The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-03
Az Appalling Calamity,


Al Appalling Calamity,
On the occasion Of The barbecue forthe
colorea men who had attached themselves
to the WALKS. Liberal party, advertised ~
the papers yesterday morning to take place
at yauxhaif's IsADd.atA$ O'Clock yesterday
evening, q lameataAle and fatal calamity oe-
Cured hy the falling Of the foot-bridge con-
meeting VauxharPs with the island immedi-
atelv above 1t as some twenty or thirty per-
SONS were upon IT. Through the injuries
inflicted .Sy the falling timbers, the reeoitoi
the heavy chains, and the effects Of water,
TIVE we're Killed outright Colonel AMEsK
BR.wcH. OF the welIknown firm OF THoaAs
BKAscH Il Son, bankers, and policeman
KraxHAS-two others were probably NOR
tally wounded, while several Were more
or less injured. The local department Oh
this uaper will give the full particulars.
This event has occasioned a feeling of the
deepes. distress in, this city, SO that 1t may
be said that o pail Is spread over Il. me
great majority Of the. citizens felt as though
each had sustained a special affection In
the death CT the most prominent amongt the
victims Colonel JAMES R.*BRANch). Rich
mond sustains . public calamity, while she
~trseicsl scene in which his life passed away
was 30 thrust upon the theatre ofhasmony,
festiyity, and patriotic enthusiasm, that II
produced q Revision which appalled, the
stoutest heart and unneryed the most cou-
rageous. ;"Ti II Il .aoE"a ..a1t ~ a. -
Colonel BRANCH was conspicuous in the
undertaking, and ne was buoyant with the
prospect of the. happy results in helping 10
harmonic social elements which had been
disastrously e%stranged. He was full OF
cheerfulness and hope, and was engaged at
the time Of the accident in welcoming. me
throng that from some misunderstanding
Ind been m~omentarily detained. He had
crossed the bridge, but he returned to see
that the newcomers were admitted, when
the bi ldge fell, and he met his fate. i /
We do not exaggerate the public feeling at
the Ii SIS of this excellent gentleman and inva-
luat e citizen when we say thatthe death Of
no man In; the city would be more deeply
de plored. He was one Of the most useful of
men. ! He was sagacious, energetic, LIBERAL,
patriotic. He was quick to %foresee, prompt
to act, and untiring in his public devotion.
He was what in modern parlance Is styled a
s.liye man.; and he was considered as one
of the men just suited to the exigency of
the times-created, as it were, for them
to bear an important part in bringing Il
dear mother Virginia out of the ;embarrass-
ments and woes in which she is involved
and putting her upon her new career Of
grandeur and power. He moved with his
father to this city from Petersburg since the
war. He rapidly gained popularity, n
was O nominee for the State Senate from
this district, for the election on Tuesday
next. II E...la... -. .Ii1taS
Colonel BRANCH saw the bright future of
his State, and bent his mind and hisenergies
to hasten it.. To no SON Of hers would the
realization of the bright prospects he fore
saw have afforded more ecstatic delight
To his public services must be added his
generous, social qualities, and his sincerity
and integrity in all things. His. tiliall and
family affections were devout, and his whole
life was bright with gentleness and loyalty,
public and private. TT &"s~"" ''"'
The venerable THOMAS BRANCH, his father,
was on the island when the accident oc-
Cured, and though he did not behold it, he
soon learned his bereavement from the life
less body. of his son. When al hope of the
restoration Of his son was gone, he crossed
the bridge to wend his way home. He
walked rs in a dream with fixed eyes. There
was a delirium of woe in his steady gaze
and unturning head that struck the deepest
chords of sympathy of the breasts OF all
who saw HIM. d. .taa. o., "'
Yet we can but grieve the departed, and
remembering his heroic and u~nfiagsing de-
votion to the peace and prosperity of his
State and the liberty Of e rpeople, endeavor
to strengthen our w devotions by EMU
lating his example. May he rest in peace !!