The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-28
Heroic EndcaVOrS to Fight tie Flames and
Rescue the Congregation.
THE FLIGHT FROM THE GALLERY.
Heartrending Scenes Around the
Charred Bodies.
MIRACULOUS ESCAPES

HoLYoRE, Mass, May o. 1875
As me French Catholics were celebrating the
feast OF Corpus Christi at their church at south
HolyoEe this evening the altar adornments
caught nre from q lamp, and the DANES spread
WITH great rapidity. The church vas flied to re-
pletion, and the crowd were instantly panic
struck and q grand rush WAS made for the doors.
Tne people piled one above another until
tho doors were filled up, thus preventing
egress. few escaped by the WIDOWS.
spread with lightning speed; scores were burned
TO death. the alarm was quickly spread AMI the
rre department we're soon on the ground; but the
church was built or wood, ana mere shell. IL
was soon wrapt in names, and the poor unfcrtu-
mates who were not sufrocated in the pile that was
crowded IN the doors were burned 10 death.
Those nearest the outside we're dragged
out, some dead and others badly burned. Frank
Beaudreau was badly bsrned on the arms; Miss
Rosene Desjarclin. OF No. haoley Block, dead;
Sophie Dion, OF MIDDLE street very badly burned;
Saline Doucette, dead; Nellie Lapisrre and moth
er, reported missing. supposed TO have been
buried in the church.
The GALLERY STAIRS.
The place where the greater number or deaths
occurred was at the door near the foot OF the gal
Iery stairs. In coming down the stairs they
pushed with sucn force as TO throw those IN
advance down, and others fell on the
top OF them. Many were taken out
from this place alive. After the nremen
had driven back she names the sisters OF Charity
were quickly present and have done noble work
in caring for the wounded. The Fire Department
did all that could be done. Mayor Pcarsons was
hard at work experimenting the removal OF the
bodies and directing the volunteer relief gangs.
THE DEAD BODIES
A: ten O'Clock thirty.slx dead bodies were in
Mowats store, on Main street. Two bodies were
left at paint shop, and At the school house were
twelve more. Christine Dixon viii probably not
live TIL morning. Lizzie MERCER, badly burned; 4.
Desardin, father. mother and TWO daughters, dead;
and one daughter, badly burned; Mrs. Burgess,
dead; Mrs. Bourdeau, terribly burned; Mrs.
Pleraux, badly burned Alma Blair, badly burned;
mrs. Theodore Blanchard, Mrs. Dupont, Hermine
Laponite, Louise Terrl Henriette slmineur.
canxte Dufresne, Louisa Burns, Victor Grier,
slightly burned; Louise Laquette, Louise Terrerc,
wounded; Rosalie Davlan. In Pascal Paquette's
family there is one dead ana two dying Family
OF Francis Dewy there are few slightly burned
and one missing.
HAxEs or THE MCCONNELL DEAD.
Mrs. Burgess, Mrs. victa MORN, Mr.. DesjardIns
wife and four children; lsai NORM, Faoien Mo-
reau, Misses Exida. Lafrance, Mrs. Lavaina, lsal
NORM, Faben Morear Mary Doncettc. Eta Men,
nier. daughter or Augustus Cooche, ana Alsene
Newton.
Plry-one bodies have been taken out OF inc
ruins, mostly women and children, none OF whom
are as Jet Identified.
ESCAPE or THE PASTOR
The pastor the Rev. A. B. Dufresne, escaped
through side door, and, in the panic or the mo
mens or supposing that the people had escaped
from the church, commenced 70 remove the furni-
ture from the parsonage.
HORRIBLE SIGHTS
Language - p0WerleSs 70 express me horrible
sights disclosed in removing the dead and mu-
smated bodies rom Ihe building. Bystanders AMI
nremen worked bravely, but the dead bodies
removed FAR outnumDeTed she aving. cor
ner OF the gallery, which fell without being
demolished was piled full Of mangled
and dismembered bodies. A brother Of the Rev.
Mr. Dutresne was quite badly burned while en-
gagged Ia tic work Of rescue. on the grounds ana
open spaces surrounding the church Tor half
mile in area the scene was heartrending. Mothers,
children ana friends we're searching among The
crowd for friends VINO, il was feared, we're among
the lost. An over the mounds end sand banks
back Of the church groups OF terror.strcken
people were eathetsd about some poor mourning
sufferer. In one hollov twenty-five bodies