Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-11-08
A Narrow Escape.

The speech Of the Hon. Rufus Choate in Hunt
ington Hall, Lowell, on Tuesday evening, was at
tended by an accident of fearful aspect concerning
which We gather the following statements from the
Bostons papers:
Ladies were admitted to the galleries, and these
throrged, the doors were opened TO the multitude.
| The ball is one hundred and twenty BY eighty feet.
At seven O'Clock it was filed to repletion Men
stood packed together in the closest possible man
ner, and IL was estimated that there over FIVE
thousand persons within the walls. The orator
was hailed no man in Massachusetts has been
| hsiled since Webster aud every thing promised an
! hour OF intellectual enjoyment ami instruction
! ly afforded, aud a satisfactory termination. The
meeting came to order organized; the presi.
| dent, Mr. Whipple, was introduced, and was grace
| July saying that he would not detsiu the audience
as they were present - hear another, when sound
| as If from cannon at a distance, filed all ears
and the floor felt TO be yielding There was
q general panic and movement toward the plat
| form, and great deal Of excitement. Finally how
ever, the fright subsidized.
After Mr.. Choate had spoken about three quarters
| of an hour however another crash was felt in the
centre OF the hail. which settled Two or three inch
es and the audience rushed to the outlets of
the hall. For few moments the panic was fear,
| fol and the screams and cries of the people who
1
ladies in the galleries were the most sef-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 own study during the
whole OF the scene Of excitement.
Mr.. Butler, with a 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 OF one or two
bolts had given way, and that, in order to avoid
the possibility Of any catastrophe, the people had
better retire from the ball ia quiet manner as
possible The audience then leit the hall as fast
they could and assembled in front Of the Mer-
rimack House. platform soon constructed,
extending out 81 a second story window over the
porch, on which Mr. Choate appeared and deliver
ed the remainder of his speech.
The gentlemen on the platform were Of the last
| 10 leave Mr.. Choate, while passing to the door,
for the first time seemed 10 Indicate by expression
a realization uf the danger which enEirOned him.
The floor actually sunk under him Two or three
inches, and be was heard to remark, This is go
ne;" but he retained his self possession and walked
/ on.
| It is stated that Nj. Butler, on returning from
the inspection Of the ioor, disguised bis fears,
and never expected TO leave the hall alive. he
discovered, with MF. RaDd, that The floor had yie-
I
sas the swapping OF the iron iastenit x and sup
ports; that II the audience was not soon removed
she hoor and the root. and perhaps the side walls
would soon come down. lie discovered that Ger
tain ,s,bers aud joints apon which the floor rested
| had given Say. and that the ceiling Of the depot
beneath opening aud threatening. Altogeth.
| IL cas- most wonderful sscaps.-GatioaaI INisiIi.
so.eer.
A NIcK PLAoE TO BoARB.--A lady, who had ist
opened boarding house IN ihliadtlphis, has adop~
Ted The ioliosipg ruie.: The gsnrlemsn nast nOI
pot their feet o. the mAnte IA SHUTTER, nor out Of
TIE window Ia sumsp~r and abe lAdy must Sol wire
her name on she glass Nth quartz pin. il shs
uses an air tigh., ste mast regulate the dampes
herself. add NOS ring eTery Leo minutes To- The
ehsH.bermaid. The single gvntleman must o. play
tie sroDboae, nor make love % Ihe ssrsssts, cor
eou'b ais whiskers al lie table II he coes be
soHt answer The lady must not turn ~ her 10,
az ever, thing The liable, upless she b4s natural
pss. and aeof the party ma.t driak or talk with
mseshial of viesask. sos must they hght Tor EAe
sop ba.k &hsal FAKE. Tssns lieefai. aud ssDard 10
Be paid weekly IL sdsaeca