Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-15
HEARTRENDING ACCIDENT.
uWoivc Fen EsuTned to Death in a
Boarding House.

hANsAhUAts asOuAes
Atarribe accident occurred on the line OF The
Lake Erie railroad, seven miles from Pittsburgh.
A iaborers clearinghouse was set on fire by
the explosion Of lamp. and Of forty persons
known TO be sleeping only twenty-elght escaped
alive, and even they were moro or less burned.
Not one Of them succeeded in securing his
clothes. So rapid was the progress of the
flames The others were literally roasted
To death, without tho possibility of an
effort being made to rescue them. The
victims were railroad lahorers and were work
,ng al the place Indicated. The building was a
oue-story frame structure. with al attic or loft
The lower part was used for dining-room
and kitchen. Into this loft forty-three stall
wart rlen retired to. sleep after finish
ing thl days work. 1t was reached
by light Of stairs which started from
near the kitchen door. There were no
windows, but, IN lien of them, there were two
small holes IN the roof to admit light and air
These were closed at night by sliding door, to
Keep ont the cold.
Ia the morning the kce1er Of the board
in<-house, Hugh MoCune, got up to build
fire IN the kitchen stove, carrying with him an
ordinary keroscncla lamp. which he placed upoa a
table while he went for kindlng-wood. Ii is
supposed that, during his absence, the lamp
chimney burst and by some means threw the
lamp upont the door, allowing the oil to run out.
The stairway was composed of hight, dry pine
boards, and they were soon ablaze
The flames quickly snread to the loft.
where the unfortunate men were sleep
ing, all unconscious Of the terribls fate
which awaited them. The floor Of the loft was
covered with straw-beds and bedding. TIE
flames made rapid progress, ana soon reached
this mass Of Inhsmlabe material. Aboutthis
time the sleopers re aroused hy the cries OF
the females emp' Dyed about the place. and
they a; once mafs rush for the stairs. but
thoy were confronted by a wsll Of fire which
forced them back in dismay. A rush
was tbon made for the open-
ings in the roof by the half-crazed
men, sud a struggle for life took p.ace. each
irving to crowd the other out OF the way. a.
only one II time could he forced through ,hs
spertEres on account OF their small size Some
Of the poor fellows, seeing that al could not
escape IA this WAY, caught az sns shadow Of
hope that offered, and tried 70 daSa down tbs
stains and through the flames, ouiy to meat q
horrible death. The men had not time 10 clotAe
themselves. SO sudden was the alarm. and 80
quickly did the IRE make heSdway. Those WHO
Ala9e their escape, however. seemed 80 btu3.-
drrcl by the sudden bathurst OF the flames
and the cries Of their companions. that they
rushed back iuto the burning buidlnr. al
tempting 70 save their little property. A.
this moment the crash came Tie fr4il
wallis weakened by the attacks Of tha
flames, crushed IL upon the ua,cruuates ana
Their cries for help were drowned il tia raa,.
o. the flames. The scene at This moment rsn-
not be Described ShT eks ans groans went NO
OF. every side from the poor uDfortunstes. VINO
had been burned and scorched in a s5ckeu M
manner. Strong men, with great patches 8
skin and flesh peeled from their bodies bv l..e
touch Of the FIRE rolled upon the ground in
their agony.