Washington telegraph., 1850-05-22

Ta.I
Hundred and Eighty Kiiied.-Tbs e.
lowing details of the catastrophe s..
given in the Journal de Maine e, Io,.'
of the 10th.
A fright.nl event has Just occc,,.i
here-Angers. about one Hundred ssS
seventy miles from Paris. We Wv
under the strongest feelings of dis,,s"'
About 1 o'clock this morning soua,,aa
of Hussars, coming from Nantes hsJ
crossed over the suspension bridge Of ~
Basse Maine without any acciden, as
though the wind blew very heavily fro
the west, aud the river was much ao;,.,
ed The last of the horses had scaroaI.
crossed the bridge when the head Of ~
column of the Sd battalion of the lin
Light Artillery appeared on the 9TH.
side. Reiterated warnings were given y
the troops 20 break into sections .s !.
usually done, but the rain falling heav;,.
at the time, the warning was disreoar5
ed, and the battalion advanced in cIos.
column. The head of the battalion b,s
reached the opposite side-the pioneer.
the drummers and part of the band
were off the bridge. when horrible crash
was heard; the cast iron columns of tho
right. bank suddenly gave way, crusbins
beneath them the rear Of the 4th com
pany, which, with the flank companv
had not entered on the bridge.
To describe the frightful spectacle and
the cries of despair which were raised !.
impossible; the scene at the bridge q,
Beresina can alone give an idea Of il
The whole town rushed to the spot IL
give assistance. In spite of the storm
which was raging. all the boats which
could be got at were launched to pick IN
the soldiers in the river, and grea,
number who were cinging TO the para.
pets of the bridge. or who were ken,
ahoat by their knapsacks, were immedj.
ately got out. The greater number Of
them were, however, found to be wound.
ed by The bayonets or by the fragments
of the bridge falling on them. Every
one on the spot Wed with each other 10
rendering assistance, and as the soldiers
were got out they Were led into the
houses adjoining, and every assistance
given. Those who were too much iu
lured to walk were placed on litters All
the authorities Of the town, the troops in
the garrison, and the officers and soldiers
who had escaped injury, had only one
idea-that of rendering all the assistance
in their power.
A young lieutenant of the 1lih, N.
Loup, rendered himself conspicuous for
his heroic exertions, and young work.
woman at the imminent danger Of her
life, jumped into the water and saved the
life of an officer who was just sinking
1t is impossible for US at this moment 10
estimate the number OF lives that have
been lost; of those that escaped with their
lives there is scarcely one but has re.
ceived wounds from The bayonets OF his
comrades. Several acts of devotion de-
serve to be mentioned. A journeyman
halter, named Turgis, who had acquired
some notoriety in the late political trias
stripped and jumped into the river, and
by his strength and skill in swimming
saved great many lives. One Of the
soldiers, who had reached the shore un-
hurt, Immediately stripped and swan to
the assistance of his comrades.
Ten o'cLock-The muster-roll has Just
been called over. OF the lst. Cd and 81
companies, there only remain IA, 10 and
10 men respectively. The number de-
ficieut amounts to 219, TO which must
be added 33 dead and 80 wounded in The
hospital, making the total loss 10 the bat
talon 2S2. There is reason, however, 10
hope that there NAV yet be some IN prl.
vate houses who may not be included M
the number OF those whose fate has been
known. The lieutenant colonel slipped
of his horse as he was falling, and escsP-
ed with a wound in the face. Noon
Since this morning seventy bodies have
been picked up; among them are cap
tain, a lieutenant, and two sub-ieutenants.
The body of the p0rtedrapeau was also
picked up, having the standard clutched
in his hand. One soldier had muskei
which had run through his body Ano.
ther soldier was found completely pierced
through with a musket, and many OF Inc
barrels of the guns were bent double.
A startling discovery confirmatory OF
the truth of the book of Jonah, has oeen
made by Nh. Layard. In excavating Inc
city of Nineveh he discovered the name
of Jonah inscribed upon the ruins. Iha'
prophet, as our readers know, was sem