The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-21
From the BaItim0rs Amsrican.
A WEEK OF CALAMITlE2. r.

The services in most Of the churches in our city on
Sunday morning partook Of funeral character. The
diseourses that delivered referred impressively
to the mourDfdI visitation which recently fell with
such terrible shock upon the community filling ma
ny hearts with anguish, and casting general gloom
! over the city. tr .H
| On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday funeral process
slons filled our streets. Many of the unfortunate
victims of the late calamity were members of fire
Companies and other societies. AID the various
Citations turned out to pay the last honors to their de-
parted brethren 81
In some ofthe churches Sunday collections were
taken up In behalf of the beTeaved families who have
been made destitute suffering by the loss of fathers
| husbands, brothers, sons. We do not know how
far this was done among the various congregations
but If omitted IN any for want of notice. presume
SO appropriate act Of duty and kindness will be
promptly attended to on the coming Sabbath In the
mean time, observe that Ward meetings are about
10 be held TO take the subject in hand and e are
that the generous libeTav of fellow-citizens
will not be appealed TO in va this solemn
The claims OF the widow and the atheress
knowledged at by every heart; they require not
to be urged; their silent force would be weakened by
any such attempts.
We have alluded to the past week as neck of ca
iamities. On the first day Of it the community was
startled by the sudden death of an old and much
specied citizen, Mr. Jacob Rogers who died suddenly
in church. On Monday the beautiful and interesting
son of Captain Turner, Of the United States Navy,
was suddenly killed in the street. being and
eyes of his parents day or two afterwards high
ly respectable citizen Henry Brice, was found dead
in his office And TO conclude the awful catalogue
of distressfu Incidents since Thursday no less than
tloenty fire of our fellow cit have been summon
ed to eternity by the dreadful xpcson Of the M, DORA
OF this last most horrible casualty the particulars
have been given to the public. In our paper of yes
terday the proceedings of the cOroners inquest
the body Of of the victims published in full
Nothing conclusive was ascertaned, it appears, rela
tive to the cause of the disaster What further in
vesgation Will take place. if any, know not. But
the public mind is far from being satisfied the sub
ect The occasion is of too great magnitude, the
sacrifice Of human life has been too terrific to allow
of hurried disposal of the matter without
clear understanding than has yet been had of the real
cause of the explosion.
II is due justice, to the feelings of this commune
ty to the of humanity, which must not be
sIg hed with IMMUNITY, that thorough and searching
examination be prosecuted until responsibility is made
to rest where it properly belongs. There cannot be
too much strictness on this point. While pay the
tribute of due to the dead and neglect the
duties of charity to tho bereaved ones in midst
the interests and safety Of the living the voice of
ciey speaking from sense ofjustce and the instinct
of sef-preserv alton, demand rigid inquiry into the
origin of the calamity which has afflicted us-to the
end that if negligence or wantOnness has been suf-
fered rhe with the lives of men, it should at least
be known.
The active exertions of the Mayor in the duties
imposed upon him by this unhappy event have called
| forth deserved commentator. We hope that he will
| feel it incumbent him to adopt mode of
| tinuing The investigation into the that pro-
duccd il.