The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1828-11-20

the houses No. & and ), were falling down
IN one mass half way into the street. Ii
was known that the house No. 5 was in
habited by large family of the name of
Stokes, and the most serious apprehen-
SionS were entertained that the whole Of
| them would fall a sacrifice. Fortunately
the excavations in Catherine and Bridges
streets, for the construction of a new COM
mon sewer, were going on, and in few
minutes upwards Of fifty men were assem-
bied on the spot. The first body taken
out was that of a carman Of the name of
Neaves this poor fellow had been enga-
ged in carting gravel and soil for the pur-
poses of the excavation. The attention of
the workmen was Immediately turned to
him, and he was found in the middle of the
street quite dead. The horse was also
very much injured. Under the cart, or
rather, by the near side of it, was found "a
man, by trade a carpenter, who escaped in
manner miraculous; seeing the walls fall
ling. he had the presence Of mind to place
himself under the cart, which was very
strong, and though upwards of a ton
weight must have fallen on and against it,
he escaped with very slight injury. A
poor woman, Mrs. Edgely, whose age is
six y, was found, at the back of the prem
iseS, with one of her arms broken. This
poor creature, who lived in one of the up
per rooms, was Immediately conveyed to
Middlesex Hospital, where the limb was
bound up and splin,ered. AT little after
-four O'Clock, two children, the one seven
years old, the other nine months, were ia
ken ont and conveyed to the house Of Mr..
Callahan, in Essex street. The infant
died in a few moments after being taken
into the house, but the other was found to
have received no material injury, and af- /
Ter being washed, was put TO bed. Her |
first inquiry when she recovered her
scenes, was after her mother, brothers, land
sister.
The next person extrica,ed from the
ruins was fine girl seventeen years Of
age, the daughter of Mr.. Stokes, who had
received only few slight bruises. The
first call of this poor girl was for her moth
err and the rest of the family, and she was
almost frantic until her sister Selma was
brought in, and she was assured that the
rest were safe, but could not be disturbed.
AT the time she was taken out, the cry of
lad was heard, and, in short time the
men employed made way to the spot
where the boy Frederick was buried be-
meath the ruins, but fortunately he was pre-
served by some ,nnbers falling crossways,
so as to prevent the rubbish from smoth-
erng him. The poor fellow could be dis
tlnc,ly seen with the aid Of candle A; he
was however SO hemmed in that 10 extri-
sunder the beams by which he was protec-
ted, and in doing this great caution aud
Judgment were necessary in order to pre-
vent the rubbish from falling in upon and
suffocaling him. A conversation was kept
up with him, and every assurance given
him that he would be extricated; the boy
answered with perfect cheertulness, and
only begged for water, which was given
him, as was also some tea. HE fate of
The boy had excited very intense interest,
and when he was brought from his peril
ing was heard. He was found to be free
from fracture, but his head was much brui-
sed.r He inquired very anxiously after
the family. The workmen, in despite of
the ruins, which hung dangerously on
either side of them, made their way; by
dnt Of great exertion, to where the body
of poor Mrs. Stokes was. The scene here
cannot be depicted. The poor creature,
it would appear, had made her way to-
wardsthe door, as she was found with one
of her feet crushed TO atoms. Her head
presented dreadful spectacle and her
whole body was covered with dir, and
appeared like fattened piece of timber.
The distress of the unfortunate Mr. Stokes
on returning home, may be easily concei-
we'd. The family were placed in the
house out of pure charity. The real Cause
of the catastrophe appearsto have been
the unsoundness Of the story-posts. the
bottoms of which were very much decay
ed, and the wretched sort of brick work u
scd in the building.-LondOn paper. 7
PARENTAL AFFECTION The followingis
extracted from the unpublished letters Of