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| Fatal Fire at Burnley 1895 http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/talkback/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1139 |
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| Author: | Mel [ Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Fatal Fire at Burnley 1895 |
The Times Satrurday January 12 1895 Fatal Fire at Burnley Fire broke out yesterday morning in a warehouse of a mill factory at Burnley, and spread so rapidly that the operatives had scarcely time to escape, and it is feared that four lives have been lost. Mrs. Hndle, of Bread-street, who leaves a husband and three children, and Mrs. Sarah Berry, who leaves five young fatherless children, were burnt to death, and two young men named Entwistle and Shields are missing, The fire brigade have been playing on the smouldering wreck all day. As the building is regarded as unsafe, searching operations have not yet been begun. The outbreak occurred at the firm of Mr. Jesse Simpson, Albion Mill, Burnley, where there are about 1,000 looms and all the machinery necessary for the manufacture of cotton. The building is three storeys high, with 23 windows along the front. The fire originated in a "heald rack," but from what cause if not known. Probably some of the light fluff which clings to the "healds" caught fire from the gas. The fire broke out at 6:20am.m when the factory was illuminated with gas for the 400 operatives employed on the premises on the three floors. There was practically only one large entrance and exit, and towards this exit the fire progressed with alarming rapidity. The utmost confusion reigned when the alarm was given, and owiing to the great noise of the machinery, the operatives at their looms were not aware of their peril till they saw their fellow-workers rushing out of the building. Amidst this excitement and confusion, the alarm was increased by an explosion of gas which extinguished all the lamps. The workers made their way as best they could by the most familiar outlets to the streets, but in the struggle scores of women fainted when they reached the outlet from the factory. The engine tender, named Heaton, and Police-constable Bowker, made unsuccessful efforts at rescue of the unfortunate few known to be in the building, but the doors could not be forced. The windows were smashed, but the dense smoke within prevented all ingress, and it was realized that for those who had tarried behind to save their personal belongings there was no hope. The police and fire brigade played upon the burning pile without effect, and the building was completely gutted in a couple of hours. When it was possible to commence a search the bodies of Mrs. Hindle and Mrs. Barry were found near one of the permanently secured doors. Hindle's husband accompanied the search party. One operative stated that as he was coming down the stairs he was driven back by the smoke and there seemed no way of escape for him. He broke a window, put his head out for a breath of air, and then made a larger opening through which he wriggled his body, and after getting clear, dropped onto an adjacent building and thus escaped. At least two more operatives are missing -viz.Joseph Entwistle and John Shields, both young men, and it is feared they are buried in the débris |
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