Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-23
From the Albany Argus.l

Great land slide at Iroy-Forty Ices lost-Ssreral
buildings destroyed
We have accounts Of fearful calamity at Troy, oc-
casloned by land slide, scarcely inferior in extent and
it ia feared destructive OF life, than that
which occurred several years ago.
The slide occurred South Of the former one, the
same hlll-the avalanche crushing and nearly bnrying
several frame buildings ut the foot of the hill and ex
tending quite across main street
The verbal accounts vary in particulars, but all
cur in representing the loss of life and the OF
distress as terrible beyond description. The following
letter from correspondent, furnishes all the particulars
as yet within reach.
Tnor, Feb IL, hafpast P. M.
Alcssrs. Croswell-Our city has been again visited
with an awful calamity. Another terrible avalanche
has swept houses and families away in It's course OF de-
sruc,ion 1t is useless to attempt to parculsrze when
il is utterly impossible 10 do this mournful occa.
sion Suffice 10 say, that the earth slide occurred
the immediate vicinity of the terrible avalanche oil
1887 about four o clock this afternoon covering acres
Of ground al the base of the hill and crushing tn atoms
some ten or twelve houses, nearly all occupied
Whole families have persisted, ard the only warning
they received the death blow that carried them into
eternity
have just left the ruins to communicate to you these
few lines. There, al is panic and confusion. Eight or
dead bodies have already been taken out from the
ruins, and how many alive partially injured cannot
;ell. The crowds ore moving in masses from spot TO
spot and in the of each the mortal remains OF
scene Of destruction TO some more stumble place The
municipal officers the spot, doing all that is posi-
bic be done the living, f any yet to be
found, and 10 take Of the dead. When left, The
smoke was gushing from The smouldering ruins, and
several hose companies there. While ain writing
The alarm bell for fire is ringing, but do not opprehend
hat the destruction can be augmented BY fire.
Let me assure you that the presents an awful
and melancholy sight Babes in their cradles, mothers
with their children in their arms, and s,alwart men
who but two hours ago, breathed freely and health
have been taken from the ruins, mutIlaed and manged
corpses. The buildings destroyed were nearly all new
and had but recently been erected They were tenantec
principally by poor and industrious mechanics The
details Of the calamity you will receive more at large
through our city papers Of tomorrow.
Will state for The information Of your distant read
ers that the centre of the avalanche was at the head OF
Washington street, little below what has usually been
termed the Give Points of this city.
The Of the families that have persisted that
have been able 10 learn, Brdsa (,he father, tht
son Of Major Birdsal, who shot some years ago
near the arsenal in Albany,) Day, Kelley, and some
others that cannot now recolleci.
7. S. Since The above was in type, we have received
the following slip from The Troy Budget:
DAILY Troy BrDsEr, EXT Al
Feb. l7-G, P. NJ. 5
.7ujui Catastrophe About o'clock this afternoon
another land slide occurred from the hill init Ida
pred, exceeding in extent and nsequences that me
morabe disaster.
Some eight or ten dwellings, occupied by poor fami.
lies, crushed and buried beneath the mass oil
earth. In these it is supposed there were not less
than thirty forty persons, only len or Twelve oil whom
escaped.
Within an hour nine bodies had been dug from the
ruins-ive of which were without life, one partly in
jured, and three not beyond recovery.
Had this avalanche occurred in th- night, the de
struc;ion Of lie would haze been still greater many
occupants of the houses absent at their abors Oh
elsewhere.
A man from The country, passing at the time with
his tearo, leaped from his sleigh and escaped The
horses aud load Of wood were buried beneath the
earth.
We have just left the scene OF disaster. 1t is one
of horrible desola,ion Thousands were congrega,ed
on The spot, and corps Of efficient men engaged
in penetrating the earth ard clearing away the irag
ments Of buildings.