Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-05-10

their discipline and soldier like conduct
were very creditabIe to them.
MELANCHOLY CATAsTROPHE.
A quarter before six o'clock on Friday
afternoon, (say the New-York papers,)
the new six story brick store of Messrs.
Phelps and Peck, in New occu-
pied as counting rooms and warehouse
for the very extensive business Of that
firm, suddenly fell in with startling and
tremendous crash, causing the founda-
tions of the buildings in the whole neigh
borhood to tremble.
The building occupied about 100 feet
on Cliff-street, and IS upon Fulton
Two thirds of the pile, comprising the
whole front upon Cliff, and say so feet
upon Fulton-street, was severed perpen-
dicularly from top to bottom, and fell at
once into a heap of broken ruins, bury.
ing under them three of the clerks, viz:
Thomas ii. Goddard, the celebrated ac-
countant, Josiah Stokes, and Alfred X.
Seymour, who were crushed to death; 3
colored men, Barney, Jackson, Carman,
and some others.
Mr.. Pitkin, also clerk, was standing
at the front door, on Cliff street, and saw
ed himself by jumping one side the mo-
ment he heard the cracking, and run
ming across the street. Mr.. O'Neal, Of
Utica, customer, was ascending the
first flight Of stairs at the moment, and as
it were by miracle escaped with only n
few slight bruises, having worked his
way out of tho ruins about fifteen minutes
after the wall fell in. Barney Jackson,
who was on the sidewalk, was Fortunate
ly rescued in about two hours with only
a broken arm, and few bruises. His
horse was killed, as was also one belong
ing to the city corporation, which was
standing in the street.
The whole building to the topmast loft,
was filed with goods ofgreat weight and
intrinsic value. The lower stories were
stored with iron and TN, and the three
upper lofts crammed to their utmost ca
pacity, with cotton. The loss of proi'cr-
ty, independently of the building, will be
very great. But this loss weighs as the
dust only in the balance, in comparison
with the loss Of life which is at this mo-
ment wrnging so many bosoms with an
guish, and the unspeakable agonies Of
the mangled though not lifeless bodies,
that have been taken from the ruins
The number Of lives lost by this Distress
ing event, is not yet known. AT the
time of its occurrence, we were on the
way to meet Committee, of which Mr..
Phelps was one. He had left his count
ing room short time before, and was at
the moment Of the catastrophe in atten-
dance at the monthly meeting of the
Board Of Public Schools. The other
partner, Mr.. Peck, is in the country.
The bells rang an alarm Of fire to call
out the hook and ladder companies, who
fastened to the spot, and worked with
great diligence many hours.
OF the laborers at work in the store,
three were taken out alive before nine
o'clock, one of whom it was reported
died in few minutes, and the other two
colored men.
One of them was found to be very bad
ly injured, his head be ing deeply cut and
covered with blood, and one Of his shoul-
ders dsloca ated, besides other wounds,
some of which appeared to be internal
His case is believed to be extremely crit
ical. The other was not so badly hurt,
his wounds being principally confined to
a hand and arm, which were good deal
cut and bruised.
Barney Jackson had his head and face
much bruised, but it is believed he will
recover. He remarked that during the
time he was under the ruins, he consider
ed himself dead man.
About half past l2 o'clock the hand Of
mr. Stokes was seen projecting from be-
meath the ruins, and grasping the pen
with which he had been writing; the body
from the weigh. on it must have been en-
tireIy crushed.
A colored man was taken cut about I
o'clock, and sent to the hospital dread
fully mangled. The dead body of anoth-
er co)ored man was taken from the ruins
at 8 o'clock on Saturday morning.
The gentlemen who have thus been so
suddenly cut off, were highly esteemed
and beloved. Mr. Goddard is well known
as the author of his system Of book keep
ing. MIR. Stokes was young gentle
man of great worth, son Of our excellent