John Doran

The Winona Woolen Mill, at West Peabody, was entirely consumed by fire on the 18th. last. The fire originated in the attic and near the belfry, and no one seems to be fully satisfied as to how the fire got there. Persons seldom had occasion to visit this portion of the mill, as it was used for no purpose whatever.

Strange as it may seem, the first alarm of fire was given by one of the trains on the Boston and Maine Railroad, at about nine o'clock in the morning. The engineer on the train saw smoke and flame issuing from the roof of the building, and he, with the forethought of an active, energetic mind, stopped the train, and made such a commotion with his steam whistle and bell that some of the mill hands rushed out to see what caused the delay of the train, when they discovered that they had been unconsciously at work under a sheet of flame, which was fast creeping along the roof and gables of the doomed mill. The alarm was at once sounded, and all operatives rushed from the burning building. A person was mounted upon a fleet running horse and dispatched to the Square, some three and a half miles distant, for aid. Chief Engineer Littlefield, of the Peabody Fire Department, at once ordered the steam fire engine "Exceldor" to the scene of the conflagration, with both pairs of the engine horses attached. She arrived in good time and soon had four powerful streams upon the burning mass. The efforts of our firemen were successful in saving the engine house and engine, with only trifling loss.

The Volunteer engine company also came to the aid of their brother firemen and were on hand as they always are when duty calls. It is with sorrow that we have to record the sad fact that one of their men, Mr. John Doran, was killed assisting in getting their engine down at steep hill on Pine Street. In some manner, to us unknown, he slipped and fell and the engine and hose carriage passed over his prostrate form, mangling his head and body in a most shocking manner. His friends tenderly as possible conveyed him to a house of Mr. Finley, where he lingered an hour in suffering, when death released him from all earthly pains. Drs. Pike, of Peabody, and Eaton, of Danvers, visited him, but no human aid could reach his case.

Firefighter Doran was a member of Volunteer Engine Company No. 3.