Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-02-24
From the Troy Wing, Extra.
TERRIBLE DISASTER!
Great loss Of ife-Nine Houses Destroyed
- By Land Slide.

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three O'Clock portion of the hill east Of the
city slid off and overwhelmed nine houses; all
of them, with one exception, occupied by iami
lies. At the time of the slide several men with
teams were engaged at the bottom of the bank,
carrying off earth; and narrowly escaped with
their lives. Not So however, the unfortunate
inmates of the dwellings; nearly all Of whom
were buried under the mass of clay, which COW
cred their houses in several instances to the
depth of five or six leet-crushing some to
atoms, and removing others bodily for the space
of several yards.
The distance from the commencement Of the
slide to the outer edge Of the deposit of earth
which il has left is not far from 200 yards
The earth having been carried more than 500
feet over dead level, after il reached the bot
tom of the Hill. The soil being n remarkably
unctuous blue clay, is doubtless the cause of
the extraordinary space which the slide COW
ered The slide commenced about 100 yards
east Of Fifth ST., and its southern extremity
first encountered two houses adjoining each
other on the east side OF said street.; both of
which it destroyed.
The centre of the slide was then precipitated
upon the head OF Washington ST., overwhem-
| ing the buildings on both sides of said street,
with the exception of one on the corner of
Washington and Hill streets, which was par
tally destroyed. The number Of houses des-
troyed on Washington street was eight. The
slide passed down Washington 10 Hill street
which it crossed, and proceeding n few yards
beyond it, was finally arrested.
The names Of the occupants Of the houses
destroyed, as far as we can ascertain them at
present, are as follows: Daniel +. Day, ship
carpenter, Fifth ST., below Washington. Rob-
ert Henry contractor, do. do. WIN. Brazcll,
teamster, Washington, corner of Fifth. VIM.
II. Kilfoile, teamster, Washington. Zebulon
P. Birdsal, painter, Washington. William
Purdy, mason, corner of Hill and Washington,
house partially destroyed. Charles Dumbleton,
l 8 Hill ST.
As soon as the alarm was given, the Mayor
and members of the Common Council, The
Sheriff of the county, together with the city
police, firemen, hook and ladder companies, re-
paired TO the spot, accompanied by vast con-
course OF citizens. Vigorous preparations
were Immediately commenced for removing the
earth above The ruins Of the houses which
were overwhelmed, and before the lapse of an
hour several persons were taken out alive and
the bodies of several others in whom life was
extinct. The work of excavaing was prose-
cuted without intermission for several hours,
and fifteen dead bodies taken out according
to a list prepared by the Common Council.
The scenes which occurred during the ex-
humation of the living and dead defy all des-
crption. Mr.. Birdsall and his wife, who oc-
cupied one of the houses destroyed were both
absent from home at the time of the disaster
having left their children in the charge Of sis
ter of Mrs. b. They returned while the
workmen were engaged in excavatng the earth
above their dwelling, and were rendered almost
frantic by the sight of the terrible calamity
which had overwhelmed them. One of their
children with the sister Of Mrs. b. were final
Iy rescued alive. Other scenes highly distress
ing in their character, also occurred; but of
which it is impossible to give detailed des-
sripton.
| Mrs. Dunn, an aged lady, who was rescued
about O'Clock, was enabled TO hold commune
cation for some time previous TO her exlrication,
with those who were engaged in the attempt
to save her, and was so exhausted that she
could only artIculate 'water," which was hand
ed 10 her by those without
J. Too much praise cannot be awarded the
Mayor, Common Council and other city Of
ficers; to the high Sheriff, Mr.. Richmond, to
the firemen and members of the hook and lad
der companies, and to numerous other citizens,
for the energy and perseverance with which
they exerted themselves to rescue their fellow
creatures from lingering death.
We are informed that the owner of the land
on which the slide occurred, had frequently for
hidden persons to take away the earth from
the hill, being fearful of acatastrophe like that
which has happened But his orders were dis
regarded, and the consequence has been the
loss of life TO fifteen human beings, and the
destruction Of large amount of property.
To prevent unnecessary alarm in the minds
| of persons at distance who have friends in
this city, we will state that no other part of the
city but that which has been overwhelmed, is
liable 10 similar disaster. The larger portion
of Troy being built upon level plain, and
the center of the population being from half
/ mill 10 r,1ila ha nf ih.Ao ,ola
choly occurrence.
The Common Council have acted promptly
for the relief of the sufferers. At special
meeting held last evening at O'Clock, on the
call OF his honor the Mayor, committees were
appointed TO provide medical attendance re-
lief &c. for the sufferers, and for the burial of
the dead. The board adjourned TO meet at
the scene OF the disaster at O'Clock this morn
ing.
The following additional particulars we ex-
tract from the Evening Journal of Saturday:
Our city was agtated last evening with the
rumor that land slide had occurred at Troy,
even more fatal in its effects than the disaster
OF similar character which afflicted that city
in 1887. In the course of an hour or two
slip from the Office OF the Budget brought us
: few particulars Of the fearful catastrophe, and
up to III O'Clock last night every stage from
Troy came freighted with later and more ap-
palling accounts. With the view of obtaining
lu and accurate intelligence, we repaired at
an early hour this morning TO the scene of the
disaster The sight that met our eyes, as we
rode up from the Lower Ferry to the foot of
the hill which crowns the city, battles all des.
cripton. The slide had reached upwards Of
200 yards into the level plain, covering space
of more than $50 yards wide, TO an average
depth of 90 feet. Masses of blue clay, rem