Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-03-07
From the AJany Argus of Saturday, Morning.
AWFUL CALAMITY-THIRTY OR FORTY
LIVES LOST


AWFUL CALAMITY-THIRTYO OR FORTY
LIVES LOST.
We have accounts Of fearful Gala nifty
at Troy, accustomed by land slide, scarce
" inferior in extent, and it is feared, even
more destructive Of life, than that which
occurred several years ago.
The slide occurred south Of the former
one, on the small hill-the avalanche
crushing and nearly burying severaI frame
buildings al the foot Of the hill, and exten-
ding quite across Main street.
The verbal accounts vary in particulars,
but all concur in representing the loss Of
life and the scene Of distress as terrible be-
You'd description. The following letter
from spondent furnishes all the par
,iculars as yet within reach:
Troy, Feb. II, past 5 P. NJ,
Mcssrs CroswelI-Our city has been "a
gain visited with an awful calamity. A.
mother terrible avalanche has swept houses
and families away in It's course OF destruc-
ton, 1t is useless TO attempt TO particular
ize when it is utterly impossible to 90 50
on this mournful occasion. Suffice it TO
say, that the earth slide occurred in the
immediate vicinity Of the terrible avalanche
of 1887, about four o'clock this afternoon,
covering acres of ground al the base of the
hill, and crushing to atoms some ten or
twelve houses, nearly all occupied. Whole
families have persisted, and the only warn
ing they received was the death Oiow that
carried them into eternity.
have Just left the ruins TO commune
cate to you these few lines. There, all is
panic and confusion, Fight or ten dead
bodies have alrady been taken out from
the ruins, an how many live or partially
Injured | cannot tell. The crowds are
moving in masses from spot to spo., and il
the entire of each the mortal remains o.
some one who was persisted, are being car
ried from the scene of destruction 10 some
more suitable place. The municipal Of
ticers are on the spot, doing all that is pos
slble 10 be done to rescue the liyng,H any
are yet TO be found, and 10 take care oflhe
dead. When left, the smoke was gush-
ing from the smouldering ruins,an sever
al hose compa Aies were there. While am
writing, the alarm bell for fire is ringing,
but do net aIp-chend the destruction can
BE- augmented by fire.
Let me assure you that the scene presents
an awful and melancholy sight. Babes in
in their cradl1s-mothers with their chill
dren in their arms-and stalwart men, who
but two hours ago breathed freely and in
health-have been taken from the ruins,
mutiIalod and mangled corpse. The build
ings destroyed were nearly all new, and
had but recently been erected. They were
tenanted principally by poor and industri-
Gus mechanics. The details OF he caIami-
ty you will receive more at large through
our city papers Of tomorrow.
will state for the information Of your
distant readers, that the entire Of the ava
lanche was al the head Of Washington
street, little below what has usually been
termed the five points Of this city.
The names Of the families that have per-
ished. that | have be, able TO learn, are,
Birdsall, (the father, the son Of Ma or
BrdsalI, who was shot some years ago
near the arsenal in Albany Day Kelley,
and some others that cannot now recol-
lect.
P. S Since the above was ia type, we
have received the following slip from the
Troy Budget.