Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-12
INTO THE FLAn ES.
An AgOniZing Scene at Lawtence-The
PembertOn Mills AblaZe-A Dozen Men
Fall with a RoOf-AIl of Them More or
Less Injured-One Breathes His Last in
100000.
LAWRENCE, April 10.

One of the most obstinate and most d sas-
trous fires ever known in Lawrence broke out
in the Pemberton mills shortly after IL o'clock
this morning. Ii originated in the picker
room and dvehouse among the rubbish and
waste materials. The fire took place in the
dust boxes. and, as supposed, WAS rapidly
quenched by the fire department connected
with the mill, but almost instantly it flashed
up again and ignited large pile of cotton
laps prepared for passing through the pick
ers Then the flames became uncontrollable
and for hours the whole mill seemed doomed
to destruction and the surrounding mills were
in imminent danger. At last an alarm was
sounded from the private box of the chief of
the fire department, at the corner of Jackson
and Essex streets, to which the engines al
most instantly responded. The officials of
the Washington mills were also promptly on
hand, doing efficient work under the manage
ment of Master Mechanic William Smith and
Supt Walter Wheeler, playing FIVE powerful
streams upon the fire from their excellent ro-
tary pump. Up to this time the most intense
excitement prevailed not only in the neigh
borhood of the mills, but in the whole city
Thousands of persons of both sexes and all
social conditions fOcked to the scene of the
conf1agration, crowding all the avenues of
approach, and particularly the Union street
bridge, so called, and by their presence max
ing it all the more difficult for the fremen to
render that valuable assistance which they
were so nobly striving to do. After the es-
cape of the operatives, many of them gath
cred on the north bank of the canal, from
which point. as well as from the Duck bridge
and from the south bank of the river, excel
lent views of the fire could be had. The
central point of the great conflagration was
directly in the rear of the main mill, in a
building 100x40 feet, fronting on the river
and five stories high. 1t is a stone and brick
structure running cast and west, the first
three stories being of stone or cemented
/ granite, and the two upper stories of brick
being topped with tin fiat roof. The first
| story is used as a dye house, the second az a
picker room, the third the carding, and the
rest for spooling and quilting rooms. There
were two rooms on each story, being separat-
ed by brick partition walls, and it was in the
picker room, in the western portion of the
building, that the fire caught Shortly be-
fore noon, the flames having then been rag
ing nearly an hour, about y dozen firemer
were upon :he roof of the river mill com
batting the flames. The roof suddenly gave
way beneath their feet, and they were pre-
cipltated into the flames and smOke within
| Instantly shrieks and shouts of hsrror rem
| the air and the brave men who were work ng
| near by felt their hearts momentarily sinb
within them, a. they saw their companion,
| hurled to what seemed certain death Bu
their courage failed them only for an instant
| Almost instantaneously the gallant .band
| formed rescuing party and forced their way
| into the building, unmindful of self, un
daunted bv fear of suffocation, thinking only
of their comrades within, and determined, by
| all odds, 10 save them. Their efforts were
untiring, and one after another the injured
men were rescued and conveyed safely to the
ground and from thence to the CITY Hospital
where, with loving tenderness and kindly
care, they were received by the physician:
and nurses.
| George Mckenzie was among the first res
cued He had been residing at 90 Kingston
street in South Lawrence, and came original
| ly from Calais, Me. When the alarm Of fire
was first given, he volunteered his services
and in so doing lost his life, for at O'Clock
| in the afternoon he died at the hospital. u,
! Foreman Merrill of the Audover engine
company, lost finger, it being necessary to
amputate the member.
| Charles Morse, residing on Morton street
was slightly injured, and was taken to his
home.
E. Cuddy was injured slightly about the
head. neck and arms.
]. Sullivan had three fingers crushed.
! Emery Twitchell of Washington No. wa.
| injured very seriously.
Merritt d. wyman of Washingto No.
was seriously hurt on the back by falling
ladder.