, 1860-02-02
An Ancient Parallel for the Lato Dis
nxtcr ~ Lawrence.

The Lowell Journal, in alludin= to the late
disaster at Lawrence, refers to similar catas-
rrophc near Rome. and says:
Tacitus, the historian, trotn whose works this
account is taken. MAS born nineteen years after
the death of the Emperor Tiberius. Coming ou
s stage Of life SO ear1y utter the event, and as
seciated, as be must have done, with those who
witnessed the calamity, his account is tue more
reliable, Tacitns Ann. book j, p. lyj, sec. o.. ::
4 sudden calamity occurred in ,he consulship
ot Marcus I.icinus and Lucius CllpuFaius,
mich equailctl tile havoc Of the most destruc-
lire wars; lis beginning and end'n:, were a.
multarcous- One Atilus had undertaken to
erect IN umphisheatre ut Fidcna, there 10 exh'b-
il n combat OF giad:ators. Hi was Of the race
Of freedmen, and as he engaged in tle busintss
from no exuberauce Of wealth, nor to nctfuire
popularity among the iuhaoltants, but us mat.
ter of aorlid gain, he neither put 1t upon solid
foundato:s. ntr employed braces to strengthen
ture+
Thither nocSed from Rome persons Of every
sex nnd age, eager for such shows as during tue
reign of rilerius they were debarred from ti-
versions at home, and in greater crowds from
the nearncss vi the place. hence tile calamity. ).
was the more disastrous, for the theatre bein;:
crowded so as to form . dense mass. and then
rent asnndcr, some portions tun'bIiug inwaTds,
others bulk!pg toward the outer parts, count
lr.s number OF human beings, either intent upon
tile spectac!c OF standing near around the place,
we're either burue hcad.ong 70 the ground or
ha,ied under The ruins Those, indeed, who
were killed by the shock Of the first crash, es-
capped, as iar as possible i'll such disaster, tle
misery Of torture; much more to be piiied were
those who, With portions Of their body torn
away, we're nut YET torsakeu Of life; these who
BY dny },eheL their wives aud children, and by
night distinguished them BY their Eroans aud
cries And now others. Summoned to tho spot
tv the sad tidines, lewniled one his brother,
another lis kinSiaan, and q third his parents.
Even they whose friends OF kindred were al.
sent on different Hccount were yet terrified
for. rs it was not distinctly known who bud fall
IN in the calamity, the alarm spread wider from
the uncertainty.
Whr, ,hr ruins began to be removed, they
crowded around the dead, embracing them and
kissing them; and frequently there arose d
contest nbout their identity, where distortion d
she features, personal resemblance or similarity
Of aye had created liability 10 error III thost
who clain,c.i them. Twenty 1housa persons
cnrt!ipg tn Tsci'u+, were crushed IL death o1
MANNED by this sad disaster. Twas. therefore
for the future rrosidea,aby u decree Of ths
Senate, "tlat no man, under tue quaLidcasiot
Of four hundred thousand sestesces, should ex
lIfbit the spectacle Of the gladiatoFs; and NJ
3tunbitbcatIe should le founded but urot
proun.t of proved solidit=." At1lius was punish
ed with exile. However, Immediately upon thi:
destructive calamity, the doors Of tue great cit,
we're thrown open :; medicines md physician;
were furnished to all; anil Mt that juncsure th'
city though under an aspect OF SORROW, present
ed an image Of tue public spirit of the anc:en
Romans. who, after g.ent batties' rel'eTed ant
sustained the. wounded by their literality ant