The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-02-20
Awful Calamity.
From the Albany Argus. ]

URRAT LAND SLIDE AT Troy, Forty Lives
LOST, SEVERAL BunDINes DEsTRoyEp.-We have,
accounts OF fearful calamity at Troy occasioned
by land slide, scarcely inferior in extent, and it is
feared, even more destructive of life than that
which occurred several years ago. rr
The Glide occurred south of the former one on the
same hill-the avalanche crushing and nearly bury
ing several frame buildings the foot of the hill and
extending quite across Main street.
Ihe verbal accounts vary IN particulars, but all
concur in representing the loss OF life and the scene
of distress as terrible beyond description. The fol-
lowing letter from correspondent furnishes all the
| particulars as yet within reach - aa a.
arl. ...t. fi TRoY, Feb. IL, half past s PM.
calamity.' Another terrible avalanche has swept
houses and families away in its course of destruc
ton is useless to attempt to particuarize when IS
utterly impossible to do this mournful occasion
Suffice to say, that the earth slide occurred in the Inn
mediate vicinity Of the terrible avalanche Of 1887 about
the base OF the HILL and crushing to atoms some ten or
twelve houses nearly all occupied Whole families have
pershed and the only warming they received was the
death blow that carried them into eternity.
have just left the ruins to communicate to you these
few lines There, all is panic and confusion Eight or
ten dead bodies have already been taken out from the
ruins, and how many alive partially injured cannot
tell The crowds are moving in masses from spot to spot
and in the centre Of each the merta remains OF some
who has prshed being carried from the scene OF de-
sruction to some suitable place. The municipal
officers the spot doing all that possible to be done
to rescue the living any yet to be found and to take
care OF the dead. When left, the smoke was gushing
from the smouierng ruins and several hose companies
were there. While am writing, the alarm bell Tor fire
rngmg but do not apprehend that the destruction can
be augmented by fire.
Let you that the presents awful and
ncholy sight Babes In their cradles mothers with
their children in their arms and salwar men, who but
two hours ago breahed freely and in health have been
taSen from the ruins mutlated and mangled corpses
The buildings destroyed nearly all new and had
but recently been erected They were tenanted princi
pally by and industrious mechanics The details oil
the calamity will receive more large through our
city papers Of tomorrow.
will state for the information of your dtant readers,
that the centre OF the avalanche at 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 perished that
have been able to learn Brdsal, he father the son
Of Major Birdsa who shot years ago near the
arsenal in Albany Day, Kelley and some others that
cannot now recollect.
P.S-Slnce the above was IN type, we have re-
ceived the following slip from the Troy Budget
DAILY Troy BUDGET EXTRA,
Feb. l7-6 P M.
AWFUL Communications o'clock this afternoon,
another land slide occurred from the hill (M lda where
the awful catastrophe of January 1897 TRANSFERRED
ceedng IN extent and consequences that memorable dis
aster.
Some eight ten dwellings, occupied by poor families,
were crushed and buried beneath the oil earth In
these supposed there not less than thirty for
ty persona only ten or twelve of whom escaped
Within an hour, nine bodies had been dug from the
ruins-fve OF which were without life, one partially in
ured and three not beyond recovery.
Had this avalanche occurred in the night the destruc
ton of life would have been still greater many occu-
pants of the houses absent at their labor else
where.
man from the country, passing at the time with his
team, leaped from his sleigh and escaped The horses
and load Of wood were buried beneath the earth
We Just lett the of disaster. 1t IL Of horrifc
desoation. Thousands were congregated on the spot,
and corps of efficient engaged 10 penetrating the
earth and clearing away the fragments of buildings