The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-11-27

went over tue STAIRS, until there was pile OF
human beings mass of children-eight feet
square and about twelve feet in height. The
alarm was now given outside, and the police
were soon at hand, and took possession of the
premises, as well as they could, and commenced
the work of handing out the children from their
perilous position. Those that were ON top, were
of course but little injured, but as soon as these
had been removed, the most theart-rending spec
tacle presented itself. Some among the police
men were fathers, whose own children were
there. They worked manfully, and deserve all
praise; body after body was taken out; many
of them, lfeless at first, came to when they
once more breathed the fresh air; but many
alas were beyond aid, and death was but too
plainly marked upon their pallid features Some
were injured by the fall and lay writhing in ag-
ony; some moaned, while others shrieked with
pain, and others again, when released, started
off for home, apparently unconscious of the
awful scene through which they had passed.
One policeman, Mr.. Seabring, on going to the
school house was, on the instant greeted by the
sight of his little girls face; her head was all
that was visible, her body being covered with
those of her companions. Mr.. Seabring, urged
by paternal feelings, of course, directed his eff
forts at once to the release of lis daughter
While he was so engaged, a man came up and
laid hold of him, saying ''My child is there, -
and endeavored to take the place on which Mr..
Seabring stood. Finding he could not move
him. he struck at him, thus endeayoring to dis
place Mr. S., and get in a position to work more
effectually in search for his lost child. Mr. S.
succeeded in rescuing his child, WHO proved to be
but slightly injured. He said he forgave the
man who struck at him; he knew too well his
feelings to blame him for any act of rashness
perpetrated at that time. The bodies of the
dead and wounded were mostly, unless claimed
on the spot, taken to the Ninth Ward Station
House, which is near the school.
In few minutes news of the accident spread
through the neighborhood, and mothers came
rushing to the scene by scores, all in anguish,
but all at first buoyed up by hops. Occasionally
mother would recognise the liftless form of
child as it was lifted from the mass, and then
the piercing cry of agony that would rend the
air, oh, God may it never be ours again to
hear. And now the neighborlpod was thor
oughly aroused, and crowds locled to the scene
of the disas ter. Many of the dad, dying and
wounded were taken to the station house, whore
the entire lodging room of the policemen was
turned into hospital, and their beds all used
as couches for dead bodies or injured children.
This was, indeed sad night; parents, whose
children were missing, came here to confirm
their hopes or fears. Here might be seen
lifeless body, with an agenized mo.her standing
over it, wringing her hands in the excess of her
grief There was a father looking the picture
of sorrow, as he beheld the form of a loved one
that he had so lately parted with in health, and
then further on was family standing round the
bed of q little one, whose painful writings gave
evidence of the patients sufferings.
One after another the bodies of the dead were
removed; and at length litters were provided,
and the wounded were carried away also. 1t
was sad evening in the Ninth Ward. Nearly
one hundred families either mourned the loss of
children, or watched anxiously over the forms
of the wounded. The catastrophe was almost
the only topic Of conversation. Small knots of
men stood on the corners of the streets, and
recounted the occurrences of the afternoon. A
pail seemed to have settled on everything, and
all Greenwich village was in mourning.
The Mayor, Recorder, Chief of Police, and
their aids, and sixteen city Physicians, were at
the scene of the accident in a very short time
after its occurrence, as were also most of the
Aldermen.
We are informed t7t the teachers have re-
monstrated several tin" cs with the School Com
against the insecurity of the stair
way, and even some of the children had ex-
pressed apprehension. - reference to the same
subject.
So far as ascertainc.. the number of children
killed is forty-four and twenty-six wounded
Their ages vary from eight to thirteen years.
Of the female teachers, five were injured
some of them quite seriously.
New YORK, Nov. 81.
The loss of life by the calamity at Ward School
No. 26, was much greater than / represented
yesterday. Up to nine o'clock last evening, it
was ascertained that forty-four children were
killed. A further return this morning increases
the number to forty-nine. In addition to these
fifteen others died of their injuries during the
Pat for the admirable presence of mind dis
played by Mr.. McNally, the destruction of life
would have been much greater even than it was
He was the teacher of the grown boys, who,
when the panic seized them, made rush to the
door for the purpose of escape. Not knowing
what was the cause of the alarm, but feeling
certain that if the building were on fire even,
that life would be lost if his scholars were al
lowed to rush pell NEIL down the stairs he put