Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-11-28
From the y. Y. Herald. Of Friday.
Terrible catastrophe at New York.
Aearly fffy Children kiNed, and fo,iy or fifty
tc0unded.

that we have ever been called on to record,
took place at Ward School. No. %, IN Green
wich Avenue, opposite Charles street yestcr-
day afternoon, when nearly fifty children loSl
their lives, and many more were 50 SevefelE
injured that in all probability they VIII not
recover. We Will give the facts OF the case
at once. and rs briefly as possible. The .
sebooI hons. j \ magnificent four story edi-
fee. with Il winding staircase from the hrst
floor to the upper landing. This stairway Is
not spiral. but is formed Of short flights OF
stairs winding round a square wall. The
first or ground floor is used as a play ground
for. the scholars. and IS paved with flag stones
The second story Of the building is occupied
Inv 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 irpartmcnt The entrance to each OF
the school rooms is from the landings OF the
stairs. The outer side of the stars was
Guarded by an ordinary wooden bannster ol
no rrcat height, and not firmly secured at the
bottom. or where the bannlsterS were con-
nected with the stars, THIS description oI
tha stairway will enable the reader better to
understand what follows. Vt about two
o'clock Yesterday afternoon, one Of the teach
ar. in fio female department, Miss lIarri-
son. was taken with faintng fit, and IN
order to her recovery she was taken out into
the passage way. where a cry was raised OF
.sWarer, Water" by one of her companions.
The cry was not understood, or else the Schol-
ars thought the water was wanted 10 eXtln-
ouish fire and the next moment the cry OF
:. Fire - was raised and spread like wildhre
throurh the building. In moment subor-
Iination was at an end. The children from
tbe urinary department rushed to the stairs,
As did also the scholars ON the floor above
them. The stairway was soon filled, ana the
press against the bannlstcrs 50 great that
they gave way, precipltatn& the chldreh
over the stair, down to the ground hoor. AS
the rush increased, 50 did the number tiIat
were hurled over the stairs into the space be-
low. Two Of the female teachers made an
effort to stop the children; but 50 great was
the manic that their efforts were in vain, and
they were themselves hurried along with the
current. and despite their efforts were earned
over the stairs into the space below. In the
upper room. the boys department., Mr. Me
Nallv took his stand with his back against
the door. and forbade any one TO 90 out
Although the panic pcryaded his room as
wnIl as the rest Of the building, yet he stood
tirua, and thus succeeded IN saving the lives
Of many, perhaps Of hundreds, for had the
larger bows rushed upon the stairs as did the
Younger children, Heaven only knows how
much more sad would have been the disaster
than it now Is. We learn that some OF the
bows Jumped out Of the windows, and that
one Of them had his neck broken by the fall.
There We're altogether in the building but few
snort Of 800 scholars. l,765 we under
stood TO be the NUMBER While Mr.. Nc
NaIlv remained firm at his post, the destruc-
ton Of life was going on below. Hundreds
on hundreds went over the stairs, until there
was pile Of human beings mass OF chill
dren-eicht feet square and about twelve feet
IN height The alarm was now given on the
outside and the police were soon at hand and
took possession Of the premises as well as
thev could, and commenced the work Of
handling out the children from their perilous
position. Those who were on top, were, OF
course, but slightly injured, but as soon as
these had been removed, the most hcart-rend-
ing spectacle presented itself Some among
the policemen were fathers, whose own chill
dren were there. They worked mantuliy,
and deserve all praise body after body was
taken out: many Of them hteless at first,
came to when they once more brcathed the
fresh air. but many. alas, were beyond and,
and death was but too plainly marked upon
their paid features Some were injured by
the fall. and lay writhing IN agony; 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.. SeabTIng, on gong 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 COW
cred with those Of her companions. Mr.. >,
urred bv paternal feelings, Of course, directed
his efforts at once to the release OF his dauSh-
ter. While he was thus engaged, man
came up and laid hold Of him, saying, " My
child is there" and endeayored to take the
place on which Mr. 5. stood. Finding he
could not move him. he struck at him, thus
eudeayorng to displace Mr.. ;, and get IN a
position to work more effectuallyin search tor
his lost child Mr.. s. succeeded in resculng
MS child who proved to be but slightly IN
iurcd He said he forgaye the man VINO
truck at him: he knew too well his feelings
70 blame him for anv act Of rashness perpe-
rrarcd at that time The bodies OF the dead
and wounded were mostly. unless claimed on
the spot taken 10 the Ninth ward station
house, which is near the school. In few
minutes news Of the accident spread through
tGc neighbOrhGod, and mothers came rushing
10 the scene bv scores, all in anguish but all
1T first, buoFed up by hope. Occasionally
mother would recognize the llfeless form I"
q child rs it was lifted from the mass, anC
then the piercing cry OF agony that wouic
rcnd the air. oh, God may il never be our.
again to hear. And now the neighb0rhooC
vas thoroughly aroused, and crowds fockeC
Lo the scene Of the disaster. Many Of the
dead, dying and wounded, were taken to th'
station house, where the entire lodge room o
the policemen was turred into hospItai
and their beds all used as couches for th'
Head bodies Of injured children. This was
indeed, sad sight parents, whose chlIdrcI
we're missing, came here to confirm thei
Hopce or fears. Here night be seen a llteies
luAg with an agomized mother hanging Owe