Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1856-11-18
P.arful Scene attending Nj. Cheats
Spseeh at LswelL

is opeeeh ~ Lowell.
Tho speech Of Hon. Rufus Choatc.
in Huntington Hall, 11wcll. On Tues
DAY evening, was attended $hy an n,
citlent-of fearful aspect at the time
but which happily p;tsscd oil With
ont the Threatened ealamitous rcs,llfs.
4 correspondent of the Boston Cou-,
ricr thus describes it fIi-z I
+ The meeting WAS cpnrenci IN
Huntington Hall, oyer the railway
station. Ladies were admitted to thc
galleries, AMI these throngei the
doors were opcnel IL, the multitude.
The hail j. one hundred anI twenty
bvt.ighty feet. At 7o'ciock il zw;la
flied to rcplet;on. Men st"jtl l'ack,
GA together in the closest possible.
manner, ana il waa estimated that
there were tiyc thousand ptrsoll5
within the walls. .1< ! , .IItE/
The meeting came to orleY was
organise,l-thc President, vi. Whip
pie. was introduced, nnJ~was grace.
fully saving that he would not .letain
'lls that this audience was here to
hear an othcr-anl while thus agree
ably engaged, a sound, rs if from II
cannon at Il distance, filed all ears
and we felt the floor Yielding There
was a general panic and u movement
toward the platform, and q great deal
Of excitement. *Hl. ~. E4t.hI r
Mr.. Choatc was sitting on the ros-
tru,n, calm, contelnplative and mp
parently indifferent, not that he was
unconscious OF the shock. = LEVIN
quired OF gcntIcnssln, seated near
him, in his characteristic way Arc
we. sinking to the caFtlf r. antl being
informed that the hall was used for
dancing purposes and It WA tkc sprtng
Roor only that had given way, lp
obsereed, Very well. let us go o. t!eh.
But tic c.owI was alarmed, and /;
was Necessary TO say that There was
20 danger" and t. announce that Mr..
Joseph II. Rand n member ofsthe city
gov>rnmcnt, and an experienced arch.
itcct, would 50 below and examine the
building" "a .p..II =. ~ T.. II
Mr.. Choatc ha.l spokenf'ully tl,irty'
minutes when another dismal sound
was heard, more sinking Of the floor
txpcricnced-tlcrc was panic again
and a rush. Mr.. Choate paus ed; Mr.
! Butler shouted that There IS as nc
danger. = others gave similar assur-
anc.s, hut the men were rcstiv!.--
The ladies alone were compo.e ed.
Notwithstanding the threatening
aspect Of affairs--;he tloor settled u,
least six inches in the centre Of the
hall not more than d thousand mel
! withdrew. tn ere was some coiulno.
ton in the gallery, anil a move lnent,
bnt. confidence was restored. all tol
ten minutes general quiet was obscrv
oil on the part If all. -.4:7 + g..
Mr.. Butler returned ard said
&c, nilemen,- Although | have lul
confidence in tl,e strength ofhi9 floor
although al. persuaded there is NJ
! danger. vet such is the state Of feeling
here, think we hal better adjourn
Butle there bc no sIampcde-- 7rctirl
I in or,lcr." ..-... ... f."
In les, than five ,ninatcs tie hal
was empty en- | all cscupcl acciden
and harm. And9low Jet me sly there
there was Observation-Disclosures alil aw
! tul. Mr.. Hntlsr, though he eiis suiscG
His fears, entert>i the hall, ney4 r cx
; pccting toleave it alivc, lanl 10 hi;
! tirmncss and intrepitlity ercdit sh"ull
! he given for the preservation 'ott; tia
great coucourse OF men and women
He discovered, with Mr.: Rantl, thai
the floor hal yiel,led pcrcep.ibly, tIm
the noise which go ALARMED all wa
the swapping Of the iron fastening,
! and supports: that if the audience
was not soon removed. the floor an;
the roof, and perhaps the eide walls
would soon colne down. lie ,liscor:
ereu ti;it ceFldlh tlmDefs anu lo.nt'
upon which the floor rested hail givci
way and that the ceiling Of the dc
! pot beneath was opening AMI threat.
ching. f. !. -. \[. T H.. / Il.
! But the Iaulinence retire,l in ordel
rand without accident. The gentlemen
on the. platform were Of the last tt
cave. Mr.. Choatc, while pas sing tt
the door. for the first time seen, led t,
Indicate BY expression of a realization
Of the danger which etvironcd us
1.-THE floor actually sunk under him
1.-TWO or three inches. and he wa lleart
| to remark-"This is gmng;;" but h,
retainc his sc'f-possc4sion and walk.
! ell on. ~ ILL.,, = 4. f.: =
w r Marriase and Suicide, H. T..