Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-06-04

brick church, above mentioned, should
have been finished. For want Of funds the
new church has not yet been completed.
Tn this o,c.siun, just Is Tie services we're
nearly over, Father Dulre,ue, The cole
braut, turned toward the inain altar when
the lamp burning bvfJIc the altar of the
Nirgin--be.ioved noW II have contained
cummSu kerosene or pctrUleum-was seen
10 blaze 10y Il young woman sitting near, ii
is said who started fom her pew aud with
her fan attempted to blow out the flame.
Her efforts were attended by dire results.
The oil isnilod and the lamp exploded,
some people say. Immediately the dra-
perry around the statue caught fire and the
flames lcarod upward along the gauZe
trimmings aud reached the light pine cell
ing, which WAS aS dry as tiuder, and burn
Cd quickly. Bef, nc the cougi cgatou were
aware OF their peril, the roof and dome Of
the church were wrapped in flames, hich,
twining down the pillars, caught the gal
lcres and CnNcloped tic upper pant Of tic
iuctufe in lire.
Then rs en- all such ucca ,iuus, the desire
Of self preservation aroused the multitude
TO savage activity, and, regardless Of their
neishborS. and furge;rul Of the holy feel
inss that had brought them together, men
aud women sprdug II their feet and rushed
To the doors aud Windows. The strongest
OF course uVciltaptd the weaker ones, and
got out Of The building by doors and win
duws. This did not occur, howeyeU, until
the People were actually panic-siicken.
Prior 10 that those ON the main floor had
begun to move leisurely enough toward
the vestibu!c, but here they were met by
those from the galleries pouring down the
narrow stairway, hard pressed by persons
behind who began tC feel the heat OF the
rapidly approaching flames, which, il is
said by the survivors, had in less than two
minutes begun TO burn those OF the con-
glegation compelled 10 stand still in the
gallery passage-ways. Then ii was that tho
fatal panic began, and the poor creatures
being roasted above leaped nIadly down on
those below theaI, causing an inextricable
confusion; the people were wCd2ed into
the narrow stairway aud vesibule so thick
ly that the street door was blocked up cou-
pletely, aud all egisss in that direction
barred. Wodgcd tight aud immovabc in
tiers one above the other, higher than the
upper sill, were scores of persons shouting
10 the spectators without for tho love of
heaven 10 save them. At this point all
knowledge of what occurred within is for
ever cut of, because those who escaped
were already out of the building, while
those within ii were burned up. The rest
of the sad story is told by Mayor Pearsons,
THE STEAMERS AT WORK.
Around on Main street, only short dis
lance from the church, are the quarters Of
Relief steamer and Tie Mount IIolyoke
hose company. At lie inst alarm given
by the people in his thickl ~. populated
part of the city, tie machines were run out,
aud headed by j, I'm Lynch, of tue hose
company, got quickly to the church. The
engine got TO work Immediately, and was
aided shortly alter by Emerald Engine and
the hook and ladder company from the
other district. The inst thing done was TO
turn the streams on The wrilhing mass Of
humanity in Tie main entrance, while
another stream was poured upon the burn
ing building. AS described By Mr.. Ham,
" nv ''ON Nhai 80 VI NV OlINN anu AliNNFANN
ing business, the scene was terrible.
The flames shot up through the roof into
the darkness and lit up the streets around,
showing everything plainly, and disclos-
ing the hOIrid picture Of the people in the
doorway licked by the Games-a huge
screaming pyrc. The glare also showed
the forms Of men, women, and children in
the galleries rushing back and fUrth in
quest of an outlet. Some Of them, more
des pclalely 60 mage Gus than tie rest, eaped
from the windows TO the ground at the
risk of being dashed TO pieces on the sides
of the knoll, or the street beneath. Those
who lad escaped knelt in thanksgiving TO
Hin VINO bad saved them. Others lay
fainting where they had fallen, overcome
by the tcrrors they had experienced and
the struggles they had made for safety.
REsCUING THE VICTIMS IN THE DOORWAY.
The attention of the fircmen WAS direct
ed at once TO the rescue OF the people at the
entrance. Tbs first persons drawn out
were burned, but they passed directly
through the stream of wafer, and their
flaming clothes were extinguished. Some
long flight Of wooden steps, leading down
TO the street, and few were able to walk
away, though with considerable effort. But
this work was attended by great danger TO
the brave fireman, for the flames shot out
between The Godics, over and under them,
and scOlched the faces Of the firemen. Still |
the engines kept up a brisk play of water |
on the men and the human mass in the |
door, aud more liremen rushed to the res
cue. Persons in the suffering pile piieous- |
ly besought the men 10 save them. Each |
OF these in turn fireman seized by hand !
or leg, While his comrades grasped him, |
and all together tugged away TO draw the |
sufferer ont. Several of the unfortunate |
wretches were so tightly wedged in and so |
badly burned that they were unable TO |
stand The strain of these united efforts. One |
mems hand was caught and pulled in this |
way, and having been burned it come off |
at The wrist. Another lost a l.g in this |
way. The tiremen worked nobly, but |
could not save all, for the fire did not last
more than tlncen or twenty minutes al |
together. The church burned up IN less
than that time, and only portion of lis
outer walls were len Standing. These
were pulled down by the hook and ladder
men in order that the search Tor the bodies
might be made.
SEARCHING FOR TOR THE DEAD.
Hundreds Of men went TO work as soon
as opportunity offered TO search for bodies,
aud a force Of special Police was organized
under the direction of Deputy Sheriff Ham
TO Keep back the large crowd which had
gathered. The work OF extricaiing the