Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-02
THE RICHMOND CATASTROPHE.


The particulars of the Richmond catas-
trophe are given as follows in the New York
papers
Such was the intense interest felt in the de-
cison to be rendered by the State Court OF APP
peals in the Mayoralty case that by II O'Clock
A. NJ. crowd of eager citizens filled the court
room, which is located on the upper floor of
of the Capitol building, on the north side, and
Immediately above the hall of the House Of
Delegates. The room is about 90 by 25 feet,
the Judges bench at one end being confronted
by small gallery at the other. The entrance
to the courtroom is from balconied gallery
in the upper story, over the Washington mon
ument on the lower floor, and above is a sky
light in the roof which admits the light. This
balcony, or gallery, was also filled with peo-
pie who could not gain admittance to the
courtroom. At the time of the catastrophe
it is estimated that not more than 800 persons
were in the courtroom but these filled it to
its utmost capacity. A large number of the
legal fraternity and members of the press
were seated in the room Immediately in front
of the bench and the gallery. The opposite
end was filled with leading citizens, and the
center of the small room was thronged by a
crowd, both seated and standing. There was
general conversation or discussion as to the
merits of the case going on among the assem-
bled audience, and all were eagerly awaiting
the advent of the Judges. At length two of
their Honor,, entercd-Judges Joynes and
Andcrson-and took their seats, when the
conversation lulled among the people, and tor
the first time there was perceptlble silence.
Suddenly, and while awaiting the arrival of
the remaining Judges, a report as of a smoth-
cred gun under the floor was heard, followed
Iiota Loo, l,xr lar III
everybody started from their seats and looked
toward the center of the room, from whence
these ominous sounds seemed to issue. Peo-
pie there stood up and looked themselves for
an explanation of this strange and mysteri-
Gus noise. But they had not long to wait.
There came a cracking sound as of small
timbers breaking, and then the floor was felt
giving away III the center Of the room. Sim
ultaneously everybody jumped to their feet,
for all felt that danger was imminent, and
self preservation is the first law of nature.
But it was too late. Down went the floor with
a terrific crash, with its living, breathing and
frightened human freight, dragging with it
the gallery and its living mass, and down they
went distance of nearly % feet to the floor
of the House of Delegates. Then, with the
descending mass, the ceiling above, which
was somehow attached to the gallery also
SauiS uo" u W lth ledIlul CRASH, SuOlii-
ering and crushing the living and struggling
mass of victims beneath.
A ledge of about twelve feet, on which the
bench was located, did not go down, and on
this many lives were saved, including the
judges and reporters. As soon as the fearful
crash had occurred those who could clutched
hold of the windows, stepped out of the gal
lery, and ran out to other rooms, and thus
many others were also saved.
The scene which followed is utterly beyond
description. Between the two bodies of the
floor and ceiling was the mass of people, the
force and power of the latter, with the gallery
falling upon them, forever silencing their cries
for help. 1t was scene of horror never to
be forgotten by those who witnessed it. To
those who remained about, and who ventured
to look down into the vacant space of the
Courtroom nothing was visible but a cloud of
thick dust, through which the frantic cries of
the victims yet alive could be heard vanly ap-
pealing for help. The crash was felt in every
portion of the building, even to the basement,
out of which the officers ran in precipitate
haste, and soon the alarm of the catastrophe
was pealed through the city on the bells of the
surrounding churches. This sound had the
effect of bringing promptly to the scene the
Fire Department. beside large concourse of
citizens, who were under the impression that
a conilagration had taken place. Hooks and
ladders were at once brought into active req
uisition, and the work of extricating the dead,
the mangled, the wounded, and the dying, was
commenced.
One by one they were brought forth from
the mass of debris through the windows and
doors. those unhurt first making their appear
ance begrmmed with dust and with torn and
tattered clothes. Next came the dead and
tyou pIn1 bn Iannc;toI tbn
plots of the square, which soon resembled the
scene after battle, with afflicted relatives,
male and female, wandering about in search
of some one missing since the announcement
of the catastrophe. 1t was painful and heart
rending to hear the groans of the wounded and
dying, and the wailing of women and chill
dren, strong men being affected to tears, and
as each fresh victim, covered with dust and
debris, was borne forth another and another
cry of sorrow and distress was sent up.
From the mass of fallen timbers and debris
many of the arms and legs of the wounded
and dead projected, and it required the work
OF hours to eXtricate them; but the citizens
and firemen worked vigorously throughout the
entire morning until the last one was brought
out and consigned to the keeping of friends
and relatives.
Luckily it was an hour prior to the meeting
of the Legislature, when the House of Dele
gates would also have been thronged, and
hundreds of others would have been added to
the already immense list Of killed and wound
ed. As it was, some fifteen or twenty per-
sons are reported to have been in the house,
some of whom escaped and some were killed,
one of the pages among them. An incident
of the lamentable occasion is that both the
Mayors-Ellisou and Cohoon-who were the
most interested parties present, went down
with the floor into the yawning room beneath,
Ellison escaping unhurt, while Cahoon was
slightly injured
1t Is now positively ascertained that there
were fifty-six persons killed in the catastro
phe; but the number of wounded has not been
accurately ascertained, as many of them
walked Off 1t is supposed, however, that not
less than one hundred are wounded.