New Hampshire Statesman And State Journal

SALMON-FALLS FACTORY BURNT

Fire, And Loss of Lives. We are sorry to state, that the Woollen Factory at Salmon Falls was burnt on Thursday afternoon. The fire was discovered about 5 o'clock, in the lower part of the principal factory building, and is by some supposed to have originated from the picker, and by others from the spontaneous combustion of oiled wool. It had, when the alarm was given gained such headway, that all the help at hand was unable to stop its progress, and the stair way was on fire before the girls could descend, so that many of those who were saved had to rush through the flames.—One was driven by the smoke and fire from room to room till she reached the roof, where she held on by her hands, until compelled by the heat to let go, when she fell to the ground and was so injured as to cause her death the same evening. Two other girls are said to be missing, supposed to be burnt.

The building where the fire originated is consumed leaving nothing but the walls. A part of the offices in front, and a house and a store on the opposite side of the street, was also consumed.

Col. Peirce, the agent, was in Boston when the fire took place.

The raw materials, and the finished goods were saved. Loss estimated at $180,000, a part of which is insured.

Gentlemen from Salmon Falls, last evening, furnish us with the following list of killed and wounded:-

Mary Nowell, of York, killed by a fall.

Lydia Varney, of Eliot, burnt to death.

Harriet Hastings, of Wells, do.

Thomson, leg broken.

Sarah Nowell, of Portsmouth; Mary Jane Leavitt, of Acton, Me.; and Mehitable Wilkinson, more or less injured.

One gentleman fell from a house-top but escaped with a slight injury.-Ports. Jour.

The following additional particulars are from a correspondent of the Great Falls Journal:-

The large woolen factory with other buildings, among which was a large boarding house are entirely consumed. One or two other buildings are nearly destroyed or seriously injured. The fire caught in the second story in the large factory in the picking room, where a lad was employed at the time picking wool.—It caught by friction in the gearing of the picker, and instantly communicated itself to the wool, which being in an unctuous state, and lightly strown over the floor communicated itself to every part of the room. In spite of every effort to stop it, it soon found its way to other parts of the building. The alarm was given for the operatives to make their escape, almost at the moment the flame kindled; but such was its rapidity, that those in the upper story found it hazardous if not entirely impossible to escape by descending the stairs. All was now in confusion. Some leaped from the windows, which it would seem instant death to attempt,-some were taken down on ladders; while two it is supposed perished in the flames! Several of those who leaped from the windows were seriously injured, one mortally. This was a girl whose name was Mary Nowell.—She expired at about eleven o'clock in the evening. Three of those most injured, have broken bones or are badly mangled, though there is hope as to their recovery. Their names are Mary Jones, Sarah Nowell and Miriam Thompson. Those who, it is supposed, perished in the flames, were Harriet Hasty and Lydia Varney.

The factory was commenced in the spring of 1832, and finished in that and the two subsequent years. It cost it is said, $300,000. It had sixty broadcloth looms, and manufactured we are told, about 500 yards of cloth per day: giving employment to about 200 persons, and support to 500 inhabitants.

One year ago, a FIFTEENTH PART of all the broadcloth manufactory in the United States, was carried on in this town. Now, by the ruinous policy of the administration, and to us no less ruinous ravages of the destructive element, we have ceased to manufacture a single yard.; and have reason to fear that the woollen manufacturing business is ended in this town forever.

The Boston papers state, that there was an insurance of $50,000 upon the property destroyed, at the offices in that city, and 10,000 in Hartford.