Year: 1871

In the neighborhood Of First and Second avenues
and Twentys!xth street 1t soon became very evident
that an alarming catastrophe had occurred some.
where Between the hours OF two and three lhe
neighborhood OF the Bellevue Hospital wore the
usual aspect OF sunday afternoon peacefulness But
ampulances and express wagons soon commenced
to arrive bearing the dead and dying from the
scene OF the accident The immediate 1nhaoitants
were soon aroused from their after dinner sumbers
and we're eagerly thronging around the vehicles
ana from the scraps OF Information given by
the drivers and attendants, the outlines OF the
horror were gathered by the crowd Reports of the
widest and most exaggerated kind new from
tongue TO tongue and as ambulance wagon ana
carriage rolled up to the gates Of The hospital with
its ghastly freight no rumor however horrible, wild
or exaggerated, was disbeleved, but was eagerly
passed about becoming the common property OF
those who had evidently come prepared to sup full
of horrors. Neither they disappointed for the
occupants OF the vehicles as they drore up " the
hospitals were


CHASTITY AND sIcKEsISa


in the extreme, and as gmpses were caught by the
surrounding multitude shuddering murmur OF
horror shook the crowd.


An ambulance arrived with the body OF man en-
veioped In cotton wool, severely scalded. on the
front seat man with his clothes torn, mis- shirt
disarranged and his lower limbs hanging down,
crushed and helpless. Another shudder OF horror
ran through the crowd Another ambulance came
along containing three bodies, evidently still alive,
the sex undstinguishabe, also enveloped In cotton
wool. In this vehicle also was the BODY OF child
OF tender years. Next came an express wagon,
with canvas supported by three men in front and
three behind, evidently containing something


TOO CHASTITY FOR PUBLIC GAZE.


On the front seat sat man mangled and bleeding,
and behind was one having his head, arms and legs
scalded and covered with wool. The wool was no
doubt placed there prevent the action OF the
mosphere on the wounds until they could be pro-
perry dressed by the surgeons Of the hospital. As
each vehicle discharged Its freight IL was rapidly
hurried away to the scene OF the disaster convey
fresh victims OF the catastrophe to the hospital


AS time wore on those who came FIRST for the
most part hurried away, and the aspect Of the crowd
became considerably changed. Sober, respecta.
bic, well-dressed people, with anxiety depicted
upon every feature, now thronged the scene, and
from casual observations dropped here and there
1t became evident that they III search OF some
relative or friend. Carriages came hurryIng from
all parts OF the city, some containing unfortunate
victims ana other anxious and inquirlng friends OF
those who likely to be on the Inflated steam.
boat. BY this time some twenty or thirty


LOADS oP DEAD AND DYING


had beeu received into the hospital, and applIca.
lions from those outside the gates became numerous
and clamorous. Any and every one who had
relative or friend who might possibly, by the merest
chance, be passing over TO Staten Island became so
intensely and excltedy interested that only visit
to Bellevue Hospital could satisfy them; and
although the wardens and officials In attendance
for time were obliged TO refuse aJmittance
with the utmost courtesy, and the police outside the
gates exercised thefr duties az forbearingy as poo
sibe under the circumstances, yet the excitement
caused by these constant retusals, the incessant
arrival OF fresh Victims and the maddenlng r,imors
circulating among the crowd, added horrible mten-
sity 10 the feelings Of those who came in search OF
their near dear ones.


'There are over five hundred kin ed and injured
said one, who having returned from the scene Of the
accident, was immedately looked upon az an autho.
rlty, ana consequently surrounded by a number OF
excited questioners.


"There are some very young babies,r said a young
girl to group OF Others surrounding her "and they
cannot find out 10 whom they belong,v she added.
A burst Of pity broke from the group