The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-23
DESTRU C1YYE LAND SLIDE IN TROY.
[From the Troy Daily WING, March 1871

A terrible avalanche--from which calamity our city
has been free for many years-oecnrred about eight
O'Clock last evening, involving the almost entire destruc-
ton of the magnificent building now in course of erection
at the head of Washington street, near the base OF Mount
Ida, known as st. Peters College. The blow is a crush
ing one to Father Havermans and the many friends Of
the institution.
The college was located upon a large plateau, to which
the approach was by u broad flight of steps. 1t was the
highest building in that vicinity, and nearest the hill.
Below it, at the base of the steps. are o rumber Of houses
upon Washington street. The building was intended to
be IA very large one-200 feet in length aud five stories
high, with two towers. Only two stories bad been com
pleted, and the work of construction was in vigorous
prosecution at the time of the disaster, by Mr.. MCGUIRE,
the mason in charge. Mount Ida commenced its slope
about thirty feet in the rear of the building, aud from
thence rose, quite gradually to the summit. An avalanche
was never dreamed of.
AT 8 o'clock last evening the slide took place. A man
who lives near by, and was a witness to the catastrophe,
says that the earth slid down with very little noise till ID
reached the rear wall of the college. Here its progress
was stopped for a moment, till, gathering new strength,
it burst the barrier, and with "a sound like distant thun-
der filled the building in a moment, demoishing beams,
link walls, and partitions, and covering the entire central
part of the ediice. The front wall was also crushed in,
but it sufficed to stay the progress of the avalanche.
A large crowd soon assembled at the scene, and many
of them risked their lives in vain attempts to explore
the ruins and discover the extent of the disaster. People
could be seen in the bright moonlight standing upon
projecting masses of earth, directly under overhanging
bluffs. Although the particulars of the calamity can
not be accurately ascertaincd till to day, tits feared that
st Peters College can never be rebuilt in the same To-
caiity. The centre of tho building is buried up to the
depth of several feet.
t the south about one quarter of the building Is still
standing at the north hardly mole than the end wall
remains. IL Ia said that from $40, O0e 30 sl5, 600 had
been lately expended on the workLthe foundation bolGg
very solid. Probably two thirls'of this amount Wit's
n total loss. No workmen had been IN the building since
the previous day, (t. Fatrick's being q holiday but
twenty minutes before the occurrence a crowd OF boys
were playing upon the beams and ~alls. The time oil
the accident prevented a fearful loss of lhe-over one
hundred mechanics being engaged on the building,
1t Is conjectured that If the college and its terrace had
not been constructed unrestrained 10y this barrier, tho
earth would have reached the tenement houses, and per
haps even destroyed the hospital.
The bill Is now in a very dangerous state, and another
avalanche may be unprecedented at any moment Inc
mountain is undermined, and an immense mass of earth
has little or no support The occupants Of many houses
In the vicinity haye moved all their ~pppSepeid goeasW
o PLACE Of safety.
The noise Of the avalanche was heard all over the lowS
part Of the city. The event produced an intense excite.
ment The fact that it resulted in no loss Of life OF hmo
should be a source OF congratulstion.