The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-07
The Richmond Calamity.

had previously announced. A barbecue was
to be given to the colored voters who favor
ed the election of Walker, on Kitchens
Island, adjacent to Vauxhall's Island. A
suspension bridge not more than fifty feet
long and FIVE feet wide connected the
islands A policeman was stationed to keep
the crowd from crossing until preparations.
for dinner were complete. Col. James r.
Branch was on the island experimenting
matters, and about hundred men had been
admitted on tickets when a colured man
came up to Col. Branch and said there were
many Walker men who were not allowed
to cross the bridge because they had no
tickets Col. Branch walked down to the
middle of the bridge, beckoned to the
policeman and told him to let the crowd
come
The policeman thereupon gave way, and
the eager crowd on the other side rushed ON
the bridge. There was swaying to and
fro. Somebody cried, THE bridge is giving
away" aud in an instant the heavy struc-
ture, with its human freight, fell with
crash INTO the rushing flood below.
The sound was heard all over both islands
and there was u simultaneous rush to the
bridge. The sight that met the eye was
appalling. Ten or fifteen human beings
were buried beneath the heavy timbers,
threatened alike with death from drowning
and the crushing weight. Most of them,
being only slightly wounded, scrambled out,
and, grasping the chains and jumping from
timber TO timber, reached the shore
Others, however, were not so fortunate.
The first of these was Colonel Branch. He
had been struck on the back of the neck
by massive iron chain. Then falling te-
meath the bridge, lie was unable to extri-
cate himself, and lay for several minutes
with the water dashng over his face, strug-
Cling in vain. Policeman Kirkham, who
was ON duty at the end of the bridge nearest
Vauxhalls Island, had his head mashed be-
tween two falling beams, and was instantly
killed. A colored man named Peter Camp
bell was badly cut upon the head and re-
ceived another blow, from which paralysis
resulted. Robert Ashby, Mr.. Lotsey, and
others whose names were not until after
wards ascertained, were also badly injured.
A scare or more of men promptly rushed in
to the water. Through their efforts the in
jurcd men were finally cxtricated and brought
to land. Eight or ten other men were in
jurcd, some of them quite seriously.
The bodies of Colonel Branch and Police
man Kirkllam were placed in the bowling
alley on the island, and the wounded men
were provided for us comfortably and as
speedily as possible. a# a
Colonel Branch was found to have received
a severe blow over the right temple, causing
conclusion of the brain, and a severe cut on
the top of the head 1t is not thought that
these wounds would have caused death, as
he struggled so hard after he had fallen into
the water The theory is that lie was borne
under the water by the weight of the bridge
and the crowd upon it and drowned After
his body had been laid in the bowling-alley,
some one shouted for a surgeon, saying that
he was still breathing. Ina moment the
physicians were at work with every manner
of restoratives, but all in vain the spirit of
James r. Branch had fled. g
Policeman Kirkhanl had evidently been
instantly killed. His head had been caught
between two large falling timbers, and his
skull had been literally crushed. His nose
was broken, and many of the bones of his
face. Z" itl. = ''is Il" t.t '''ND
I Robert W. Ashby was on the bridge a
little in front of Colonel Branch, and had
his skull severely fractured. He wasbrought
out of the water in great agony. The ply
sicians, finding that his skull had been frac-
tured, cut through the scalp, and discovered
the nature of the wounds, which proved
fatal last evening after he had been carried
home. ~. r,u g-
Col. Branch was the eldest son of Thomas
Branch ESQ.,, was born in Petersburg. Va,
and graduated with honors at Randolph Ma
con College in 1s47, When the war broke
out he raised Confederate artillery compa-
ny, which was known as Branch's Battery,
and served in the department of North Car
olina. Since the war he has been engaged
as partner in the house of Thomas Branch
& Sons bankers and brokers, with head
quarters at Richmond, and branches in sew
eral southern cities. He was polished gen
tleman and had a host of friends. A widow,
five children to mourn his sudden death.
Thomas Kirkhan was an Englishman by
birth and unmarried. He served in the
United States army, and was appointed po'
liceman on the recommendation eff General
Schofeld. ,s.'-.3.
Robert W. Ashley was respectable tin,
man, and left widow and two children.
The funeral rites of these men were cele.
DRAFTED yesterday. and large numbers Of PEG,
pie attended the ceremonies. I'll
In New Orleans may be seen colored drill
master drilling company of white men, ane
the scene inspires the journals Of that city
with The liHeliest forebadipgs. u 5