Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-29
A TERRIBLE FIRE IN A CHURCH.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass, May 27.-One OF
the most terrible disasters in the history
Of the State occurred tonight, in the
burning of the French Catholic Church
at South Holyoke during the evening
service, involving the death Of sixty men,
women and children. The exercises had
nearly closed, and vesper service was
being sung, when the decoration on the
altar caught fire from a candle, and the
walls being low. the flames streaming up
the building set it on FIRE. The audience
numbered about seven hundred. The
people in the body Of the church es-
capped, but on the stairway leading from
the gallery human beings were packed
in a dense mass. struggling to reach the
floor, and as the flames rushed toward
them many of them leaped to the floor
beneath and we're trampled to death.
The gallery skirted both sides Of the
building. with only one entrance from
the front. The scene was fearful
while it lasted, for the whole was over in
twenty minutes. Besides sixty six dead,
there are enough fatally wounded to
carry the total loss of life up to seventy
five. The priests residence joins the
church in the rear, and many escaped
through the entrance leading to the
house back of the altar. The priests
exertions to keep order was fruitless.
The screams of the living and the means
of the dying made deafening tumult
above the orders of the pastor, who
worked most heroically and was person
ally instrumental in saving many. One
family of four were in the church and all
killed. Men were pulled out
bv the arms and feet so badly burned
that they lived but a few hours. the flesh
peelire from them on being touched.
Some were taken out with scarcely any
flesh remaining on their bones. The
Sisters of Mercy from the Convent were
soon en- hand. caring for the wounded
and holding services over the dying.
Father Dufresne also held services. His
m other was among those terribly burn
ed. He lost nearly all in his residence,
so rapidly was it burned. The large
wooden tenement block Of Joseph Pc
, rev. near the burned church, was thrown
! open for the reception Of wounded.
SeVeY1l ueGtIS AZ aoo DAAAosoo
during the night. Several were also
taken to the New York Mills boarding
house and physicians gave the wounded
the bost care. Those who were too badly
burned to be moved were put under the
effects of morphine and passed away
without struggle. While exercises
were held over the dying the most in
tense quiet prevailed, and the laborers
knelt on the floor with uncovered heads.
| About the Morgue and in the streets the
wailing of the multitujes was pitiful to
hear. 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. Several
members of one of the hose companies
were playing ball near the church when
the fire broke out. and the relief steamer
was ont for practice. SO the Fire Depart
| ment was promptly on the spot. The
| scenes at the doors are described as ter
1ible. They were blocked with strug-
Cling people seeking exit. The outside
people cleared the way several times,
but as often it would become
blocked up again. Windows were broken
open and several escaped in that way.
The last to get out of the church was
| ,o;1 <o Ia n man with his wife and little