The southern press., 1851-11-26
From N. Asw York Herald Of The 18th Instant.
Terrible Catastrophe In New York.

From N. NsW York Htrald Of The 19ih Instant.
Terrible Catastrophe In New York.
Nearly fifty Children Killed, and forty or fhy
WOunded-Melancholy Scenes IN GreenWich
Avenue, dc, dc, dc.
One of the most amentable occurrences that
we have ever been called on to record, took
place at Ward school No. 20, in Greenwich
avenue, opposite Charles street, yesterday after.
noon, when nearly fifty children lost their lives,
and many more were so severly injured that IN
all probability, they will not recover. We will
give the facts of the case at once, and as briefly
as possible. The school house is magnificent
four story edifce, with winding staircase from
the first floor to the upper landing This stair
way is not spiral, but is formed of short flights
of stairs winding round square well. The
first or ground floor is used as play ground for
the scholars and is paved with flag stones. The
second story of the building is occupied by the
primary department of the institution; In the
third story is the female department of the
upper school, and in the fourth story the male
department The entrance to each ofthe school
rooms is from the landings of the stairs. The
outer side of the stairs was guarded by an Or
binary wooden bannister, of no great height, and
not firmly secured at the bottom, or where the
balusters were connected with the stairs. This
description of the stairway will enable the reader
better to understand what follows At about
two o'clock yesterday afternoon, one of the
teachers in the female department, Miss Har-
rison, was taken with fainting fit, and in order
to her recovery she was carried out into the pas
sage way, where cry was raised OF "Water
water" by one of her companions. This cry
was not understood or else the scholars thought
that the water was wanted to extinguish fire,
and the next moment the cry of " fire. was
raised, and spread like wildfire through the
building. In moment subordinalion was at
nm end The children from the primary depart
ment rushed to the airs, as did also the scholars
on the floor above them. '.... s..
The stairway was soon filed, and the press
against the bausters so great that they gave way,
precpitating the children over the stairs down
to the ground floor. AS the rush increased, so
did the numbers that were hurled over the stairs
into the space below. Two ofthe female teach.
ers made an effort to stop the children but so
great was the panic that their efforts were vain,
and they were themselves hurled along with the
current, and despite their efforts were carried
over the stairs into the space below. In the up
per room, the boys department, MIR. McNaly
took his stand with his back against the door,
and forbade any one to 60 out Although the
panic pervaded his room as we'll as the rest of
the building, yet he stood firm, and thus succeed
ed in saving the lives of many, perhaps of hun
dreds, for had the larger boys rushed upon the
stairs as did the Younger children, Heaven only
knows how much more sad would have the dis
aster than it now is. We learn that some Of
the boys jumped out of the windows, and that
one of them had his neck broken by the fall
There were altogether in the building but few
short Of | 800 scholars. 1,765 we understood
to be the number.) While Mr. McNally re-
manned firm at his post, the destruction OF life
was going on below. Hundreds on hundreds
went over the stairs, until there was pile Of
human beings-a 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
| periIous position. Those that were on top,
were, of course, but slightly injured, but as soon
as these had been removed, the most heart-rend.
ing spectacle presented itself Some among the
policemen were fathers, whose own children
were there. They worked manfully, and de-
serve all praise; body after body was taken out 4;
many of them, lifeless 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 upol-thsir paid Features .,iS.2Be
ny some moaned, while others shreked with
pain, and others again, when released, started off
for home, apparently unconscious Of the awful
scene through which they had passed.
One policema~ 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 direct his efforts
at once TO the release OF his daughter. While
1 l.. 4 4 4
Of him, saying: any child is there" and en-
deavorcd 10 take the place on which Mr.. Sea-
bring stood. Finding he could not move him,
he struck at him, thus endeavoring 10 displace
| Mr.. s., and get IN n position TO work more eff.
fectually in search for hiS lost child. Mr. s. sue.
ceeded in rescuing his child, who proved TO be
but slightly injured. lie said he forgave the
man who struck at him he knew too well his
feelings 10 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 n the Ninth ward stat on.
| house, which is near the school. In few min
utes news OF the accident spread through the
neighborhood, and mothers came rushing 10 the
scene by scores, all in anguish, but all at first
buoyed up by hope. Occasionally a mother
would recognize the lifeless form Of child n
il was lifted from the mass, and then the piercing
cry Of agony that would rend the air, oh Goo
may il never be ours again to hear. And now
the neighborhood was thoroughly aroused, and
crowds hocked 10 the scene of the DISASTER
Many of the dead. dying, and wounded, were
taken TO the tion-house, where the entire
lodging room Of the policemen was turned into a
hospital, and their beds all used as couches for
dead bodies Of injured children This was, in.
deed, sad sight; parents, whose chill iren were
missing, came here to confirm their hopes or
fears. Here might be seen lifeless body, with
an sgonized mother standing over it, wringing
her hands in the excess Of her grief There was
a father looking the picture Of sorrow, as he
beheId the form Of loved one tina; he had so
lately parted with in health, and then further on
was family standing round the bed Of little
one, whose painfal writings gave evidence Of
the patients sutf ring. One, after another the
bodies Of the dead were removed and at length
litters were provided, and the wounded were
carried away also. II was sad evening 10 the
Ninth ward.