Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-11-24
The awful Calamity in New York city

WE copy from the Tribune, and other New
York City papers, the following melancholy par
ticulars of the dreadful catastrophe at the Green
witch Street School House, at which forty five
young children, In consequence of the culpable
carelesness of some one, were sent in a moment
from time to eternity.
Shortly after 2 O'Clock Thursday afternoon the
city was agllated by the report of most Dire ad-
ful catastrophe at Ward School No. 26, in Green
wch-avenue, near Jefferson Market
The causes Of this fearful catastrophe we give
as truihtully as could be ascertalned on the spot
amid the great excitement and dense crowd that
for hours pervaded the IXth Ward Police Station
to be recognised by their heart-broken parents The
where most OF the dead and mangIed were taken
building where the catastrophe happened is four
stories high, the basement, which is on level
with the street, is paved with flag stones, and is
the play-room Of the scholars The Primary
Department occupied the second floor; the third
floor was used by the more advanced scholars,
and the front served as lecture-room and was
used at the examination of the school,
1t appears that about two O'clock one of the
teachers Miss Harrison, was taken with a faint
Ing ut, and acry for water was instantly made by
some Of the children who were standing near her
This cry mistaken for that of fire. and the
whole room was instantly alive with the crv of
"hre fire" The children all arose aud rushed
for The door. The aIarnfwds given 10 the other
rooms on the same floor, and communicated to
those OF the Principal of the school and his assis-
tants, who occupied the third floor, and it was
generally believed by all, that the building was
on tire, and accordingly all rushed for the doors
OF their respective rooms. MIR McNully imme-
nj in, from Of h., a.
own room, and forbade any of his scholars TO
leave, and we learn that one Of the other teach
ers did the same. The children of The other de-
partments rushed out Of the doors Of their respec-
tive rooms, and down the stairs, which were built
IN spiral form, and commencing ON The ground
hoor, was carried up to the fonrth story. The
bannster OF this starr gave way about thirty feet
above the ground floor, and precpated hundreds
OF the children to the Tagging of the first floor,
killing and managing large number. The news
OF the dreadful occurrence spread like the wind
through the neighborhood, and hundreds of pa
rents and friends rushed TO the school-house to
hear the tdngs of the safety loss of their little
ones. The crowd was so dense in short time
that it was with great difficulty that the Police,
headed by Capt. Lovett and his assistants, Cant
lalt and Seabrng, could remove the wounded
dying, and dead, from the building.
Inc result OF this awful catastrophe, as nearly
as we can ascertain, is as follow:
The number Of children KILLED il FIFTY
ONE.
u he number positively known to be wounded
is more than SIXTY.
There were in attendance at the time of tbe
sad occurrence, 1851 scholars, besides teach
ers, VIZ; 763 IN the Primary School, sos in the
Female Department, and $50 in the male, and
the rush of more than one half Of this number
OF children at moment, and the force with
winch they pressed against the railing was the
cause OF Its giving way. The Principal of the
Male Department, Mr.. Mentally, kept the bows
mostly IN schoolby putting his back against the
ooor' ana preventing their rushing out, other
wise The loss of life would have been mnch
greater.