The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-05-05
A LARGE NUMBER WOUNDED.

LARGE NUMBER WOUNDED.
| Sad-sad, indecd-is the duty of the
chronicler Of the sad events and terrible
scenes in our State capitol Cd yesterday
Unprecedented in their awful results, heart
rending in thier every aspect, and bringing
mourning to our entire city, we almost halt
in palsied horror in the undertaking Of their
narration. To describe it would be beyond the
power Of man, and with those who witnessed
| it its recollection will remain indelibly vivid
as long as life shall last In sending to a
spirit rieved people our account of this
dreadful calamity swe are well aware of our
inability to give them more than narrative
Of the facts and casualties. The attendant
scenes may be imagined but cannot be des-
cribed. We give below, as best we could
obtain them, a summary Of the dreadful
events:
a THE CATASTROPHE.
The room Of the Court Of Appeals was
the scene of this horrible occurrence, and its
many historic associations and "reminiscences
have eliminated in an affair which beggars
description, and which will be remembered
as long as Richmond is a city As is well
known, the Mayoralty controversy was about
| to be decided, and an immense concourse OF
anxious spectators and listeners had gathered
to ascertain the result. Members of the Leg
islature, visitors to the city from all parts Of
our country, members Of the bar, representa-
tives of both police forces of the city, mem.
| bers of the press, and representatives Of all
classes aud conditions of life, were assembled.
The bells had just tolled the hour of II,
and death-lke silence reigned as Mr. Starke,
the clerk, entered and placed his books on
the table. Judge Joynes was in his seat
Mr.. Starke, leaning over the railing, was talk
ing with him, while the rest Of tho Judges
were in the confereDce-room not quite prepar
ed to enter on their days duty. The coun-
sci for Mayor Ellyson, Messrs. Neeson aud
Meredith, had taken their seats, aod were
ready to proceed to business Ex-Governor
Wells and H. 81. Chandler, Esq, we're also
in their places and the reporters of the
Enquirer, Dispatch, Wig, and State Jour
nal, were at the desks set apart for their use
and accommodation. The moments were
spent in pleasant con yersation by the specta-
tors present. Various were the speculations
as to the final result, when all at once, a PAN
81 piece Of ceiling fell, and then the girder,
gave way with an awful crash, and precipitated
the spectators who were in the gallery of the
courtroom to the main floor, and additional
weight in one single moments time crushing
the court room floor through The mass Of
human beings who were in attendance were
sent, mingled with the bricks, mortar, splin-
l be ah.1r IN,
the floor of the House Of Delegates, and in
second more, over fifty souls were launched
into eternity! The whole atmosphere was
thick with dense cloud of dust from the
| plastering, and the human beings sent up a
groan which will ring forever in the ears
! upon which it fell In moment, few sur
vivers clinging to the windows and fragments
Of hanging timber, and the bare and torn
walls we're all that remained to mark the
place where only moment before there was
scene Of life, vigor, and hope. .,.,
| SCENE ABOUT THE CAPITOL BUILDING
! The scene about the Capitol building just
after the cad occurrence was one OF terror.
The first notice that those who were in the
building had of the impending evil was the
| premonitory rumbling as the floor was settling.
| Then there came fearful crash, accompanied
by cry Of human agony and terror which
smote the hearts Of all who heard it. In a
short time the bells were tolling, and. the
hook and ladder truck being brought upon
the spot. the ladders were put to the windows,
land the work of humanity began. The
binding dust within prevented any one from
seeing ANYTHING, and the rushing of persons
within the building and the cries OF the
wounded was all that could be heard.
1NTHE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
! Here was scene that fairly made ones
heart bleed AS the dust cleared away a
LITTLE mass Of timbers and rubbish of every
dissertation was deserted, and the reflection
of the numbers Of human beings crushed be-
meath its weight, dead and dying, was sioken-
ling. Add to this the cries and groans OF
those who were there, many in the agony of
death, and there is picture to make the
stoutest hearts quail. The entire hall was
flooded with the ruins, except the space I'M
der the gallery. Desks, chairs, and tables,
were crushed completely, showing the force
Of the falling wreck. The work of remov
ing the debris was difficult one, but was
undertaken by those present with q will, and
it was not long before the unfortunate men
we're rescued from their painful position.
IFBR1NaING OUT THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
This scene defes even an attempt at de-
scription. The doors and windows of tn
:: Hall we're thrown open, and within were sool
collected the busy workers, who mid thei
own shouts and the agonizing groaps Of thos
they wete seeking to rescue, were removing
~ the timhars As the wounded and dca