Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-11-04
VIZ. thonsc Mt Lowell Narrow E-rnpc of the
Audience from Dc-trucsion.

The announcement that tho Hon. Rufus Choate
was 10 address buchanan meeting Tuesday
evening. at Huntington Hall, in Lowell, attract
cd an immense throng. of all parties. From
statements IN the Boston papers we gather the
following:
Ladies were admitted TO the galleries. and
these thronRed, the doors were opened to tho
multitude. Tho hall is one hundred and twenty
by eighty feet At seven o'clock il was flied h.
rrpletion. Men stood packed together in the
closest possible manner, aud it estimated
thnt there were over five thousand persons with
III the wills. Tho orator WAS hailcd IA no man
IN Massachusetts has been hnilcd since Webster
aud everything promised an hnur of intellectual
snlnyment and instruction rarely afforded, and "A
satisfactory termination. Tho meeting cnulc to
order. was orgnnaed: the president MIR. Whip
pie, wns introduced, and was gracefully saying
that he would not detain us--that this audience
was here 10 hear hnnther--and while thus agree
ably engaged, n sound. ms if from cannon Mt II
distance, bled all ears and felt the floor
yielding. 1hore was general panic aud move
mcnt toward the platform, md IL great deal of
excitement. Finally, however, the iright sub
sided.
After Alr. Choate had spoken about three quar-
tors Il an hour however, another crash was felt
in the centre of the hall which settled two or
three inches, and the vast audience ruahed to the
outlets 81 the hall. Fer few moments the pan
people who were crushed in the crowd were APP.
palhng. The ladies in tho galleries were tho
most sell possessed OF any, and remained per-
fectly quiet. although their buuched checks be
trnyed tho fear in which they stood. Mir. Choate
sat down, anu seemed calm if safely seated
IN his own study during the whole of the scene Of
excitement.
Mr. Butler. with n Lowell architect. Mr. Rand,
who went to make mn examination Of the build
ing after tho second crash. returned in few mo-
meuts aud MIR. Butler then Informed the audi
"noe that they had discovered that the heads on
enc or two bolts had given way, and that in or
der 10 avoid the possibility of any catastrophe,
the people had better retuo from the hall in rs
quiet a manner as possible. The audience then
left tho hall ~ fast they could, aud re-
BLEED in front OF the Merrmack House. A plat
form constructed, extending out of n
sncond story wiHdow over the porch, which
Mr.. Choate appeared and delivered the remainder
of his speech.
Tho gentlemen the platform were of the
last to leave. Mr.. Fhontc while passing to the
door, for the first tune seemed To indicate by oN-
preston roaligntioh of the danger which cnvi-
r0ned Us. The floor actually sunk under him
two or three inches, and he was heard TO remark
This is going" but he retained his self pos
session and walked ON.
1t is stated that Mr. Butler returning from
the inspection Of the floor Disguised his fears
and never expected 10 leave the hall alive. lie
discovered, with Mr.. Rand. that the floor had
yielded peroeptby that the noise which SO
alarmed all was the swapping of the iron fasten
inls and supportsI that if the audience was not
soon removed. the floor and the roof, and per
haps the side walls, would soon come down. He
discovered that certain tmbcrs and joints upon
which the floor rested had given way, and that
the ceiling If the depot beneath was opening and
threatening. Altogether it was u most wonder
tuI escape.