Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-08

\ cOIOred man was taken out aoout oie
clock, and carried to the house OF Alderman mar
per, opposite, and about six o'clock this morn
ing was sent to the hospital dreadtully mangIed.
As near as we could ascertain, he is named mo
mas Hawkes.. We saw the dead body OF anoth-
err coIored man taken from the RUNS at O'CLOCK
this morning. =, .
The gentlemen who have thus been so sudden
Nv c,t of. were highly beloved. Me-. Goddard
il we'll knewn as the author ofhis system of book
keeping. Mr.. Stokes, was a young gentleman
of great worth, son OF our excellent fellow cit-
zen. Mr. Thomas Stokes, and the confidential
clerk of Mr.. Phelps. Mr. Seymour has been in
the employ of Phelps & Peck for 1--WE years. and
was deservediy esteemed; he was from the neigh
borh0od Of Utica.
At two O'Clock this morning, the bodies OF two
laborers were extricated from the ruins-one of
them was found in a sitting position. pear the
front, lifeless-he is said to be a foreigner, nam
ed Pearsall; from the appearance OF the corpse 1t
was supposed that he lived some time after the
ba Hiding fell.
In CiiH.street, the second door from Phelps &
Peck's. a gentleman was confined TO his sick bed,
very low. who had not for some time been able
TO assist himself in moving, yet, the fright was so
great that he jumped from his bed aud stood erect
on the chamber floor.
In the great anxiety to get to those who were
underneath the ruins, several persons were IN
iured by the falling of bales OF cotton, and other
goods. About 9 O'clock, John Hunter, a watch
man, received the force of a large bale on his
breast, which deprived him Of the ability Of speak
ing for some time. He, however, finally was
able to speak. aud when we saw him last, a ply
stefan was with him, who thought him not dan
g%erously injured.
The moment news Of the catastrophe was re-
ceived at the City Hall, Mr.. Justice Wyman
sent a strong corps OF the Police, to preserve or
der, and prevent the destruction of property
Alderman Sharpe of the Second Ward, and Al
derman Stevens of the Third, were likewise
promptly on the ground, and were indefatigable
in their labors until q very late hour.
In order to call the assistance of the Hook and
Ladder Companies, the bells rang an alarm of
fire. The several companies fastened to the
spot, and worked with great diligence, not unac.
cOmpanied with danger Tor many hours. They
were directed by Mr.. Guliek. the Chief Engi
neer. assisted by Mr.. Wenmau, the late Engi-
neer. These gentlemen are both entitled to
great praise for their exertions. Daring the
night, the inhabitants in the nelghborhood iIIumi-
mated their windows, which, with the torches Of
the engines. afforded Sufficient light to the gen.
tlemen who were removing the goods, &c
Wearied out by the labofs they had wrought.
further efforts were discontinued shortly after 2
O'Clock this morning. but we're resumed again at
an early hour-the Mayor in person directing the
Police.
The crowds Of people collecting 10 vieN ibis
scene of destruction. which we confess our ma
bility adequately to describe, have been very
great. There were probably ten thousand peo-
pie crowded into the several streets leading to
the spot. before seven o'clock last evening; and
there could not have been less than that number
at 8 o'clock this morning.
1t is mentioned as a remarkable providence,
Mr.. Phelps having left his couutins-rnom but a
short time before the accident, that this is the
second instance within a year, that the same
merciful interposition has preserved his valuable
life. He had been prevented last year from get
ting on board the steam boat Gen. Jackson, at
Peekskill, on his return to this city. a few hours
before her unfortunate explosion. only by the ur-
gent and unusual solicitations of the Ca plain of
a sIoop, who at length prevailed on him to take a
passage on board his vessel.
1t is said also to be worthy of remark, that a
meeting of a number of our most valuable citi-
Zens, which was to have been held at Mr.. Phelps
counting room, commencing about an hour pre-
vious to the disaster, failed of being held, in con-
sequence of the nOn-attendance OF several of the
gentlemen invited. Had i, been held as appoint.
ed, it would probably have continued until the
fall of the building.
The cause of this painful disaster is apparent to
all who visit the runs. The building was erect
ed in the winter, and there was little cohesion of
brick and MORTAR There is neither hair nor
lime enough in the mortar now generally used
In this vast structure there were neither party.
walls, as in So great a building there should have
been, nor anchors, as the irons for connecting the
materials. and adding strength to the building are
called. Worst of all, the beams of the mass that
has fallen, were not morticed into the timbers Of
the section that remains; and there appears to
have been complete breaking Of exactly as if
the foundation of a part OF the building had given
way. and there was no connecting fixtures be-
tween the two portions of the ediice, by which
the whole strength should have been united
The consequence was, that the building has
yielded to the pressure of the enormous weight of
iron. tin, wire, cotton, and other goods stored
within 1.-THE balance not being evenly preserv-
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