Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-10

sufficient sslf.possession to move towards the
front part of the store on Fulton street, and ap-
proached one of the windows, with the intention
Of effectins his escape 10 that direction, which
appeared to be the desire Of the females in the
houses on the opposite side of the street. who wav
ed their handkerchiefs to him, fearful that the
remaining portion of the roof hanging over the
building would fall, and carry the rest of the
premises with it. He however returned to the
rear, passed down the stairss and came out
through the cellar door.
Mr.O'Neal, Of Utica, formerly of the firm of
O'Neal & Martin, was mentioned as escaping al
most by miracle, in Saturdays paper. He
states that he had been transacting some business
with Mr.. Stokes in the second story. He had
left the counting room, and was standing near
the head Of the stairs, pausing to consider wheth-
er he had not forgotten part of his business
While thus standing, he felt sensation as
though the floor was moving beneath him; in the
next instant, he observed the posts, or pillars OF
the first oor sustaining the second, to be sudden.
lv giving way, and in the next, he was ~helmed
beneath the ruins: He thought he fell fifteen or
twenty feet, and supposed himself in the cellar.
After all was STILL not finding himself injured, ne
began to reflect upon his situation. One OF his
thing rested upon one Of his legs. Here he sup
posed he should be compelled to remain, until re-
iieved from without; but on looking upwards, he
saw a small aperture. Taking his knife from
his pocket and opening it with his mouth, he
with one hand cut through those parts Of the bro
ken board lying on his leg which still held to-
gether, and succeeded in liberating that and his
other arm; he then raised himself by degrees
through the mass that was lying above him, the
bricks and rubbish falling in the spot from which
he drew up ms feet. continually giving him
foothod to raise himself higher. In this manner
he reached the top of the ruins; from thence he
got into the back of that part Of the building
which remained standing, proceeded to the front
of it on Fulton street, and lowered himself to the
ground by the chain placed there for hosting
goods. He supposes that from Is to 90 minutes
elapsed between the time of the fall OF the building
and his escape from the ruins.
Among the persons who escaped, was young
er brother of Mr.. Stokes, also clerk in the es.
tablishment. There were likewise four other per-
sons in that part Of the edihce whichis still stand
ing. all of whom were aborers, and three OF them
colored men, who escaped without injury. One
got out Of window in the fourth story, and slid
down by the gutter into the street, and the others
descended by the stairway, and escaped through
the cellar, without injury.
| The whole number Of the persons supposed tc
hsye been within the premises at the time OF the
accident, is thus accounted for. The story that
the captain Of a Charleston Packe, was believed
to have been lost in the ruins, turns out to be IN
correct. Equally incorrect, probably, is the sto
~ that lady and child. passing the building a
the moment, were crushed to death upon the side
walk.
Before evening. on Saturday, the corporation
had closed all the avenues leading to the ruins
leaving a strong guard Of police officers at thu
gates at the four passes. The workmen labored un
TIL dark. land recommended work on Sunday morn
ing The cotton was taken down from the uppeI
lofts, and with large quantity Of vine in The
lower stories, carted to other stores. The work
men continued to remove the rubbish during thu
day, s. many reports were in circulation that othe
bodies had been found, but such was not the fact.
We understand that there were upwards of 5000
bales of cotton in the store, weighing about l.,
200, 900 pounds, besides vast quantity OF tlr
plates, iron wire, copper, sc.