The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-12
Terrible CataSsrophe--Scven Children
Ktllc<i and Mine Others Wounded.

From the IharicSon 10 vi Sourier.
One Of the most heart -rcnding and appall-
Ing ca,astrophes which We have ever been
called upon 10 record occurred az the viii
lage of Bamberg, on the Augusta branch
OF the South Carolina railroad, seventy-six
miles from Charleston, between and
o'clock Tuesday afternoon, by which nearly
every family of that village have been
thrown into the deepest gloom and mourn
ing.
The scene OF this distressing occurrence
was about three hundred yards from the
depot. in n two-story frame building known
as Allen Lodge of Free Masons, lately used
as a school-housc by Mr.. Robert Seabrook
and his sister, the former having charge of
the male, and the latter Of the female de-
partment.
Into this building some eighteen of the
scholars. boys and girls, had assembled,
about o'clock, for the purpose of joining
In festive party given by the young misses
to their Youthful male friends. While in
the act of spreading table with refresh
meuts, candies, cakes, &C.. the building
was struck by violent gale Of wind, or
tornado, from the west, which passed over
the village, taking northeasterly direc-
ton, sweeping trees, fences, and every
thing else before il. The chimney was
carried away at the same time that the
root was rent asunder. An attempt was
made by George W. Patrick, one of the
older boys, to open the door, but that was
found to be- so damned as to defy removal.
Another of the youths, Charles Stewart,
then proposed To escape by the window,
and jumped out for the purpose Of assist
ing the others, when the whole building
fell, killing young Stewart and five others
instantly, aud wounding ten others, one OF
whom expired shortly after reaching home.
The following are the names of the
killed Master Angus VI. Brabbham, aged
fifteen years, son of Major J. j. Brabbham {;
Miss Hattie Brabbham, aged fourteen
years, daughter Of Hampton Brabbham,
Esq. Master Charles Stewart, aged six
teen years, son of Hansford Stewart, Esq. !;
Miss Urbanna Rcntz, aged ten years,
daughter Of Mrs. Emma Rentz, lately re-
moved from Orangeburg Miss Uphrasia
Hoffman, aged fifteen years, daughter of
E. G. Hoffman, ESQ.,; Master Elmore
Sanders, aged sixteen years, son OF Jabez
Sanders, ESQ.,; Master Charles Simmons,
aged six years, son OF A. r. Simmons,
Esq. The following are the names of the
j
James Rennett, severely; Miss Annie
Rennett, severely; Miss Salle Brabbham,
severely; Miss Julia Slater, severely; Miss
Hoffman, severely; Thomas Rivers, Sc
verely; and two others slightly, whose
names we did not learn. Only two of the
party escaped entirely unhurt.
The little Miss Urbanna Rentz, who was
carried home in dying condition, bore
her sufferings with unusual fortitude. She
retained her consciousness until the last,
and after telling her mother not TO weep,
that she was going to Heaven, requested
that her body might be taken To Orange
burg and deposited alongside of her father,
who died but few months before. Most
of those who were saved were found where
they had crept under the school-henchcs
upon which the timbers had rested after
the falling of the building.
But few moments sufficed to spread the
news of this awful catastrophe in the viii
lage, and the whole community soon
gathered round the place. Parents, rela-
tives, and friends were in the most dread
and dead were either covered or wedgcd
In between the heavy timbers, and required
the use Of axes to release them. The pain
full scene which ensued, as narrated to us
by one of the gentlemen who assisted, was
too narrowing for description. We can
only tender our heartfelt sympatheS, as
well as the sympathies of our people, to
the bereaved and afflicted community of
Bamberg in this sudden and appalling ca
lamity.