St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-03-15
AFFAIRS.
THE SPRINGFIELD FIRE.
Details OF the Horrible Catastrophe.

Springfield, (Mass.,) Union office.
From the Springfield Republican are
gathered these further facts in relation
to this horrible disaster. The new of
flee of the Evening Union was burned
out about 4 o'clock Wednesday after
noon, and the blaze was attended with
the most sickening horror ever witness
ed in the city, at least six of the en-
plOyes meeting a terrible death, most
of them jumping from the fifth story
and being crushed into shapeless mass
es of human flesh below. Three more
are injured, two probably fatally, if
not all. No one knows how the fire
started, but it shot up an old elevator
shaft in the rear of the building, soon
cutting off escape by the stairway and
passenger elevator.
About 40 people were on the fifth
story aad before the alarm was fairly
given, and while unconscious of dan
ger they suddenly found themselves in
a fire-trap. Not all knew or remem
bered the thing To do. Those who got
out alive made their way through a
window in the rear, and, running over
d looks lOuhu bhOIt way
opening from skylights. Some who
started to the rear were driven back
by the smoke, but the horror of the sit
uation dawned on them as they looked
down the 40 feet of elevation from the
sidewalk with no hope of escape.
The scene of the tragedy that follow
ed could not have been in Il more con-
spicuous place. Down the street the
crowd hurrying to the place could sec
volumes of smoke rolling out of the
fourth floor. Along the street a work
man jostled and jOkingly said to his
companion, "Guess that will be n good
fire, | hope" but the words were cut
short and the look of horror that settled
on his face took every bit of COLOR
"God What is that ?" A woman
leaped out from under the lazy smoke,
there was a glimpse of IA bright dress
as the body careened through the air,
and a grOan rising from many throats
told her fate. The stiffness was al
most deathlike. Groups of human be-
ings appeared at the window and gaz
ed imploringly on the crowd that look
ed hopelessly back. Some were franti-
cally running back and forth, but most
of them were sitting on the stills dazed
in the terrible suspense. There was
not a shrek, and hardly a sound from
their lips that was heard. Some were
~beckOning, and occasionally there was
the cry of "Ladders," but no one knew
whether it came from the sufferers
above or those i'll suspense below.
The ladder truck came at last it seem
ed so long to wait!
The smoke grew denser us the skele-
ton was raised, and there was Il muir
mer as it settled against the building
Is feet below the fatal window. The
agony of suspense grew greater, and
men fairly jumped up and down in
their excitement. Tongues of fame
gleefully shot out over the heads of the
white-faced group. A woman hung
ont and swung her arms frantically /;
she rose on the sill and jumped for the
ladder. The crowd turned their faces
as she struck it, whirled owe and owe
and was dashed on the hard walk be-
low. "That %sickening crash will sound
i'm my ears while | live" said Il Mortified
%bystander. A large burst of flames
shot into the air from the rOOf,-anOth-
er victim, another, and still another
rolled out! Women tainted, and
strong men ran from the scene. The
pavements, like a slaughter-hOuse floor
was teeked in blood. Men were spat-
tered from read to foot with the gore.
"Blankets :" "Blankets!" "Bring n
mattress! !" we're shouted. A blanket
was found and stretched. Poor DOna-
hue thought he saw IA chance, and,
posing himself, leaped for life. The
heavy sheet was cut through like tissue
paper, and the huge body, without
even a rebound, was crushed on the
brick walk.
At the second window from the cor
ner IA woman's face peered. 1t was
Miss Thompson. Choking with smoke
she drew out Il handkerchief and
ed IL farewell to life. She looked up
she raised herself and took another
look at the crowd below. Down on
her knees she dropped, as if uttering
her last prayer. The flames curled
about her. She threw up her hands
and fell back into their embrace. Down
in the charnel pit they found her
charred remains, and by them was all
that was left of Foreman GOulding.
Manager Hill sat on the corner win
dow sill, and in spite of the struggles
of the woman he held back, seemed as
cool as any on the safe earth below.
AS the ladder crept up the wall men in
the group at the second window surg
ed toward the opening and craned
their necks for breaths of fresh air.
Witty let himself out and hung to a
sign until the flame scOrched his left
hand. The ladder crept up and he
was safe. Hardly had the ladder reach
ed the window when Mr.. Hill, who had
been holding Miss Williams, quickly
started his burden down the rounds.
The crowd applauded as she pluckily
descended. Sliding. skipping the
rounds and grasping at the side-bars
came the rest, and down the link with
life they found their way safely. Hill
was the last, and the fire fairly forced
him out so that he went down the I'M
derside, while a less nimble man went
down the outside.
The tragedy was ended. The cur
tain went down with a cloud of steam
and smoke, while 5000 people stood
gazing almost spell bound. 1t had
lasted less than Is minutes, but the
horror of those long spaces of time to
the sufferers, multiplied by the agony
of the spectators, will leave its impress
as long as the city lives.
Six jumped from the window, and of
these Mrs. Farley, C.. l.. Brown aud j.
LanZoe were instantly killed or died in
a few minutes. w. E. Hovey died at
the hospital last night, while Ellsworth
and Donahue are lying at the hospital
and may die. H. |. Goulding, the fore
man who exhibited real bravery, was
lost sight of. He was undoubtedly
overcome by the dense smoke about
the elevator. He had abundant OPP
D%ortunity to escape, but threw every