82

THE ASHTABULA DISASTER.

sympathy he felt. Throughout the day the workcontinued, and the crowds passed to and fro.

Men were employed who, in long rubber bootsand water-proof coats, worked all day long in theice and snow; it was a difficult and tedious task.The wind blew cold, the water was deep, thebeams were heavy, the iron was netted together,and the wreck was imbedded in the stream.The bodies were frozen, tliey were packed amongthe debris, and buried in the snow, but they were,by degrees, removed.

The remains of men and women and children,were taken by strangers’ hands, and placed in therude deposits prepared for the occasion. This wasunder the idle gaze of many a spectator, who hadgathered there. The hands of friends were notthere to lift the tender forms, many of these werewere far away. Those who could have been there,and whose every nerve and fibre cried out fortheir loved and lost, were detained by the trainsin the distant city. It was difficult for even thecitizens who were present, to realize what sacred-ness there was to these precious forms. Deathhad been robbed of its solemnity, and now it