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What is likely the worst industrial accident in Massachusetts history occurred on
January 10th 1860. A large mill located in Lawrence
collapsed without warning, and resulted in the death of more than 120
people.
The Pemberton Mill building was five stories high, 84 feet wide, and 280
feet long. This huge structure was only 7 years old when it collapsed. The cause of the
disaster was determined to be faulty iron pillars which supported the floors, and under-strength mortar
which bonded the brick walls together.
The 1862 Boston Almanac describes the accident: "The Pemberton Mills
at Lawrence, Mass., through a defect in the cast-iron columns supporting the
interior of the building, fall-in while nearly 800 operatives are at work,
and bury many in the ruins. About four hours after the fall, a fire breaks
out, and destroys those not extricated from the ruins. More than 115 people
perish by the awful catastrophe, and 165 are more or less injured."
After the destructive Lawrence
Microburst event of 1890, the July 26th edition of the Boston Globe tells of the 1860 Pemberton
collapse: "The scene after the fall was
one of indescribable horror. Hundreds of men, women, and children were
buried in the ruins. Some assured their friends that they were uninjured,
but imprisoned by the timbers upon and about them. Others were dying and
dead. Every nerve was strained to relieve the poor unfortunates, when, sad
to relate, a lantern broke and set fire to the wreck. In a few moments the
ruins were a sheet of flames. Fourteen are known to have been burned to
death in the sight of their loved ones, who were powerless to aid them."
Many of the workers were Irish immigrants. The Belles of New England by
William Moran (2002) describes the last moments of a worker that tragically lost their
life that evening: "Flames spread rapidly, and now terror of fire threatened
those waiting to be saved. Mary Bannon, pinned in the wreckage, handed her
pay envelope to the friend comforting her and asked that it get to her
father. 'Bid him goodbye for me,' she said, 'You will be saved; I will
not.'"
A Typical Mill Building In Lawrence
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