St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-24
Burned to Eeat.i.


A Pittsburgh srecia! to the Chicago Trjb
gives the following particulars Of the rec.
horrible fire catastrophe near the former eli
Shortly before four O'clocl, this morning
report WAS brought TO the city that a terri
calamity had occurred at a point on
Pittsburgh * Lake Eric Railroad, seven mil
down the OHIO River. The nature Of the III
aster was not stated, and people could dol
more than guess. It soon trinspirci howe
er, that the report was only too well founde,
and that ten mcn had been roasted to deaf
and great many Injured by the burning Of
frame boarding house i'll which they wcIt
sleeping Thcy wee laborers on the railroad
and were working at the place indicated.
which is called Git,pn's Station. The build
ing was Il onc-stnr} frame structure with an
attic or loft. Uncover part WAS used as 4.
dining room and kitchen. Into this loft for
tv-thrcc s.alWart men retired to sleep last
night, after finishing the days work. 1t was
reached by fiat of stairs which started
from near the kitchen door There were no
windows. but, il lieu of them, there were
two small holes in the roof to admit light
and air These we're closed at night BY i slid
ing door to kcep>ut the cold.
About four u'tock this morning the keepet
OF the boarding ouse Hugh McCunc, got U
to build fire inthe kitchen stove, carryiu
with him an Ordinary kerosene lamp. which
placed upDn Il tbc vi lille he went for kndli'
wood. Up to his point all is clear 1t
supposed that. turing his absence, the La
chimney burstand by some means threw
lamp upon thtloor allowing the oil to Il
out. This thery is generally accepted ne
stairway was composed Of light dry. nc
boards and hry We're soon ahlaZe. he
flames quickly spread to the loft whe,the
unfortunate zen were sleeping. all CON
sciolls of the ,rrible fate which awaitcflem.
The floor of thlOft was covered with str; beds
and bedding. The flames made rapid pEress,
and soon rc.hcd this mass If imaginable
material Aout this time the sleeps were
aroused BY Re cries Of the females aployed
about the Pile, and they at once tnsc rash
for the staiL but they We're confplted hy
wall of fire uch forced them baclr} disniay.
4 rush W. then made for thepening III
the roof by le half-craZed men. nd a strug-
Gle for life ~h place each trvk to crowd
the other o; Of the way. as only ne at a time
could be foed through the apfturc> on ac-
count of tttr small size. Someof the poor
fellows. scGg that all could lot escape in
this Way. dlght at any shadof OF hope that
offered. al tried to dash dowtthe stairs and
through t. flames. only to ueet a horrible
death T: men had not eret time to clothe
themselve SO sudden was tie alarm and so
quickly d the fire make railway Those
who mac their escape, hofever, seemed so
bewildert by the sudden ,utburst OF the
flames AZ the cries of theiIcompanions that
they rusd back into the burning building,
attemptg to save their little property. At
this mdent the crash came. The frail
walls .akened by TIE attacks of the
flames ushed in upon he unfortunates, and
their crs for help were drowned in the roar
of the mes. The scene at this moment can
not be escribed. Shrieks and groans went
up on cry side from the poor unfortunatcs,
who h: been burned and scorched in a sick
ening amer. Strong men. with great patches
of skiind flesh peeled from their bodies by
the tah ofthe fire, rolled upon the gro und in
their ony. Ten of the forty-threc are dead,
and eat or ten more will die. The injured
are bag cared for at the West Pennsylvania
Hosm. Many of the victims leave families in
dessute condition.