Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-09

accident But whata sight was now presented.
! On the floor was stretched, in one promlscuous
heap, the entire company which had been as
sembled in the room above; some lying on their
faces, some on their backs and sides, and in the
midst of them stood, as erect as in the days OF
her youth, her who had been the object OF their
lamentations her countenance still presenting
the pallid hue Of death.
'sTwas listening fear and dumb amazement
all,' among the wondering throng; the living
were no longer thought of--the dead alone be-
came the object Of attention, but who dare look
upon sight so awful? lie who had the light
/ was the first 10 recover the use of his speech
and motion, but it was only to plunge the rest
into greater horrors; be uttered faint cry dash
ed the candle to the floor, and rushed from the
apartment. Again the company were left in It.
ter darkness, While among them stood the re-
suscitaled inhabiant of another world. Who
can imagine scene more dreadful.
AT this time the g:ey-eyed morn began to
dawn" and its happened that the gas lightman
was going round 10 extingush his nocturnal
summarizes. The mourner who had emanci pa
ted himself from the scene Of horror within re-
lated to him, as we'll as his faulierng accent
would permit, his tale of wonder and alarm, *
requested he would not ex,inguish the lamp
until sufficient number Of lghls could be pro-
cured, not only to frighten away the ghost, if
such it was, but to see the extent Of mischief
and injury done to the living. The hour had
come, however, 1.-TWO o'clock, when the lamps
were to be pat out. and out they must co. re-
monstrances were in vain, broken limbs or frac-
;ured skulls could make no difference; the Gas
Company had nothing 10 do with such matters
there was no allowance for contingencies in their
contract, and out went the lamp accordingly.
gentleman residing in the neghborhood be-
ing aroused by the noise, went out 10 inquire
the cause oft, and having learned a few partic-
ulars he insisted in peremptopy manner on the
fellow rcighting the lamp, until the dead and
diving could be removed from the ruins With
some difficulty his request at last complied
with, and lights and assistance being procured,
several persons proceeded 10 the scene OF the
disaster Here all was found as il had been
left; not being had ventured 10 move or ar
iicuae sound, and even the deceased had
maintained the upright position, without adj
vancing or recedinga sing loot. The pres
ence Of light, and the encouragement of those
who had last entered, at length induced the
fallen throng 10 begin to look around them,
and 10 inquire the injuries received by their
companions. One after another, however started
upon their legs, though still doubtful whether
they had whole leg TO stand upon.But what was
heir Joy * surprise to find that neither bruise
fracture had occurred? But still she who had
been dead stood among them; and as they were
assembled to wake her to the grave and not
unto life, they all made the best Of those
| limbs to which they had been restored, by quick
| ly escaping from her awful presence The
room being thus cleared OF its former visitors,
the party who had last entered bagan to bestir
themselves, TO" they knew that the mother and
| the child, npon whose premises this unprece-
dented trespass had been committed, still re-
mained beneath, the flooring. With some diff
ficulty they. cleared away the rubbish, when they
discovered the poor woman and her child, safe
and sound, the latter sleeping composedly, and
the former as tranquil as if nothing had hap
pencd. The deceased TOO had by this time re
sumed her recumbent posture, and no longer
presented the awful appearance which had
struck such terror to her living friends. These,
however, were not inclined 10 resume their
mourning duties, they could not SO soon recov-
er from the alarm, neither was ii easy TO con-
vince their minds that a miracle had not been
| wrought.
Lesl our readers might suppose that we too
were dealing in the miraculous, we shall give
simple solution Of what a first appears SO
passing strange. When the floor gave way, as
we have stated, from the weight that pressed
upon it, the oisis broke IN the centre; but ie
manned fixed at the ends, the flooring formed
Two inclined panes, down which the company
slid gently and thus escaped uniniured. The
body Of the deceased slid down in like manner
and, coming on its feet, SO remained to the as
tonishment Of the beholders. The escape of
the woman and her child may appear the most
extraordinary part Of this occurrence-but itas
easily accounted for as the rest Her bed hap
pened to be 2laced against the wall, and conse-
quenlIy under that part of the floor which con-
,inued to be supported by the ends OF the joists
in this manner she was as perfectly secure as if
no accident had occurred. We shall only say
in conclusion, that Calls well that ends WE'LL"
as in this instance.
An apparatus has been invented at London,
which is calculated to reduce fluids from the
state Of steam, or the highest degree ofboiling
heat, to The temperature of spring water. The
process may be performed with any required
rapidly: or in other words, any number of gal
Ions may be cooled or heated, per minute, by
Tho e,nr,Ioynent Of euuaJ ouantities of coolintr