Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-13
The PhiladeIphia Disaster.

FRIGHTFUL SCENES THE FIRE LAST NIGHT.
PHnADELPHIA. october 1s-The fire at Lander
berger mill last night, which was so disastrous tC
life and property, originated in the finishing room
on the second floor, and spread upwards through
The building with amazing rapdty. About forty.
five OF the hands, twelve OF whom were girls, were
at work on this floor, but the majority were en-
gaged IN the spinning and weaving departments
on the upper floors. The wooden StairwayS al
either end OF the building were soon ablaZe. The
bridge connecting the building with another mill
was shut off from approach by fire-proof doors
and, in the absence OF any 1ire-escape, panic in
stantly enSued among the men and women con-
fined within the building. They rushed to the
windows, crying frantically to the crowd below to
save them.
MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN JUMPING FROM THE UP
PER STORIES.
1t was proposed by the crowd to form squares In
the street and catch the men and girls as they
leaped out, but before anything could be done a
young woman leaped from the fifth story. 1t
for she never breathed again. After this the i'm
pr1Soned people seemed to become freGZied, and
although the crowd outside sought to encourage
them by shouting that help would speedily be
there, they began jumping from the windows like
sheep. man, apparently bereft OF reason, flung
himself headlOng to the street, and while his body
was still in the air others foliowed-nOW a man,
then woman or half-grown girl, until in lew
minutes eleven human beings, one and all uncon-
were being carried by tender hands to the neigh
boring saloon, on the floor OF which body after
body was laid in row until vehicles were pro-
cured TO convey them to the hospital. By this
time the relatives OF the victims began to gather
outside the building and the cries Of mothers out
side to their children stiH in the burning rooms
and their lamentations over those who had Jumped
and been literally dashed to pieces, were heart
rending to hear.
WOMEN BURNED TO DEATH.
When the f1remen were able to enter the build
ing they found On the third floor the bodies OF two
females burned almost to a crisp, and man badly
scorched and dead, but before they could search
further the fourth floor, with it's heavy machinery
came crashing through, and they barely escaped
with their lives The firemen were compelled then
TO deSlSt in their lahOrS, because the floors had
gone through to the ground, and the machinery,
charred wood and what remained OF The unfortu-
nate operatives (ten or DOZEN, were mingled to
gether in an unrecognizable mass, which was
seethfng and sending out columns OF steam as the
cold water was poured upon it.
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE VICTIMS
Brady, Mary Kelly, Henry Norman, and an un-
known girl, who died at the hospital. Two un-
known girls, aged about 13 and IS years, respec-
morgue. 1njured-Mary KloSs, Is years old; Geo.
W. Dougherty, q years; Joseph r. Reynold, Geo.
r Hutton, q years old; VIM. Cooper, IS years old;
Joseph +. Burns, Is years, injuries fatal; David
Lapham, 3s years, fractured skull; Michael Iarkins,
3 years; Fred Krer, Matte COnlan q years; Harry
A. Edwards, 25 years old; Lizzie Franks, Mary
Brady, Samuel Langham, Annie Miller, Matilda
Schultz, Kate schaefIer, George Lapham, David
were carried OF in all directions-some to their
homes some to houses close by, and others to the
every one OF the cases admitted to ST. Mary'S Hos
ptal viii result fatally.
OVER TWENTY DEATHS
The total number OF deaths VIII probably exceed
twenty-there being ten dead bodies in the ruins
Had the fire occurred in daylight fully 400 people
would have been compelled to fight for life with
the flames. Within an hour the flames were
brought under control, leaving the walls standing
but the inside completely gutted out The loss In
tSep S Sn 70 q to some o Tnse se
workmen attribute the origin OF the fire to sparks
from the electric lghtfa falling among waste Others
attribute the sudden spread to Influences OF the
overheated wires. The same mill was burned in
1877. Two bodies have been recovered this morn
ing from the ruins; is the body OF Lizzie Marks
OF Philadelphia, and the other is supposed to be
the remains OF John Weeks, q years old, who be-
longs to Ulster county, New York.