The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-07-29
Terrible Accident in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia papers devote much space to
the recent calamity in that city, by which large
number OF the insane inmNes Of the Rlockley
Aimshous se were either killed or BADLY injured
We copy the following from the Press
The inmates In this part of the Institution usually
r;se abont we O'Clock and breakfast at six 1t the
misfortune had been delayed few minutes mere
would have been fewer casualties, as many oi
these unfortunate ones would have been al bieak-
fast In another part OF The building.
The tneaktast bell wds just about being iung
when the disaster occurred. Three loud crashes
were heard, following each other at intervals -
These three crashes were caused by the falling Ot
The three floors The h0Ofs gave way above The
GENRE pier, aud fell IN from each side, forming Two
sides Of a triangle. number OF The inmates es
caped HahiIi by being At The time Ut tbe aerideat
nea, one Of the outside was. Those Ia the upper
stories swept along with the contents OF taa
rooms inIo the cellar, ana buried htive Ia the
iuns. The ihIit Ks OF the insane were appalling
and tbr utmost confusion aud disorder prevailed
tor some time. Some 0i the naniteT managed To
work theif way out. They were tlsea charge of,
and hurr ed 10 PAGES ot security. The attention
OF the various oteia!S was soon called to the
suot They Immediately sci to work getting uut
the wounded and removing the ruius
FOR aare time tBe iaii OF the doors, pieces
OF raf;ers large pieces OF stone, anu otncf thinss
continued faii the root, Joists, and all othe
Iouse pteces Weig soon removed. The walls 0l the
building alone remain the entire structure from
cellar roof being completely guited. 1he ibJHeo
| meianc holy sight was here presented fhoSe OF
tfe injured who were abie III set up in their beds
or talk dii not understand thai they were
| ipilred, or what had been going on 'ARd many
| OF Them seemed perfectly unconscious isat any
| Thing uuusuai had happened. fhe most perfect
| nrdeT was soon restored and kept throughout the
| ins,itution. Dr Mccoy, DR. Butler, the steward
and Afr HrDe eY, unremittiHg In their iabofs
and accom- plished much in bringing back the usua
routine aud order In this abode tor wrecked and
| Tuiued minds.
| AS soon as II was possible, the managers oi the
Institution prepared other .o0Ms perfectly cure
| for the accommodation oi the patients but d wd'
| impossibie To induce theR TO enter. some were
suilra Others full OF Merfnieat, otheis az all
| .rpeared melancholy, while IN ,st OF them W0nif
| snudder uoon looking 1T the building. Que WOui.
| take a SOFT oi side glance, and suddenly turn he
| head sway aud hide her tace in her hands Ihnugi
| none Of them seemed 10 appreciate inc appalling
-calaHity yet they mad suIt of lnslincti dTeat
| that something had happened, That made then
turn in hortos DISCUS, fi0m thc building.
Il up 10 late hour The poor creatures, or most q
lem, we've In The court yard enjoying themseiVe
| as though they were on a plcnie excursion. In
| officers were very kind ia their remarks 10 thea
Some reDlied quite faiionally at times, hut whit
| ever an lnyitaiiOH Was extended 10 the 10 entt
: | the building they ufned away and exhibited Il
| most dec.ded demonstrations TO fe.lst. supp'
| time finally approached, aad the party, exceptin
| about twenty 1--WE. enteied the room and par t0o
oi theis evening rcpast as though nothing Had hal
pened. The othefa remained Ia The yard, becaas
! lney "did not feel huBgty" IL viii be seen by tf
! above incidenIs that tiSotdcred mental faeuitis
| may be successfully appealed 10 thtough ths Ms
aiuin Of stomach, ihe same as In Certain eas'
where more fortunate fellow beings are fuiiy ei
! dowed with reason.