The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-01-25
G&ueral Mewg.

LATE DISASTER AT LAWRENCE. The
Lowell Journal in abiding to the
late disaster at Lawrence, refers to a
similar catastrophe near Rome and
says:
Tacitus, the historian, from whose
works this account is taken, was born
nineteen years after the death Of the
Emperor Tiberius. Coming On the
stage of life so early after the event.
and associated, as he must have done,
with those who witnessed the calamity,
his account is the more reliable. Tao
titus, Ann. book i, PIP. 1876, see. 81:
"a sudden calamity occurred in
the consulship of Marcus Licinius and
Lucius Calpurnius, which equalled
the havoc of the most destructive wars :;
| its beginning and ending were simulta-
neeus. One Atilius had undertaken
to erect an amphitheatre at Fidena,
there to exhibit a combat of gladia-
tors. He was of the race Of freedmen,
and as he engaged in the business
from no exuberance of wealth, nor to
acquire popularity among the iahabi-
tants, but as a matter of sordid gain,
he neither put it upon solid founda--
lions, nor employed braces to strength
en- the wooden fabric which formed
the superstructure. Thither focked
from Rome persons of every sex and
age, eager for such shows, as during
the reign of Tiberius they were debar
red from diversions at home, and in
greater crowds from the nearness of
the place. Hence the calamity was
the more disastrous for the theatre
being crowded so as to form a dense
mass, and then rent asunder, some
portions tumbling inward, others bulg-
ing toward the outer parts, count
less number Of human beings either
intent upon the spectacle or standing
near around the place, were either
borne headlong to the ground or bur-
ried under the ruins. Those indeed,
who were killed by the shock Of the
first crash, escaped, as far as was pos
slble in such a disaster, the misery of
torture much more to be pitied were
those who, with portions of their bod
les torn away, were not yet forsaken
of life; those who by day beheld their
wives and children, and by night dis
tinguished them by their groans and
cries. And now others, summoned to
the spot by the sad tidings, bewailed
one his brother, another his kinsman,
a third his parents. Even they whose
friends or kindred were absent on a
different account, were yet terrified
for, as it was not vet distinctly known
who had fallen in the calamity, the
alarm spread wider for the uncertain
ty.
When the ruins began to be re-
moved, they crowded round the dead,
embracing them and kissing them ;
and frequently there arose a contest
about their identity, where distortion
of the features, personal resemblance,
or similarity of age had created a liza
bility to error in those who claimed
them Twenty thousand persons, ac-
cording to Suetonins, and fifty thous-
and, according to Tacitus, were crush
ed to death or MANNED by this sad
disaster. 1t was therefore for the fu-
ture provided, by decree of the Sen
ate, that no man under the qualifica-
ton of four hundred thousand sester-
ces, should exhibit the spectacle Of
gladiators and no amphitheatre should
be founded but upon ground of prov ed
solidhy.' Atilius was punished with
exile. However, Immediately upon
this destructive calamity, the doors O.
the great were thrown open; medicin'
es and physicians were furnished tc
all; and at that juncture the city
though under an aspect Of sorrow, pre-
sented an image of the public spirit O
the ancient Romans who, after great
battles, relieved and sustained the
wounded by their liberality and atten-
TONS"