The New York herald., 1864-07-24

purchases account or the blockade runners Mexican
all improved TO 29 the safe arrival OF the Emperor
crease Vera Cruz beng regarded with
satisfaction by The bondhciders.
the Catastrophe ~ the BisckIey Alms-
house, Philadciphia.
PARTICULARS OF TEE AccIDENr-TEKnIBLE
scENss-SAaEs OF THE KILLED, WOUNDED AND
IFrom the Philadelphia Inquirer, July 2l.l
The southwestern portion OF the Biockey Alnshouse,
consisting OF entire side OF the spacious Gce
propraed 20 The use o the insaoe there and that
lnron bordering the open enclosure wilhiu
There are at present three hundred and seventysix
under treatment for insanity they all occupy
apartments IN the portion Of the building mentioned.
The insane department for women is divided uto
al compartments, three stories in beignt One Of
these and The one thai the OF the terrible
cident yesterday, adjolns the extreme southwestern
wing OF the building, and 10 divided into nrmarylor
the Old sick, decrepid which occupies third floor
and Is under charge Of Mrs. Rice. The second floor Is
used Of sitting for the patients that are
able to move about and under the of Mrs Nc
Donald while the hrst ground floor used as diung
room and Tor other purposes and conducted By Mrs.
Ackey
The apartment that was the scene OF the s
sixteen feet between each floor. In the morning.
o'clock the bell rang as usual 70 arouse the inmates TO
get ready for breakfast, and while that meal
was in preparation. a. about twenty. min
visible, and before the slightest warnings OF alarm
could be communicated TO the inmates the whole Of the
dous crash carrying everything. including inmates
nture, clothing beds and bedding, &c. before It, Moth
ing stopped in the downward until the floor
Ing over the cellar reached, when everything and
ybody became involved In perfect chaos nsxtr
AS near ss nurses could inform us there were at
the time Of the accident about twenty patients In the
hrmary the third noor and about fty IN each
lower ones, making one hundred and twenty in all.
large number VI these uniortunates at buried
oensath the fallen ruins, while others aighted the
surface OF the DEBRIS aud were extrcated without much
difficulty.
failing mass but few seconds after the drs symp.
toms Of a giving way perceptibe hing remained
mark tho aparstment but few broken beams plstcr
and laths sticking To the walls, and dead, dying aud
struggling Of humanity the lower floor com.
petey covered up with the remains Of what had cons
tuted that portion OF the insane department.
The noise created by the fall terrific and could be
heard considerable distance; created much in
s parts OF the spacious amshouse and the Inmates
were running all directions for time without any
definite Euowed 20 OF what had taken place. As soon
practicable gangs OF men were employ ed who immedi
s,e.y commenced digging for the bodies. Il was NOT
until tho day had considerably advanced that the last
body was taken from the ruins
We append what is believed to be complete list of
the killed, wounded and missing obtained from Dr. 8.
W.. Butler, who bas charge OF the insane department,
and vino particularly active during the entire day.
rendering all the aid IN bis power
Kled-Marearet Drenin, susan -, Susan Owous,
Andrew j. Nooe. an idiot and cripple, six years age
Ann Galbrath sophia Eienger, Reynolds assistant
nurse Sarah Dunn, doubtful; Elizabeth Nogle, Ann
stephens supposed dead Mary ag,nns supposed dead;
ChristianDa lison dead but yet recovered Cahs
rine McNanns thought dead; Ellen Mitchell, supposed
NJ.
and In the ruins; Mary Ann Haws, supposed dead ana
In the ruins.
Wounded, Mary Mccarthy, slightly; catharins Commits
key, dangerously; Rebecca Fhian, dangerously will
not ive Ann McClintock, slightly; Nary Dick, slightly;
Margaret Robusou slightly Susan Dovne, slightly:
Nancy Mack slightly; Frederca Arman. slightly; Sarah
Dunn dangerously; Adeaids Parhero slightly Csiharns
Bean. slightly ry White, slightly; Ann Raison slight
Iy; Elizabeth Beck slightly; Margaret Martz slig htly:
Isabella Burns, slightly; Anna Mcclure, dangerously
Madeline Bombereer dangerously, and Mrs. Sarah Rice
slightly.
Mrs Rice mad charge Of the Infrmary the destroyed
portion of the building. She was preciptated from
In the ruins and was released with great dcnIty ana
strange to say, escaped with slight injuries, mostly
bruises.
Mssipg-Catharne McKenney; Ellen Murray though.
TO be under the ruins.
complete as could be ascertained at
late hour yesterday Some others may yet be heard
Of being either killed wounded but the Official list
will not vary much from the one given.
Various theories going the for some time
as to the cause Of the accident. but after making
examination and instilu,ng rigid Inquiries we in
weakness Of the flooring directly the archcd ways
that torn, in the cellar basement the supper, OF
the interior OF the building above. For space
ers feet the ceiling directly the arches cellar
bears evidences OF dapdlton. Plaster and other ma
terias lvc gradually become loosened were in
formed this ceiling or flooring has been in this condition
for the past ten years.
Becoming no weak to support the immense weight
above, il at last gave way, and the whole de-
pending upon il Tor support gave way and tumbng
to the ground The same evidences OF weakness a
In other of the cellar aud Yesterday
INK workmen we're engaged In placing supports, consist
ing OF heavy oists between the Cellar floor and the
ing above.
The ruined portion presented dangerous appearance
all day yesterday, aud several occasn the en-
gagged In digging after bodies retired precipatey fear
ing the falling in o the roof which sl held It's position
portion OF II failing in with the rest OF the compar
ment
There in the insane department Of the almshouse
ave hundred aud seventy five patients Of whom three
hundred and seveDty-sx are women. These wonea
mostly old middle aged, aud strange, and for
The most part, extremely repulsve looking set.
An affecting incident took place in the dead house during
the morning While Or. Butter aud number Of others
inspecting the dead bodies for the purpose ecog
milton, the body o the boy Noble brought in ard
a. houRh when alive he q very repusive specimen
humanity. being entirely idiotio terribly crippled
s;ll the sight OF his remains affected his old
that she leaned over his body wiped the blood from his
face and wept bitterly
The presented in the surgical ward where the
wounded were taken, at striking. unique and
pitabe ON either side OF the room, long and
one, the ror wounded creatures lay corches many
OF them dread uy manged lying perfectly quiet
apparently resigned, others relating IN ircphercut and
senseess words their accounts of their sdveAur 40
and others again trying to get up and casting vague aud
Wild gsnces around.
None seemed TO realize what they had gone through
but most Of them seemed Impressed with know
ledge that something had taken place. Had these poor
creatures possessed sound reasoning powers casual
ties would undoubtedly have been much IL was
no attempt TO have been made escape on tie
part Of OF them.