The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-11

FrighffaI Disaster Near Pittsburg.
TwENTY-slX PERSONS Burned TO DEATH An
OTHERS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

PTTSBCRG, PA, December 10.-IIorrOrs
in Pittsburg follow close upon the heels of
each other. Last evening terrible explO-
lsion occurred at the Keystone Rolling
Mills. Fourteenth Ward, killing one man
and seriously wounding ten more; but
this morning comes another, which exceeds
in horror anything which has occurred
in this vicinity since the terrible de-
StructiOn OF life caused by the col
ljsion at Twenty-eighih street. Be
tween and 3 O'Clock this morn
ing "A frame clearinghouse on the line
OF the PittSburg and Lake Erie railroad
was set fire by the explosion OF lamp, and
Of fifty persons known 10 be sleeping only
twenty-fo6r escaped alive. All were more
or less burned. So rapid was the progress
Of the flames some were literally roasted TO
death without the possibility OF an effort
being made TO rescue them.
A PERFECT FIRE-TrlP.
The building in which the fire occurred
was located about seven miles from this
city, at o place called Cut Rock, and was
owned by Martin Joyce, a contractor, but
was under management OF u Mr.. kOwn as
clearinghouse keeper. IL was about 80
feet wide and 30 feet long. and constructed
OF 1G-foot boards plassd on end. II had 4
board roof, with very steep pitch. and a
loft formed by q slopinG roof was the
place i'm which the labOrCrS were huddled
for the night. In the lower story was
the dining-room, and at one end Of
the building was the kitchen. The
stairs leading 10 the lott were a lit
tie better than a ladder, and were located
inst at the side OF the door leading from
the dlning-room TO the kitchen. In the
loft hunks were arranged, but the only
light which penetrated were two openings
without glass, and which were closed at
night with sliding doors, 20 as to keep out
the chill night air. In this dark lott some
fOIty-three men were supposed 10 have
slept last night-at least, that number were
at supper last evening, and none were re-
ported away when the hour for retiring
came.
TIE ORIGIN or TIE FIRE
was the upsetting and explosion Of 4 kcrO-
! scne-Oil lamp. The story, ~ told by an
eyewitness Of the fire, was substantially as
follows: Between and 3 o'clock this
morning Mr.. Kown, the clearinghouse
keeper, arose and kindled fire in the
kitchen stove. He left lighted lamp on
table near the door leading to the dining
room, aud went TO arouse his wife and ser
vanl-grls. While he was gone the eXplo-
sion occurred, and in an instant the
dining-roOm was filed with flames.
Mr. Rown succeeded in escaping
with his wife and girls, but could not
do more than call upon those up stairs
to escape for their liyes. In another
moment the flames had enyclopcd the stair
way, thereby cutting OF all means OF es-
cape for the doomed men above, except
through small openings at either end; from
those the sliding doors hld TO be removed.
The loft was filed with straw and the COM
bustiblc material used in bedding, and il
was only those who were nearest the OPEN
ings who could make their escape. Forms
i'm \ semi-nude condition could be seen
/ struggling in the sitting smoke. Twenty
three OF the occupants OF the loft succeeded
| I'm squeezing through openings, some with
their underclothes Oh fire. The others
rushed frantically about the room until the
smoke SuhOcaied them, and their voices
were
/ sTIFLED IN DEATH.
Tie survivors groancd and writhed in
pain. and shiYered i'm the frosty air OF the
early morning a. they were born of. AS
/ soon - possible word was sent TO other
! boarding-houSes along the Ene Of the work,
and physicians were summoned from the
neighbOrhood and city. Special engines
were sent down the PittSburg and Lake
| Erie road, but mean while the shyerng
victims were provided with such clothing
AZ could be obtained. The seriously III
jured were brought to the depot on the
south side, and thence removed 10 West
Penn Hospital, while those who were less
seriously burned were removed 10 the
hotel of Martin Joyce, on Pennsylvania
avenue.
SICEENISG SCENES.
The scenes this morning at the site Of the
Inflated building were OF 4 >ichenlnS charac-
ter. In heap in one corner OF the ruins
were the charrcd remains Of six men, who
had evidently succumbcd 10 the hcry ele-
ment while endeay0ring Ia escape through
an opening in the roof. Among these was
the body of Patrick Foley, one OF the fore
men.
After the excitement had subsidized list
of those known 10 have been sleeping in
the building last night was made out, and
il was found that twenty men persisted IN
the flames. Three Others will die, and
eight are badly burned.
The scene at The ruins this afternoon was
desolate. A shanty stood at the opening Of
Green Hollow, and nothing remained but
three blackened ioist- and part OF one
door. The site OF the building was strewn
with Kitchen aud dining-rOom furniture
more than half consumed, kitchen utensils,
shreds Of clothing, human bones, strips OF
crsped flesh, and skulls, the latter being
found in different places where the north
ern end of the building had stood. On
portions Of partly-conSumed straw
bed were the remains OF seven VIC
tins piled up in such confusion as
to give the beholder an idea OF horrible
agony. The victims must have suffered
before losing consciousness. This bed was
located under one OF the openings, and II
was evident from the positions OF the bodies
that the original occupants had escaped.
Others had thought 10 flee from the open
ing, but had become hopelessly enlangled
and suffocated. They were burned to an
unacceptable shape, and when the MOOR
at last gave way chaTred remains dropped
TO the ground below.
4 Disastrous Fire.
NASHVILLE, December lO.-A special 70
the american from Lebanon says: AT
lao p. NJ. Yesterday fire broke out in
Murphy & Wilson's livery stable, which
DESTROYED it. Also, Hoger's Foundry Com
nany's establishment. The courthouse Is
now on fire. II il catches Dryfoo's grocery
the whole SQUIRE is gone. The courthouse
cannot be saved. The lfiiSoR County
NeioS office is burned.
Later.-Thc Lebanon fire was the WORK
OF an incendiary. Murphy & Wilson were
;ns,Ired for $500: loss $1,000. The VII
son County News Company has IN In
surance Of sl,400; loss. II 800. The court
house was insured for 10000; loss, S25,-
600.
A $4,000 Fire I'm Chicago.