Dreadful Disaster Near Rouen

A frightful event occurred yesterday to fill all our district with consternation. A rather violent storm had broken over Rouen about noon, the rain had fallen in abundance, and some claps of thunder were heard; but there was nothing to presage the horrible disaster which has desolated one of the richest and most industrious portions of the arrondisement. At 35 minutes after twelve a furious whirlwind arose in the valley beyond Deville, commencing at the Houlme. It first carried away a part of the roof of the factory of M. Rouff, then gaining force as it proceeded, it overthrew several small buildings, broke down trees and hedges and destroyed crops. Farther off buildings were unroofed, and others were literally crushed in, We have seen some in which the ruins, the furniture and the corn, hay, &c., were so confounded with the uprooted trees of the field, or gardens which surrounded them, that it is impossible to say where was the garden. The scourge moving with the speed of lightning carried to a distance some parts of the ruins, then uprooted the highest and largest trees, and at last struck three of the principle factories of the valley. Lightning is in fact less rapid than was the destruction of these establishments.-The destruction is so complete that the imagination cannot conceive it, and no description could give an idea of it. They have been literally reduced to atoms. To crown the fatality the event took place at an hour when the greatest activity is going on, and the hands are most numerous. Of the three establishments which have been destroyed, one is in the commune of Malaunay-viz, that of M. Bailleul, and which was carried on by M. Neveu; the two others were situated near Monville-viz., those of M. Picquot and M. Mare. At M. Neveu's 120 persons were at work; the roof fell in, and the walls gave way before any person could escape. At M. Mare's the number of hands at work was 70; the calamity was not less sudden and complete. At M. Picquot's the number of persons at work was not less than 180. The roof being first carried away, all those within rushed to the doors, and they became so crowded that only a few comparitively [comparatively] could get out. This factory was finished scarcely a year ago, and the proprietor was blamed for erecting it in a more solid manner than any of the others of the valley. The chimney, which was 150 feet high, fell down to within a few yards of the ground and was thrown across the river. The third floor, cut off with wonderful precision, was also carried into the water. The two other stories next gave way, and at last the ground floor was so completely demolished that scarcely two bricks remained in their places. All this was accomplished in less than two minutes; people from all parts hurried to render assistance; all the manufactories [factories] and workshops in the neighborhood sent out their men, and at once began to clear out the ruins to save those under them who might be alive. Nothing can equal the scene presented at the three principal theatres [theaters] of this vast disaster. Machinery-looms and bars of iron were fractured, and enormous pieces of timber were broken as if they were mere straws, and all lying together in one confused mass. Torn fragments of clothing were seen among flocks of cotton wool with arms and legs protruding from the heap; pieces of flesh were adhering to the irons, and many parts were dyed with blood. Now and then deep groans were heard; some men and children preserved as if it were miraculously by an overhanging beam were taken out uninjured, but more frequently some severed limb or dead corpse, or a body so mutilated that death would have been preferable to the torture it endured. On the road nothing was to be seen but litters or carts carrying away the dead or wounded.-Temporary hospitals were promptly established. Surgeons came from Rouen, brought by M. Flobert and bestowed their care and pains upon all, even those of whom no hope could be entertained. The master of the hotel of the Cheval Noir, placed at the disposal of the faculty the largest room in his house, with all the

linen and every other useful thing which he had then at his command. Twenty-six of the sufferers were laid in the ball room and in the orchestra. A number of the clergy came to bestow the consolations of religion, and the Cure of Monville, dressed in his surplice, recited the last prayers for the dying over those whom the faculty despaired of saving. Men, women, and children were weeping over their relations, many of whom were expiring in the most cruel agonies. This dreadful scene was rendered even still more harrowing, when the medical men, in the interest of such of their patients of whom they entertained hopes, required that all persons who could not be made useful should be withdrawn. This necessary demand was executed by the authorities with the most affecting kindness and consideration, but the cries and lamentations it caused were rending to the hearts of all present. At the guard-house at Monville were placed all the bodies taken out of the factory of M. Picquot. We have seen 17. Two were those of young girls, one that of a woman, and the rest of men and boys. Among these last several had been taken out of the river, into which they had been precipitated from the third floor.-Some were entirely crushed, others had their heads and chests driven flat, and some had their heads severed from the trunks, Need it be said that the spectacle was most horrible.-When we withdrew from the seat of the catastrophe [catastrophe], at 10 at night, we found at M, Picquot's house 25 dead and more than 50 wounded, part of whom could not be expected to live through the night. It was believed that there were ten more victims still under the ruins.-Out of three foremen, one was killed, the two other saved alive., but severely injured. The loss in money is estimated at 120,000f. At M. Neveu's there were nine killed and fifteen wounded but how many remained under the ruins was not known. His loss is estimated at 250,000f. At M. Mare's there were six dead and a great number wounded. His loss is estimated at 250,000f. At M. Mare's there were six dead and a great number wounded. His loss is put down at 120,000f. In all 40 dead and 100 wounded-many of these last mortally. The aggregate loss is computed to amount to 020,000f [720,000f ?]., for these three establishments only.-From one of these phenomena of which these storms present so many varied examples, these buildings were not destroyed regularly one after the other, but the whirlwind seemed to have moved in angular directions, and less solid buildings between the spinning mills were left standing. The effects of the hurricane extended upwards of a league and a half in length.-The communes which have chiefly suffered by it are Le Houlme, Malaunay, Monville, Eslette, Cleres, and Aneesumeville.

The Memorial publishes the following letter from the Secretary General of the Prefecture of the Seine Interieure:-

"Yesterday at noon a whirlwind blew down three factories in the valley of Monville: not less than 360 persons who were at work there have been buried in the ruins. Of these 40 have been got out dead, and nearly 100 wounded but a great number still remain. Permit me to have recourse to your journal to open a subscription in favor of the widows, orphans, and the unfortunate men who have been wounded. The inhabitants of the Seine Interieure will respond to my appeal, and will eagerly come forward to the assistance of their unfortunate countrymen. I shall write to the Receveur General to ask him to take in subscriptions, which will also be received at the prefecture and the Post Office."

Immediately after the news of this disaster, a subscription was opened at Rouen by some of the leading merchants and manufacturers.-The Rouen Railroad Company requests us to announce that a subscription in favor of the widows and orphans and the wounded workmen, has been opened at its several offices along the line, and at M. M. Laffitte, Blount, and Co's., Paris.

We learn by the Havre journals that the storm of Tuesday caused several disasters on the coast near the mouth of the Seine. Two English vessels were forced from their anchorage and driven ashore, and a sloop from New Castle, bound by Rouen, with coals, went down near Leure. The crew was saved in the boat. An English schooner, from Caen, laden with stones, went down in view of the town, and the crew, who had taken refuge in the rigging, owed their safety, in a great measure, to the exertions of M. Lemetheyer, the lieutenant of the port, who, on the first alarm. proceeded to the jetty and had the life-boat launched, proposing a reward to any persons who would man it. Six Englishmen at once offered to proceed to the assistance of their countrymen on condition that a French pilot would accompany them. A young man named Lefebvre immediately offered himself, and the party rowed to the wreck. They succeeded, though not without great danger, in rescuing four sailors and the captain, whom they brought safe to land. A little sloop, with two men on board, was capsized near St. Adresse, and one of the men was drowned. The other was taken up, when nearly exhausted by swimming, by a fishing boat.

Subsequent accounts raise the total number of persons killed to be between 70 and 80, and the number injured to 200.