The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-05-05
Terrible Disaster and Loss Of Life.
RICHMoNp, VA, April q

A large crowd was collected In the upper por-
ton of the Capitol building, this morning,
where the Supreme Court of Appeals is Located, !;
to hear the decision in the mayorahty case OF
Ellyson Us. Cahoon. About II a. M, the floor
gave way beneath the dense weight, preclplta-
ting the crowd to the floor below, upon the con-
seryative caucus then sitting in the hall OF the
House of Delegates. 1t is impossible to ascer-
tain the extent of the injuries at this hour.
Among Am no the killed are p. q. Aylett, Esq,
distinguished lawyer of this city DR.. 3. B.
Brock. a reporter for the Enquirer and Exam
iner: Sam Eaton, Clerk Of Mayor Cahoon;
Capt. VIM. A. Charters, Chief of Fire Depart
ment N. P. Howard, lawyer; Ash. Levy, a
Richmond merchant; Chas. Watson of the
Danville Railroad; Hugh Hutchison and Lewis
N. Webb, of the city; Schofeld, brother OF
Gen. Schofeld; R. 81. Maury, Jr.; Senator
Bland, (colored, and Powhattan Roberts. 1t
is supposed that twenty members of the State
Legislature. are killed and wounded. The
Judges of the Court of Appeals all escaped un-
hurt Ex-Governor Wells was badly injured /;
L. 81. Chandler, counsel for Cahoon, on the
mayorality case, was injured James Neson and
George Meredith, counsel for Ellyson, were al
so badly hurt. About 200 persons were hurt
by the accident. The greatest excitement pre-.
walls hundreds of persons are on the Capitol
Square. weeping and wailing as the dead and
diving are brought out of the building Cover
nor Walker escaped unhurt, though on the
court room floor at the time. Richmond is IA
NOUS for terrible accidents. Among the prin-
cipal may be mentioned the destruction of the
theatre-the site of which is now occupied by
the Monumental Church-in December, 1911,
when more than 100 persons lost their lives.
The breaking down of bridge leading to one
of the islands in James River, last spring; aud
the present disastrous event.
Among the many prominent persons present
were Congressman Nelson, Judge John A.
Meredith, Patrick 81. Aylett, ex-United States
District Attorney for this District; ex-United
others. At II o'clock the gallery of the Court
room. which was crowded, fell in; then the
floor followed, and thereon descended thirty
feet to the floor below, which was the floor OF
the House of Delegates of Virginia, on which
some few of the members of caucus were
waiting around There was general crash of
all the timbers, including the falling of the in
side wall.
The following additional persons are among
the killed Julius a. Hobson, City Collector ;
S. Dugger member of the House of Delegates ;
l.. A. Brewis commission merchant, of Alexan-
dria: James A. Blainier of Berlin, Prussia; S.
E. Barnham, Syracuse, N. Y; ] Watson, mer-
chant, of Danville Thos. Wilcox, ex-Confed-
crate General; Samuel Fl. Hairston, wealthy
land-holder, of Henry County; Charles j.
Grenan, of Washington, D. O.; Edward Ward,
of England; William II. Jarvis, coal merchant ;
John Robertson, colored Baptist minister; Col.
P. Voolfolk; T. Foley, deputy United States
Marshal of New York R. E. Bradshaw, gro
Ger, and thirty three others, amongst them one
NJ 6r,in 0f
police, who were on duty in the building.
Amongst the wounded were Ex-Gov. Wells,
ribs broken and otherwise internally injured ;
Mayor H. X. Ellyson slightly; Mayor George
Cahoon, slightly; L. H. Chandler, Judge James
A. Meredith, James Nelson, John Howard,
Rush Burgess, Collector of District, VIM. G.
Duncan, Agent Virginia and New York Steam
ship Line ; Hon. Thomas S. Bocock, of Virginia,
ex-Speaker of United States House of Repre-
sentatiyes, leg amputated; Gen. M. D. COrse,
ex-Major Gen. Confederate army, Col. George
w. Brent, of Alexandria, Capt George w. Allen,
Post Warden, w. G. Elan, newspaper cores
pondent and broker; Thomas S. Baldwin, mer-
chant from Newark, N. J.; w. @. Chesterman,
of Petersburg Inder, VIM. 81. Soper, merchant
of Baltimore and about 100 others.
Directly the disaster occurred, the flre alarm
was used to give notice, and the Hook and Lad
der Companies of the city repaired at once to
the scene. A Gordon of police was drawn
around the building and the ladders were
thrown up to the windows. For three hours
after that, the scene was full of horror. The
wounded and dead were brought down OF lad
ders and laid on the green in the public park,
where it was instantly surrounded by 1900 or
1000 of those who had gathered to recognize
the slain. The park was filled with anxious
weeping men until o'clock, when the last VIC
tim was drawn from the building. After this,
the police closed the park, refusing entrance to
any one, the bodies of the dead having been
sent out All the stores in the city were
closed and placards placed on the doors "Clos-
ed in consequence of the disaster at the Capt.
tol." No more business was done during the
day. Tonight meetings were held by mem
bers of the press association, members of late
military associations, and members of the bar,
and of the citizens generally. Tomorrow will
be observed as day of general mourning.
RICHMOND, VA, April %.
To-day, all the houses of business have been
closed, having Grape on the doors, and the In
scription: "Closed in consequence of the ca
lamity at the Capitol" The streets are filled
with funeral corteges. In the funeral corteges
of the dead policemen, both sets of policemen
Joined. All late political feeling seems to
have been forgotten. The bells of the city
have tolled all day, and the streets look like
Sunday. A crowd of about 1000 people are
now assembled in the Park, hearing addresses
of coincidence from Governor Walker, Judge
Ould, Judge Crump Ex-Governor Wise. and
others. delivered from the Southern portico OF
the Capitol Thos. S: Baldwin, one of the in
iured, died to-day. He was from Newark, N.
J., and owned large clothing house here.
That is the only death that has occurred since
yesterday. Both Houses of the Legislature
held informal meetings this morning, and
agreed to unite with the citizens in any general
Senator Bland, was sent home this morning,
the hearse being followed by white and colored
members of the Senate to the depot. Ex-Gov.
Wells is better to-day.
LATER.-Ths afternoon has been one of fu-
L. sa,,aa &C tLo nL,,rci,ac th roo fnlr