Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-24

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. fremsn, hook
and ladder companies, repaired TO the spot, aceom-
panied by q vast concourse Of citizens. Vigorous
preparations were Immediately commenced for re-
moving the earth above the ruins OF the houses which
were overwhelmed and before the lapse Of an hour
several persons taken ont alive, and the bodies
OF several others in whom life was extinct. The
work Of excavating was prosecuted without intcrms-
sion for several hours and the following dead bodies
taken out according 10 list prepared BY order Of the
Common Council
Mrs. Mathew Grennn and child
Mrs William Brazc and two children.
Michael Dunn.
Thomas Keely and wife.
Edward Dumbleton-a lad.
A Child Of James Caldwell.
Two children Of Daniel Z. Day.
Miss Ann WILDER.
A child Of Mrs. Gardner.
Miss Jane Sanford-n all ff1ssn.
The following persons were taken cut alive:
Mrs. Kilfoile-one arm broken.
A child of z. p. Birdsall.
Jane McCollom.
Mrs. Gardner.
Two children-names not aSeertaihcd.
James Barnett and wife.
Mrs. Dunn is missing supposed TO DO buried in the
ruins.
The scenes which occurred during the exhumation
Of the living and dead defy all description. Mr..
Brdsal and his wife, who occupied one Of the houses
destroyed, were both absent from home At the time
charge Of n sister of Mrs. B. They returned while
the workmen were engaged in excavating the earth
above their dwelling, and were rendered almost fran.
tic by the sight Of the terrible calamity which had
overwhelmed them. One Of their children with the
sister OF Mrs B. were finally rescued alive. Other
scenes highly distressing to their character also oe-
Cured but Of which it is impossible to give detail
| ed description.
Mrs Kfoile an aged lady, who was rescued about
o'clock, was enabled to hold communion for some
time previous to her extricntion with those who
engaged in the attempt 10 save her, and was 80
| exhausted that she could only articuate "water,"
| which was handed TO her by those without.
Too much praise cannot be awarded the Mayor
Common Council and other cit, officers; to the
High Sheriff. Mr.. Richmond, to the hremen and
members of the hook and ladder companies. and to
numerous other citizens for the energy and persever
ence with which they exerted themselves to rescue
their follow creatures from lingering death.
We are informed that the owner of the land on
which the slide occurred had frequently forbidden
persons 10 take away the earth from the hill, being
fearful of n catastrophe like that which has happen
cd. But his orders were disreearded and the c"nse.
qiencc has been the loss Of life TO fifteen human be.
ng. and the destruction Of large amount Of prop
ertv.
To prevent unnecessary alarm in the minds Of per-
sons at n distance who have friends in this city we
will state that no other part of the city but that
viii h has been overwhelmed. ls liable 10 similar
disaster. The larger portion OF Troy being built up
level plain and the centre Of the population he.
ing from half mile TO mile from the Of the
late melnnCnOIy occurrence.
The common Council have acted promptly for the
| relief Of the sufferers.
Al special meeiing held last evening at o'clock,
on the call Of his honor the Mayor, committees
were appointed to provide medical attendance, relief
&c. for the sufferers, mud for the burial Of the dead
The Board adjourned to meet at the scene OF the dis
astcr at o'clock this morning.
Tho following additional particulars we
extract from the Evening Journal of Satur-
day:
With the view of obtaining full and acurate inte
gence, repaired at an early hour this morning 10
the scene Of disaster. Tho sight that met our eyes
as we rode up from Lower Ferry to the foot Of the
hill which crowns the city battles all description
The slide had reached up~ ards of 200 yards into the
level plain covering, space Of more than $50 yards
wide, to an average depth of twenty feet. Masses o.
blue clay, rendered BY the cold almost ms hard a.
rock were scattered over the whole extent. Frag
n,enis of shattered buildings strewn along tn,
surface or peeped out from among the ruins. One o
the house overwhelmed by the avalanche had caugh
fire, and the smoke from the smouldeiing flames
hung IL e pail over the sad scene.
1t seems as if an earthquake has passed over Thu
portion Of the city, tearing up and ovcrrnng every
thing in its fearful caicrT and leaving in its track
chaos of ruins. Thousands Of spectators had gath
cred about the spot, while here and there parties
aborers were seen busly engaged in searching for tn
hodies Of the victims animated by the hope OF res
cuing Of the sufferers before life was extinct.
, When VIC lett the ground nj eleven o'clock thi
. morning two more bodies in addition to those nbov
f mentioned, had been taken out They were those O
n woman and child, but we could not learn thel
names. 1t was supposed that there were still thre
f or four persons buried beneath the ruins and ever
effort was making to recover them.
, Amid the general wo there were Instances OF indvld
, ua agony peculiarly dis ressing Mr.. Bir'sall VIII
occupied one of the houses overwhelmed by the slid
was absent with his wife the time of the disaster.
Bnt three of his children and sister Tcrein the hous
when the hill fell. The sad nellige1 napn rea he
s Mr.. Birdsall, an hurryng to the fa,af1 he hega
digging into the rns with frantic energy. While thr
= engaged the cries of the youngest child, only thrt
. wears old reached his ear, and for half an hour }
!, could hear its means whou, being able to discov
: where i, law At length after almost superhum.n {
f. forts the little sufferer found happily but slight
. hurt, greeting its father with smile Of recognition
n he lifted out of the ruins The dead bodies Of Il
!, other two were soon after recovered