Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-11-23
MISC ELLA I.

fun list of the killed and wounded by the
Gasconadc catastrophe is given by the Wes-
tern papers. Thirty were killed and serenity
wounded The following account from a
CORRESPONDENT of the St. Louis News, is
deeply interesting
The moment before the long train with
its load of life approached the fatal spot,
many were intently observing from the win
dows the we'll marked line which separated
the thick, turbid waves Of the Missouri from
the pclucid waters of the Gasconab; others
looked out on the long bridge we were ap-
pruaching, and remarked on Its strength or
its frailty. An old gentleman, whom we
thought unduly cautious and nervous,
wished he was out, for said he, | believe
that bridge will break down. We glanced
out the window near us in a careless way, to
See the structure, and turned round again
without the shadow Of fear tina, we were
doomed not to cross it. At that moment
came the destruction. We could see nothing.
but we heard everything. sharp piercing
sound. as of shattered timbers came from the
front. We knew its meaning. Tie bridge
had broken down. Then followed Our sepa-
rate, well-dctned crashes, and our car took
the inevitable plunge. At the first sound we
81 rang to our feet and started to run back
ward 1t seemed as though the ruin was ap-
pruuching us instead of our rearing it.
Every man in tine crowded car in which we
were seated jumped up, as the shiyer in front
told Of coming danger During those few
terrible moments in which we approached
the precipicc. the intensest silence prevailed.
/ Not IL word was spoken. We had gwen but
/ two steps backward in the involuntary effort
/ to avoid danger, when our time came to fol-
/ low those who had gone before. Down down,
down, endlessly we seemed to 60. We We're
not long falling, yet it seemed ages. The
memory of railroad accidents we had read of
and the reflection that we We're in the midst
OF one of lrghttul character the question
soon to he solved whether we would escape or
be killed the reflection that we might be
killed the next moment, and the inward be-
lief that we would not be killed at all q
chilling thought at the idea of being crushed
hy beam or transixcd by rod or torr
asunder by adverse forccs-al these thought.
flashed across our minds while falling Their
there was u tremendous conclusion, and we
found that we were on the ground, under Z
mass of leaning timbers which, however, did
not touch us. Though in the midst OF 4
crowd when the car commenced falling, We
saw no one near us on the ground. We
crawled out from under the wreck. anC
thanked Gsd that we were safe. We sat
down on a stone to recover from the shock
There was not a sound to be heard. Not
Shrek, groan, or cry came from the wreck
All was silent as death. After a moment W
looked and listened, Men were creeping
crawling and hobbing from the shattered cars
some holding leg, some pressing the arm
and some clasping the head. The seen
battles descriptions and freezes the blood il
, the contemplation. 1t was terrible pictur
of blood and tears, of woe and sorrow. O
suffering and fortitude, Of silent agony an
speeches. grief, of life and death, which W
K pray Heaven we may never look on again"
The EXTENSION OF THE CAPITOL. IT
Washington Argus states that the work 0
the Capitol extension is progressing as T;
pidly as is jiudicious for the safety Of tn
structure, which is designed to accord in i
=, exterior architectural order and arrangemer
with the old building. For lighting, yenti
ating, and securing steady transmisso
sound in the Legislative chambers, the Supe
intendent has adopted an original plan ,whlt
u it is believed will be entirely successful. ar
the chambers will probably be the best adap
ed to the purposes for which they are designe
of any of their magnitude in the vorl
Both wings of the building will probably
rooted in before winter, and both the chan
bers ready for occupancy before the secoud sc
D, rangement, it is said, will he convenient, al
the architectural decorations beautiful. T.
marble is from different parts of the Unit
States, and everything emblematic Will
purely American. An artist is now at So
irescoing one of the rooms as a specimen
y, the high finish of which the rooms are 81
ceptble, should Congress so order it,
though the arrangement is what is called fiji
proof, yet the amount of carpenters IL
- ioiners work necessary for it is immense
1t is said that the Superintendent has
troduced great economy into every depa
mcnt of the work, by which it is prOba
=, the cost will be greatly diminished. The
- tensive use Of steam has greatly abridg
nd the labor otherwise necessary, and the il
es, work, the principal portion of the carpentc
es' work, and the saving Of the marble, is do
by steam. Every piece of iron in the ROOT
tested by an immense hydraulic power, VIII
ensures perfect security in its use. 1t is
- tmated that fifteen million days work "
~ have been performed ON the building by
time it is completed. The Argus says
cir conclusOn;
ee. .' As the works draws towasds competi
ere we are satisfied, from close observation. t
am enlightened Judgment and correct ia
have governed the operations ON this gr
work, and that we shall soon have a structu
not only the most beautiful and chaste in
6e architectural proportions, but the best ada
cd for the uses to which it was designed
any in the world, and Of which this great
public may well be proud. "