The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-07-20
Hew.Ewenty.two Young Women Mere
n Burned to De&th. g.

The Glasgow Nevs gives tho foil wing
accountof the burning of the lfflI aAyr,
Scos&nd, on the 10Th of June, by hich
twentE two young women perished
Thin the third story 81 the" seeend
block of buildings from Fort street the
fatal spark was kindled. The operatives
resumed work after breakfast, as usual,
and all went on smoothly till the hour in
dictated above, when James Barr, a labor
er in the worsted department, was alarmed
by young lass" Gas he describes herr
exclaiming in state of excitement that
there was fire in the room. The girl
had been working at a wool-t easer, and
soon 1t was perceived that the wool had
| taken fire, apparently from friction.
Barr Immediately called his neighbors,
who gathered in large numbers. Three
extlncteurs, kept on the establishment fpe
emergeneies OF this kind, were produe4
but without effect. No sooner was Wal(ef
poured oR$one corner than the fireaspread
to another, defying the utmost efforts of
| all presente-to keeps it. within bounds,
| Some one atan early period called for a
sheet with which to "smother,i. the fire :;
but with such alarming rapidity did it
spread, that any attempt in that direction
would have been useless, or worse than
useless. In a few minutes those who had
gathered round the spot where the fire
originated. were compelled to flee for their
lives, leaving portions of their clothing
and all they possessed in the mill behind
SO far all vas right, In respect that nc
damage had resulted to life, but the Sc
quel OF the event which had Just been
inaugurated was disastrous and appalling
| In the garnet overhead of the room de.
scribed, James Barr, aged fifty years, and
father of the man named above, was
working with twenty five young women
under his kGharge, and there the great
| loss OF life Stook place. James Barr, il
is alleged, on hearing the screams in the
! flat beneath, and on being informed that
there was q fire, made an endeavor to
| keep the cries of those who were appar-
emily terror stricken beneath from pene.
trating his own department and causing
| greater CONSERVATION than was necessary
He then ran down stairs, saw the immi
nent danger of the whole establishment
rushed up again and gave the alarm, bu
was too late to effect an escape for him
self or others, as the staircases were al
ablazc,' and the smoke and fire wer,
such as no one could pass through anG
live. A scene more easily imagined thar
described followed. The young women
rushed to the windows and called for that
aid which could not be afforded them
Theys Aesticulated and screamed and
sobbed in the prospect of death, and i'm.
plored those outside to save their lives
Meanwhile the fire spread rapidly, the
buildings, one by one were envcloped the
flames shot high in the air, and before
long the spot where the helpless females
had been vainly seeking for succor was
reduced to ruin, and those who occupied
it were lost beyond hope of recall. Sew
eral most painful incidents are reported in
connection with this event. The old mar
Barr was, before the fire oblitcrated ev
crything, seen at one of the windows, wav
ing his hands, apparently calling for res
cue, and a large number Of GIRLS wer,
holding by him in the last lingering hop.
of having their lives spared. One youn!
woman, named Catherine McKinnon
jumped from the height Of four stories
and fell heavily On the ground beneath
Sc was taken up insensible, placed OF
a mattress and removed to the Ay
Hospital. She was alive when the hos
pital was reached, but expired in a fey
minutes. The poor girl, who was sixteel
years Of age, fell on her forehead. He
skull was fractured, her arm broken, an,
other injuries sustained, so that all TIN
skill which could be brought to bear coult
not save her life. Another young girl
named Simpson, residing in High street
came to window screaming. Her sister
who happened to be beneath at the mo
ment, called out: Jump out, or you'll
be killed. and the little girl Instant,
leaped over. The sister endeavored t
catch her, but as the height from which
the leap was taken was very great, boil
came into violent contact and were throw
down. The sister escaped unhurt, a fac
which is marvellous, considering tin
whole circumstances, but the young cir
was good deal bruised, it is feared seri
ously so. Her hair was burned with tn
flames, which just before her leap wer
dcvouring all before them. Those VIII,
had found an exit from the works nov
made the best of their good fortune an
ran from danger, while the unfortunat
persons left behind were at the mercy o
the devolring. element, Mothers appear
cd on the scene in terror, asking for thei
daughters; brothers and sisters looked ev
erywhere for their relatives, who, alas
could not be saved 1t was impossible t
say who were and who were not anon
the unfortunate victims till well on in til
evening, when the fire had been subdued
Hoping against hope, parents expected
that their children might return home a
the usual hour, and watched with cage
anxiety their appearance.