-fvc.
When the flames caught the dITlpcrv
around the statue of the Virgin Mary ana
strelmed up and caught the building. a
panic ensucd. and people rushed for the
doors. There was but one entrance TO
the gallery. that in front On the stair
way leading from the gallery, the people
were packed in solid mass, struggling
TO clear Themselves aS the flames rushed
in that direction, and this soon became
blocked. rendering exit impossible.
Many Jumped over The sides of the CALLER
les on the crowd beneath, and were tram
pied on and killed. The priests residence
Joins the church in the rear, aud many cs-
IA 4
ing to the house back OF the altar. The
priests eXcrtions to keep order were
ifuitless. The screams of the living and
means of the dying made a deaiemiug tu-
mutt above the orders of the pastor. who
worked most horoically and was person.
ally instrumental in saving many lives.
One family of four Were in the church,
and all killed. Many were pulled ont by
The arms and feet. 20 badly burned that
they lived but a few hours. the flesh peel
ing on on being touched. Some were
tascA out with scarcely any flesh remain
ing on their bones. The Sisters of Mercy
from the convent were soon on hand car
ing Tor the wounded and holding services
over the dying.
Father Duiresne also held services.
His mother was among those terribly
burned. Father Dufresnc lost almost
'h'Ia titi44B III HIS ItslltlltN. nc large
wooden tenement block OF jos. Prev.
near the burned church. was thrown
open for the reception OF the dead and
wounded, and several deaths occurred i'm
the building during the night. Several
were also taken to the New y ork Mills
boarding house and physicians gave tile
wounded the best of medical care. Those
who were too badly burned TO recover
were put under the effect OF morphine
and passed away without struggle.
While the exercises were being held
over the dying most Intense quiet pre-
vailed. and rough laborcrs knelt on the
floor with uncovered head.: but about
the morgue and on the street the Wailing
OF the multitude was pitiful.
The scenes at the door were de-
scrbcd rs horrible. They were blocked
with the struggling people seeking exit.
Outside people cleared the way several
times but as often il would become
blocked again. Window, were broken
open and several escaped in that way.