The passage describes a vivid and chaotic scene where an overturned cart in the street draws a crowd of onlookers, each of whom claims to have witnessed the tragic events that unfolded. The narrator highlights the brutality of the situation, with graphic details about the injuries and deaths occurring before the eyes of those present. It underscores a collective experience marked by horror and fascination, emphasizing how the public is drawn to tragedy, all wanting to be part of the moment.

The narrator cynically notes that if everyone who claimed to have been present truly had been, the scene would be overwhelmed with desperate souls—criminals, the downtrodden, and a motley assortment of society's outcasts. This irony points to the nature of human behavior, where individuals are compelled to witness and recount great suffering, yet remain apathetic in their daily lives. It reflects a commentary on societal values and the morbid curiosity that tragedy invokes.