Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-28
AN AWFUL CATASTROPHE.
Burning Of a French Catholic
Church in South HalyOke,
Massachusetts,.
SiXty-Six Men, Women and Chill
dren. Perish in the
Flames.
Others Trampled Upon and
Crushed to Death.
HeaFtrending Scenes and Incl
dents of the Human
Holocaust.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS, May 27.-One o.
| the most terrible disasters in the history o.
| Massachusetts, occurred tonight in the
| burning of the French Catholic Church al
South HolyOke, during the evening services,
involving the death of sixty-six men,
women and children. The exercises had
nearly closed, and vesper service was being
sung when the draperies on the altar caught
fire from q candle, and the wall being low,
and the flames streaming up, the BUILDING
was set on fire. The audience numbered
about 200 people. Those in the body of
| the church escaped, bat on the stairway
leading from the gallery, human beings
were packed in a dense mass, struggling TO
reach the floor. As the flames rushed to-
ward them many leaped TO the floor be-
meath, and were trampled to death.
The gallery skiTted both sides Of the
building with only one entranceFfrOm the
font.
The Scene WAS Fearful
while it lasted, for it was all over in twenty
minutes. Besides sixty-six dead, there are
enough fatally wounded to carry the total
loss Of life up to seventy-tive.
The Priests house which Joined the
church on the rear, was also burned.
The bodies w1le taken TO Peter MOyatte's
Main street, Store ard Park street school
house for temporary deposit. An inquest
will be held tomorrow.
The efforts of the Priests TO keep order
were fruitless. The screams of living and
the means of the dying made a deafening
tumult above the orders of the pastor, who
worked most herOically 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 tie
arms and feet so badly burned that they
lived but a few hours, the flesh peeling of
on being touched. Some were taken out
with scarcely any flesh remaining on their
bones.
The Sisters of Mercy from the convent
were soon on hand, caring for the wound
ed and holding services over the dying.
Father Dufresne also had services. His
mOtheI was among those terribly burned.
He lost almost everything in his residence.
Those who were too badly burned to
recover were put under tie effects Of NOR
phine and passed away without a struggle.
The recognized dead up to this hour are
as follows: Mrs. Burgess, Mrs. Victor
NOmin, Mrs. Caiixte L. RIVE, Mrs.
Lavinia, Mr.. DesPerdins, wife and four
children, Isaac MOreaU, FObier MOreau,
Miss Ida La France, Justine Bressan,
Alphosine Moreau, Mary DOucellt, Eta
Meneure, and the daughters Of Augustus
COOche and Alsiene Naston.
Badly burned-Mrs. Thos. p. Blanchard,
Mrs. Burdeaur, Mrs. Dupont, and Hermine
La Parte, Henrietta Limineur, Colixte
Dufresne.
Slightly burned-LOuise Pugette, Louise
Lemisre.
Wounded-Rosalie Davian, and Pascal
Paquette and family.
Among the persons in a dying condition
are Mary Lawrence, Mrs. Bulge, mother Of
seven children, one Of whom is missing
and probably among the dead, w. B.
Briggs, Sophia Hilbert, Annie Lapointe,
LacOsta EliJeT.
Chas. CONNIE is burned badly, but will
recover, as will probably the brother Of
Father Dufresne. II is estimated that Of
20 or 80 others some must die.
Later.
The following were also seriously burned:
Mary Cooling, Mary and Lucy Hicks,
Louisa Brown, q young chapel girl, Victoria
BreisOn, Louisa Jarrier, Lizzie MARCHES,
and Lena Blair. \ large majority Of these
must die. One girl, terribly burned, and
was moved to the House Of Providence.
One girl escaped from the gallery, by
jumping on the back Of a man, who carried
her out, while her sister who was with her
was burned.
The scenes at the doors are described as
terrible. They were blocked with strug-
Cling people, seeking exit outside. The
people cleared a way several times, but as
often they became blocked up again. The
windows We're broken open and several
escaped that way.