Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-11-07
Mr.. Choate at LOwelI.--NarrOW Escape of III
fror,,

Audience from Destruction.
The announcement that the Hon. Rufus Cboate
to address Buchanan meeting on Tuesday eve.
nlng at Huntington Hall, in Lowell, attracted an
immense throng, of all parties. From statements in
The Boston papers We gather the following:
La les were admitted to the galleries. aud these
thronged, the doors were opened TO the multitu e-
The hall is one hundred and twenty by eighty feet
At seven o'clock it was filed 10 repleton. Men
stood packed together in the closest possible manner
and it was estimated that there over FIVE thou
sand persons within the walls The orator was hail.
ed in Massachusetts has been hailed since
Webster; and everything promised an hour of intel.
lectual enjoyment and instruction rarely afforded
and satisfactory termination. The meeting came
TO order, organized the president, Mr. Whpple,
was introduced, and was gracefully saying that he
would not detaIn us-that this audience was here 10
hear another-and while thus agreeably engaged,
sound, as if from cannon at a distance. filled all
ears, and We felt the floor yielding. There was
general panic and movement toward the platform,
| and great deal of excitement. Finally, however,
the fright subsded.
After Mr.. Choate had spoken about three. quarters
of an hour, however. another crash was felt in the
centre of the hall, which settled two or three inches
AMI the vast audience rushed to the outlets of the
hall. For few moments the panic was fearful, and
the screams and cries of the people who crush
ed in the crowd were appalling. The ladies in the
galleries were the most self posed of any, and
manned perfectly quiet, although in their blanched
|
Choate sat down, and seemed as calm as if safely
seated in his own study during the whole of the
! of excitement.
| Mr. Butler, with a Lowell architect, Mr.. Rand,
| who went 10 make examination of the building
| after tie second crash, returned in few moments
and Mr. Cutler then informed the audience that they
had'dlscovered that the heads on one or two bolts
had given way, and that in order 10 avoid the posi-
blllty OF any caastrophy, the people had better re-
IRE from The hall in as quiet manner as possible.
The audience then left The hall as fast as they could
and re.assemoled in front of the Merrimack House.
A platform was soon constructed extending out of
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 doOI for
the hrst time seemed 10 indicate by expression re-
aZation of the danger which environed us. The
hoor actually sunk under him two or three inches,
and he was heard to remark" This is going" but
he retained his self. possession and walked o.
1t IS stated that Mr.. Butler returning from Inc
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 perceptl-
bly,, that the noise which SO alarmed all was me
swapping of the iron fastenings and supports that II
the audience not removed, the Hoor and the
roof, and perhaps the side walls, would soon come
down. He discovered that certain timbers and joints
upon which the floor rested had given way and thai
the ceiling of the depot beneath was opening ana
threatening. Altogether it was most wonderful
escape.