Richmond Enquirer

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.

Mitchelstown, (Ireland,) Feb 12.

A most melancholy event took place yesterday morning, near this town. A farmer of some respectability in the neighbourhood, whose daughter was married the preceding night, invited a number of his friends, &c. to the wedding. After supper all the young people retired to a large barn to dance. There was a fire in the barn, but the night was cold, and after they had been dancing for some time, wished to have the fire extinguished, when one of the young men went into the dwelling-house for some water, and accidentally, a large jug full of water, (but proved to be spirits.) brought it and threw it on the fire. The spirits took fire, as it had no chimney; the door, which was locked, could not be opened, to release, a number of them were burned inside and such as found their way out were much injured. Sixteen have been already interred, and since that number are despaired of: amongst the number is the bride: the bridegroom severely scorched, but he will recover. A gentleman who was just come from the scene, says he never saw so dreadful a sight as men and women lying on the outside of the hedge— their parents even could not recognize them. The whole of the young people were present, and had sang at prayer among the lost. Of all the bodies found under the ruins yet, but from every account it is supposed that about twenty persons were burned to death."

February 14.

Since my last, I have learned the following particulars:—I omitted to inform you that the name of the farmer was Chamberlane; his young son, a man of the name of Bronogue, his eldest son and daughter, with two more of that name; a young man of the name of Nunan, an only son, a young woman of the name of Cavanagh, two young sisters of the name of Clancey, and two more females of the name of Mahoney, one of whom was to be married on the Sunday following, were burnt to ashes. Several beggars, who generally attend country weddings, were also burnt. I have just heard, that four persons, who were injured by the fire, have died in consequence. I understand, that there are no hopes of the recovery of four more.

A poor female fiddler, who was blind, lost her life, her little daughter, who was an attendant on her, made her escape, but was very much injured.

From the appearance of the ruins, and the bones found, it is generally conjectured that from 25 to 30 have perished, besides those who have died since."

[Cork Advertiser. Feb. 17.]