New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-22
PAINFUL PARTICULARS.
NAMES AND AGES OF THE VICTIMS
OPINIONS orTHs PEOPLE.
MOVEMENT FOR RELIEF.

theme of conversation and the scene OF the dis
asier became point of most painful attraction.
1t would be impossible to give description Of
the thousand incidents which were developed IN
phases of sorrow Indignation, anxiety, despair,
and all the manifestations of mental and bodily
excitement which could not fail to attend dis
aster so heartrending, so mournfully bereavlng as
that which it has been our duty to record.
While the prevailing sentiment was one of
nrofound and almost silent sorrow, there were
many persons generally those who had the least
cause OF compant) who were loud IN their de-
nunciations of the Builders of the house, the
Trustees, the Teachers, the Commissioners, the
People of the Ward-in fact, anybody and every
body who could by name office or residence In
the vicinity, be connected IN the most distant
manner with the School OF course these de-
nunciations were spontaneous, unadvised, and
in the main unjust: but cool judgment cannot be
expected in such a crisis.
Whatever NAV have been the mistakes or the
delinquencies of those whose business 1t was to
direct and oversee the School, we prefer TO await
the Coroner's investigation before stating our
opinions of the matter. II this terrible affair
shall lead 10 a more careful conservation of hu-
man life. to thorough reformation in the con-
struction of edifces where large numbers of
people habtually assemble, to a true policy of
providing against even the most improbable ac
cldents in such places, we shall be satisfied, the
public will be satisfied and great good will
finally result from this terribly affecting evil.
Out of this nettle, Danger, shall we pluck the
flower Safety
We are still unable to satisfy ourselves OF the
number actually killed, but as near as we can
give 1t there have been FIFTY or FIFTy-oNE chill
dren slain, about forty.fve of whom We're visited
yesterday by the Jury. The number of injured
is supposed to amount to between SEvENTY-FIyE
ard EIGHTY.
We have arranged below, from the notes OF
ourReporters, from communications and all avail
able sources, such facts ofmoment and OF interest
as seemed worth transcrlblng and first, to give
clear idea of the scene of the disaster we will
more fully describe the position OF the class
rooms and the stairway.
The edfce of Ward School No. &c is very large
house and has been finished just about year. II
was built under the direction of the School Com
Commissioners of the Ward, Messrs. Edmund Hurry
and John Mclean, both of whom are builders by
profession. We understand that the plans OF the
house were made by them, and that the whole work
was constructed under their immediate inspection
Ii is known TO be exceedingly well built. The
walls are very strong, and the mechanical work
IN general is excellent The house fronts on
Greenwich. avenue An iron fence passes along
the walk about ten feet from the building. At the
centre is the entrance-two doors together, one
opening on each side. Passing through those
doors YOU stand in area about ten feet deep and
twelve vide This is tagged with stone. door
at the back Of opens directly upon the playground
which IS covered BY the building and tagged. At
the right hand of the area, against the wall, com
mence the stairs. The first three steps are wind
ing, then foH are straight-the seven bringing you
TO the first platform, or landing place. Then come
four or five more, to bring you upon the first floor,
above the basement Upon that floor was the Prl-
mary School. The stairs carried IN the same
way, by six or steps at a time, from one land
ing place TO another, and from floor TO another
Upon the second floor, above the basement, gene
rally called the third hoor,) the room in which
the first alarm occurred. As YOU leave the stairs
there are two doors, opening into schoolrooms oc-
cupied by girls, and communicating by sliding doors
From the room the night door opens into another
room, much smaller with desks for about sixty girls.
1t was in this room that Miss Harrison was engaged
IN teaching The stairs led, as we have stated from
The floor at the entrance to the top of the building
being winding stairs, though not circular. Standing
upon the first floor at the entrance, one can look d.
recty up to the top Along the outside of the stairs
running all the WAY up was bdnlsIeT, made Of
wood with heavy rail, three or four inches In diam
eter each way, resting upon wooden rounds. These
rounds were fastened to the steps BY clete which
nailed on outside. At the bottom OF the stairs
was stout wooden post, five or six feet high, 10
which the banister was affixed. This post was
simply nailed to the side of the steps. The space
between the banister and the wall about six feet
and Of course 1t was densely crowded The moment
the bottom part gave way, the strength OF the bans-
ter was gone. The pressure of the children upon
it would break IT down and thus they were pushed
of by the crowd behind. One section after another
of the banisters giving way, Of course great num-
bers Of those rushing down must be hurled over the
edge. The banisters are broken away for about
twentyegh steps from the bottom and at tina. point
the top railing is broken square of.
On visiting the scene Of this sad occurrence
yesterday morning, we found the excitement had
not abated, nor was 1t likely that it would as hun
dreds Of persons still crowded around the school
house and the Police-station, anxious 10 hear
every new particular concerning the catas-
trophe. Police officers guarded the doors, to
prevent the rush of curious visitors from enter
ing the school rooms, and in the interior OF the
building officers were stationed 10 keep order
among the numerous visitors who gained adj
mittance.
At an early hour the School Commissioner, Mr..
McLane, and Mr.. Latson, one of the Trustees,
with other officers, visited the schools, and in.
spected the different rooms, and persons were then
employed to gather up the garments of the poor
dead children and convey them to the stationhouse.
where they were spread out and arranged for the
inspection OF those friends who could IDENTITY them