The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-29
THE CHURCH AND THE SOCIETY.
Heartrending Scenes Over the Bodies
of The Victims.
FRIENDS SEEKING FOR THEIR DEAD.
Corrected List Of the Killed, Wounded
and Missing.
HoLYoKE. Mass, May rs, 1875.

munity. Every aspect and circumstance Of III Q
disaster seems peculiarly sad, aud the gloom
which it has cast over the people has caused
a suspension OF business which viii prob
ably continue until next week. The
terrible record OF casualties report ed
IN last nights dispatches was not exaggerated,
although It is almost impossible, even now, to as
certain definitely how many lives were sacrificed.
Quite number have died during the day, and
many more VIII probably not survive their terri
Die screening more tnan lew hours. Indeed, it
Is possible that the
NUMBER or LIVES LOST
will foot up nearly 100 In the aggregate. The
scenes or grief and mourning throughout the val
ley are not unlike those witnessed at the Mill River
hood. q few miles above. Jast one year ago this
month. II seems as II THIS section OF country
was specially doomed to infections resulting
from folly and ignorance. The dam gave way
because IL was not secure, and a number or people
were Turned 10 death last night because the
church Afforded no adequate sources OF escape
In case Of accident
THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE
Of the fire IL said 10 nave proceeded from the
burning OF incense on the altar the fame of
which ignited some tinsel paper used for orna-
ments, and this IN turn quickly set the whole
Interior OF the church on fire, with the terrible
consequences which lave been reported.
EXCITEMENT AMONG THE OUTSIDERS.
While the connagration was in progress wild
efforts were made by the people TO rush pell.me
into the burning building to rescue their friends,
and 1t was win difficulty that they were kept
back. This was particularly the case with parents
who had on the first impulse rushed from the
church TO save their own lives, but suddenly re
memDered that they had left children behind to
perish. Actual personal violence had to be used
In several cases TO keep women back. ALI about tho
streets men, women and children we're wandering,
piteously nqurinR II their friends had been saved.
one woman was positive that her husband had
perisned and could only be quieted by the assur-
ance from friend that he had just been walking
with him. One or the most touching cases was
that or two little girls, about twelve years ofage,
who rushed for the entrance OF the building while
the Are was at It's height thinking to ma their
fatner ana mother, who were within. Trey could
only be restrained by an ofacer, who took them In
MS arms. oRe OF the most amusing incidents oc-
Cured at the rope drawn around the plot where
sAe wounded were laid. woman, who called
herself mesmerist, tried TO pass In, when she
was confronted By young man doing
ruard duty. she began to wall, but
The soon went away disguised, remarkinR,
that's the strongest-minded man ever saw
Those engaged in pulling out tue bodies noticed
mat almost every woman had q bracelet on her
special occasion. 1t IL
A DISPUTED QUESTION
whether both the front doors were available for
escape. fnere are those VINO state positively that
one of them was closed, aud that lt was imposs-
Bile 10 open II on account OF the crush. One man.
Il Is asserted. went 10 the closed door and,
nourlsning club, threatened violence TO any one
who came near. In order to get the crowd away
but without success. Others state as positively
that both doors were open.
THE CHURCH SOCIETY
was established about seven years ago, and
Father Dufresne had been the only pastor Tue
parish included oil the French Catholics OF the
city. whose number Is estimated Of from 1000 10
1850 persona.
THE CHURCH
was erected In 1870, and IT'S dimensions were
about 100 by co eet two stories, built entirely OF
pine, with galleries on the sides and north end
about twenty-five feet wide. There were two
doors In the north END and a vestlbule, from
which two doors opened into the body or the
church. The galleries opened into the vestioule.
At the rear end was another door, By
which lew persons escaped. Immediately upon
me breaking out OF the flames Oil the occupants OF
the galleries rusned TO the east door, and crowded
so that they fell upon one another and
caoKED UP THE DOORWAY,
with their bodies pned IN all ways seven or eight
feet deep, and here most OF the lives we're lost.
From this mas Chief Mullln rescued one young
woman, after having taken on two dead bodies
IRON above her. II was almost impossible TO face
the names, and Chief Mullin and others mad their
CLONES almost burned from them and we're badly
burned themselves about the hands. In the rear
OF the church was the priests residence. which
was also destroyed. The walls were pulled down
after the IRE was nearly put out one woman
Jumped from The highest window down
upon the 'front.' steps breaking an arm. but she Is
not known 10 have been otaerwiso injured. A
man, with two children In bis arms, Jumped from
q window and escaped. One poor woman, en-
veloped in names, shrieEed out, "For Gods SAKE
save mer ana she was dragged out By Jonn
Lynch.
It's not quite Ger ain that all the bodies have
been taken from the runs In the haste TO get as
napy "a possible rom the building before II fell
many were taken out snort distance, and u -
possible that . Few moro may be taken from the
debris.
The bodies OF ATTY persons burned to death have
been Identified In addition 10 those fifteen or
twenty who we're al once removed to their homes
b. their friends. Nearly seventy have died, and
some forty more are more or less burned or other.
wise Injured.
rnx HKRo op TIE pIsAsTsg
was John Lyacn, . brave hreman, VINO was tue
afst 10 respond 10 mo alarm. lie describes the
scene wien Ae reached the burning
church as appalling. wcdgsd tlgst and
lmmcvaole IN The doorwsys was a
dense mass of humanity from SIX 10
eight ,ees n height, mono OF them
able 10 stand uprIght from the terrible pressure
Of the crowd benind, whlie upon and over them .
sheet OF frs rolled like q wave streaming FAR out
into the open air.
without moments pause 10 consider their
danger Lynch and Chief Engineer Mhllia rushed
into tue Games, spurred on ny tho pitsous cries,
"For Gods sake como aad help usin aud began
pulling oas tho bodies. moment later ana
well directed Byurans stream nom ihe Msunt