Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-11-05

/ e Nm Cno4rx At LpwrIL -rlAnsow EscArx o.
the AUDIENCES IRON DEsrBncrieH. no announce.
msnt that the Hon. Rufus Choate was to addressa.
buchanan Meeting On Tuesday evening, at Hunting,
ton Hall, in Lowell attracted an Immense throng Of
oil parties From statements mtthe Boston papers
we gather the following: s. r.: 81 = Z
Ladies' were admitted to the galleries. and these
thronged, the doors were opened to the multitude,
The hall is one hundred and twenty By eighty feet.
At seven o'clock it filed to repletion. Men stood
packed together in the closest possible Manner and
it estimated that there were over Ave thousand
persons within the walls. The orator was hailed rs
no man in Massachusetts, has been hailed since
Webster and everything promised an hour of in
tellectua enjoyment and instruction rarely Afforded
and q satisfactory termination. The meeting came
to order, was organized the president Mr.. Whippe,
was introduced and was gracefully saying that he
would not detain ns-that this audience was here to
hear another-and while thus agreeably engaged,
sound, as if from cannon at distance, filled all
ears, and we felt the floor yielding There was
general panic and movement toward the platform,
and a great deal of excitement Finally, however,
the fright subsidized.
After Mr.. Choate had spoken about three quar-
ters of hour, however, another crash felt in
the centre Of the hail. which settled two or three
inches and the vast audience rushed to the outlets
of the hall. For few moments the panic was fear
full, and the screams and cries Of the people who
| were crushed in the crowd were appalling. The
ladies in the galleries the most self possessed
of any, and remained perfectly quiet although their
banched cheeks betrayed the fear in which they
stood. Mr.. Choate sat down and seemed as calm as
| if safely seated in his study during the whole
| of the scene of excitement.
Mr.. Butler, with Lowell architect, Mr.. Rand,
| who went to make examination Of the building
after the second crash, returned in few moments
and Mr. Butler then informed the audience that they
| had discovered that the heads or two bolts
had given way and that in order to avoid the posi-
biity of any catastrophe, the people had better
| tire from the hall in quiet manner as possible.
The audience then left the hall at fast they could
| and reassembled in front of the Merrimack House.
| platform was soon constructed, extending out of
a second story window over the porch, on which
Mr.. Choate appeared and delivered the remainder
of his speech.
The gentlemen on the platform were Of the last
to leave. Mr.. Choate, while passing to the door,
for the first time seemed to indicate by expression
realization of the danger which environed u.s.
| The floor actually sunk under him two three
| inches and he was heard to remark" This is 60
ing :" but he retained his self possession and
| walked on.
1t is stated that Mr.. Butler on returning from the
inspection of the floor disguised his fears and never
expected to leave the hall alive He discovered, with
Mr. Rand, that the floor had yielded pcrceptibly,
that the noise which SO alarmed oil was the snap
ping of the iron astenings and SUPPORTS that the
audience was not soon removed, the floor and the
roof, and perhaps the side wallis would soon come
down. He discovered that certain tiinbers and
joints upon which the floor rested had given way
and that the ceiling of the depot beneath open
ing and threatening. Altogether, it was most won
derful escape.