The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1882-01-06


Pittsburgh special % the Chicago Tri6sss
gives the following particulars Of The recent
horrible irc catastrophe near the former city;
shortly before four O'Clock this morning
report was brought 70 the city that terrible
calamity had occurred a point on tho
Pittsburgh 4 Lake Eric Railroad. seven miles
down the Ohio River. The nature u the ls-
aster was not stated. and people could % no
more than guess. II soon transpIred. hovev-
or. that the report was only TOO well founded,
and that ten men had been roasted 20 death
and great many injured BY the burning q .
frame clearinghouse IN which they we're
sleeping. They we're laborcrs on the railroad,
and were working n the place indicated,
which Il called GIbson's Station. The build
ing was onc-story frame structure with an
attic or loft. The lower part was used a. .
dining-room and kitchen. Into this loft for
ty-thrce stalwart men retired 70 sleep last
night, after finishing the days work. Il was
reached bya flight Of stairs which started
from near the kitchen door. There were no
windows, but, In lieu Of them, there were
two small holes n the roof 20 admit light
and air. These were closed q night BY slid
ing door 70 keep out the cold.
About four O'Clock this morning the keeper
Of the boarding house. Hugh Mcclure, got up
20 build fire in the kitchen stove, carrying
with him An ordinary kerosene lamp, which he
placed upon table whilche went for kindling
wood. Up to this point al is clear. II Il
supposed that, during his absence, the lamp
chimney burst. and By some means threw the
lamp upon the floor, allowing the oil 70 run
out This theory Il generally accepted The
stairway Was composed Of light, dry, pine
boards, and they were soon ablaxe. The
flames quickly spread % the loft where the
unfortunate men we're slecping all uncon-
scious Of the terrible fate which awaited them.
The fioorofthe loft Was covered withst straw beds
andbcddng The flames made rapid progress,
and soon reached this mass Of innammable
material. About this time the sleepcrs were
aroused by the cries Of the females employed
about the place, and they At once made rush
for the stairs. but they were confronted By :
wall Of fire which forced them back III dismay.
A rush was then made for the opening In
the roof BY the half-craxed men, and a strug-
gle for life took place, each trying to crowd
the other out Of the way, rs only one u time
could be forced through the apcrturcS on ac-
count Of their small size Some Of the poor
fellows, seeing that all could not escape IN
this way, caught At any shadow o. hope that
offered, and tried 70 dash down the stairs and
through the flames, only % meet horrible
death. The men had not even time 10 clothc
themselves, so sudden was the alarm and 90
quickly did the fire make headway. Those
who made their escape, however, seemed 20
bewildered BY the sudden outburst Of the
flames and the cries Of their companions that
they rushed back into the burning building,
attempting TO save their little property. Al
this moment the crash came The frail
walls, weakened by the attacks Of the
flames. crushed IN upon the unfortunatcs, and
their cries for help were drowned In the roar
Of the flames. The scene a this moment can
not Be described. Shricks and grosns went
up on every side from The poor unfortunates,
who had been burned and scorchcd IN : sick.
ening manner. Strong men. with great patches
Of skin and flesh peeled from their bodies By
The touch ofthc fire, rolled upon the gro und Ia
their agony Ten or the forty three are dead.
and eight or ten more viii die The injured
ere being cared FOR a. the West Pennsylvania
Hospital. Many q the victims leave families q
destitute condition.