Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-03-10
The Meeting "wednesday Might

The otiiclnl proceedings OF the meeting We'd
nesday night will be found in another column. 1t
is seldom that we have seen ap,pular ussemblage
in which moro enthusiasm was exhibited or IN ore
animated and effective orotory displayed by the
various speakers And whilst the discussion
unusually warm aud spirited it was particu-
Iarly gratifying to observe the entire courtesy
and good feeling with which it was conducted.
The debate was opened by Messrs. Sam Book
cr and Chas. Irying,in logical and ingenious ar
guments against the proposed nominations-fol-
lowed by Mr.. Kirkpatrick and Judge Wilson on
the same side, and by Messrs Jno. b. 1idcn,
Jacob Robinson and Rev Mr.. prichard in favor
all in speeches of marked ability aud effect
1t was upon the whole an interesting dis
cussion, in which aures were yaliantly won and
lost warm eontest,we suppose, may he am
ticipated between the respective champions next
Wednesday night to which time il will be seen
the meeting adjourned. With no special sympathy
for the 1nteS, We will venture to advise them
howeyer,to look out for squalls on TINT OCCASION
They should not forget that their adyersaries
are cold water men--nor the unexpected douche
which they let upon them Wednesday night
The Temperance men too should be more tenn
porato. Their opponents are innocent gentle
men, Judges, Lawyers and Editors, exercising in
their peculiar yoeations, and they should not be
chilled to death all at once, with a hydraulic ns.
saut' as they Wednesday night They
oro not used to H. In fact they are neither fish
nor ducks, and we protest against such usage
The cold water men must he considerable.
The Catastrophe at tho Orleans Theatre
We gave some days since Geographic nc
count of painful accident ut the French opera
house in New Orleans. Much anxiety has been
felt in allquarters, to learn farther particulars,
which we have been unable to furnish heretofore
on account of the detention of the mails Yes
terday, however, the papers all came through,
and we enabled to give, from the Picayuno of
the Goth ut., the subjoincd thrilling account
The accident originated in the giving way of
the third gallery TO the left of the stage, on the
side towards Royal street. This gallery is oc
Hupied by eolored people,and was attached to the
! raiters of the ceiling 10y iron bars. 1t was also
connected with the second gallery by slight iron
! columns. The second gallery was, before this
season. supported by iron columns, resting ON
the first tier or dress circle. This year, however,
| they were removed, and the dress circle extend
ed some distance out over the parpuete and pit.
| Behind the dress circle open boxes, on the sides,
! isapassage or corridor generally occupied by gen
| tleman standing
The theatre was crowded for the benefit of a
favorte performer, Mr.. Carrier, the low coined
ian. The second act of the first place was draw
ing TO its close, when sharp report like that of
amusket, started the audience. Many thought
it was some incident of the play itself But in
another moment,a universal cry of alarm-a gen
eral rsing-a rush-he cracking and rashing of
! timber-the screams of women and shouts of men
told too plainly another tale. The terrible strug-
! gle and confusion of such a crowd,-endeayoring
each one TO escape from what threatened TO be a
scene of general destruction, can scarcely be re-
! allied. Several persons who witnessed the grad
ual fall of the two galleries, the efforts of the
struggling and appalled, mass of human beings in
them to escape, and the appearance of the rest
OF the theatre at the same moment, described it
as something utterly paralyzing and hprrifying-~
exceeding any steamboat explosion, or conflagra-
ton, or railroad catastrophe they ever witnessed.
This general giving way of the two galleries
was inevitable, as the second was attached to the
third by the iron columns already mentioned and
| was not itself supported underneath save by the
| joists. 1t was well that the fabric was strong
| although unfortunately not strong enough, )else
| instead of slowly settling down like the leaves of
table, both galleries would have gone straight
! down on the dress circle and parquette, crushing
| all in them.
| The second gallery came down so as to rest at
wide angel against the wall and the back row
of boxes of the dress circle. low roof was
thus left over the passage way behind the boxes.
which afforded path of safety TO many. There
was time to calculate chances, however and
M. Jules Lavergne being caught with a good
number of other gentlemen under this place, pull
led some of the iron bars out of a window by main
strength and escaped thus into a side yard
Fortunately but few ladies are ever present at
the theatre on Sundays, and but few were there
last evening. Some half dozen in the boxes