Reading, PA Hosiery Mill Fire, Dec 1899

GIRLS NEAR DEATH.

SIX HUNDRED EMPLOYES IN HOSIERY MILL BECOME PANIC STRICKEN.

Reading, Pa., Dec. 8. -- One of the most appalling fires that has ever visited this city occurred yesterday, when the extensive hosiery mill of Nolde & Horst company took fire, destroying the plant, causing the death of MISS LOUISA CLAY, aged forty-eight years, and injuried 60 other employes of the company. The following are the most seriously hurt:
MAMIE RITTER, ankle fractured and otherwise badly hurt.
SALLIE CHRISTMAN, arm broken.
EMMA LANCE, nose broken, hip dislocated.
ANNIE BAER, ankle broken and otherwise badly injured.
ANNIE BOWMAN, internally injured.
SALLIE BAUSHER, leg broken.
KATIE BOYER, face disfigured, arms and legs hurt.
ANNIE BOWMAN, internally injured.
SALLIE CLAY, knee fractured.
KATIE DAPLER, internally injured.
ELLA KINKLE, internally injured.
MAMIE KRAEMER, internally injured.
CATHARINE KELLY, internally injured.
MAMIE LACHMAN, leg broken.
FRANCES LUDEN, back severely injured.
EMMA LORAH, both legs broken.
ESTHER MOWBRY, shoulder dislocated.
LOUISA BARRON, severely injured legs.
MISS IBACH, ankle broken.
CATHARINE LORAH, both legs broken.
CATHARINE LUPHOLD, internally injured.
ANNIE MacHENRY, leg broken.
BESSIE SCHAEFFER, thigh dislocated.
MINNIE SCHWARTZ, leg broken.
SALLIE SHERMAN, internally injured.
GERTRUDE SEIFERT, leg broken.
JENNIE WARNER, both legs reported broken.
MAGGIE WHITMEYER, leg broken.
ELLA HENDERSHAW, both thighs fractured.
MARY YECH, compound fracture of arm, otherwise seriously injured.
The fire was discovered about 11 o'clock and in a few moments the girls were panic stricken. They made a dash for the fire escape and the stairs, but found that the latter means of escape would not carry all of them down at the same time. Several hundred of the girls then made a rush for the windows and appealed to those in the street to save them. Ladders were brought into use and many girls were taken from the burning building safely. Most of them, however, jumped and were seriously injured. It is not known how the dead met their fate, but it is believed they fainted and were burned to death. Loss, $275,000; insurance,
$150,000.

Adams County Free Press Corning Iowa 1899--12-14
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!