Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-03
A.-Judge's stand.

b. B.-RepOrter's tables.
G. C.-COunsel's tables.
D.-Clerk's Office, over which was the
gallery-the line representing the parti-
lion between the clerks office and the
cOurt-rOomis Just where the girder was
E.-DOOr from courtroom to conference
room.
F.-Door from clerks Office to court
room.
G.-Entrance to gallery and clerks Office.
The courtroom is just over the hall of
the House Of Delegates.
I he bells had Just tOlled the hour of II,
and death-like 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 talking with him, while the
rest of the Judges were in the confer
ence-rOOm, not quite prepared to enter
on their days duty. The counsel tor
Mayor EllysOn, Messrs. NeeSOn and
Meredith, had taken their seats and
we're ready 10 proceed to business. Ex-
Gov. Wells and l.. II. Chandler, Esq,
were also in their places; and the report
sTs Of the Enquirer, Dispatch, Wig, and
state Journal were at the desks set apart
IOr their use and accommodation. The
moments We're spent in pleasant cOnyer-
sStiOn by the spectators present. Nari-
result, when, all at once, panel piece of
ceiling fell, and then the girder, which is
represented by the line of partition be-
tween the clerks office and the court
room, gave way with an awful crash, and
prscipitated the spectators who were IN
ths gallery Of the courtroom 10 the main
uoor, and the additional weight in one
single moments time crushing the court
room floor through.
The mass of human beings who were in
attendance we're sent, mingled with the
bricks. mortar, splinters, beams, iron
bars, desks and chairs, to the 1iOOr OF the
House of Delegates, aud in second more
over fifJy souls were launched into eter-
uitv' The whole atmosphere was thick
with q dense cloud of dust from the plas-
taring, and the human beings sent up
q gFOan which will wiring forever in the
ears upon which II fell. In a moment
sew survivors clinging 10 the windows
and fragments of hanging timber, and the
bare and torn walls, were all that re-
manned to malk the place where only
moment before there as scene OF life,
vigor and hope.
Affecting AND STARTLING INCIDENTS.
IA. Thomas Joynes fell together with
Or. !. =. Brock, and his mouth rested
against lae Doctors cheek. de asked
.She Ii WA near him. He told him his
uape. and be asked him in case he sur
.iVed 10 carry many messages Of affection
q his family. With words Of endearment
and love for those he left behind, he died.
Ar. Rush Burgess fell on top oi gen
lsHan whose name he could not learn.
re asked, " Ny friend, can you not move
Uttle2" Mr. Burgess replied, (" No,
,ssuaot stir" " Well, " said he, "I must
Ns, Goodbye"
g. Nqr{BR the time la which Hon. George
-. "a Brent Of Alexandria, was cover
- ruins. Mr.. Chandler, who was
60 -. ~ - - window and Mr.. Brent, was
n,7tesvoring TO gel away when Mr.. Brent
.s,,ght him by tie arfn sIld DeBgeo hlnii
G1r Gods sake, 20 it hiIn gei some arr,
rut la Mr.. Chambers position " vas IN
vyas rendered. In n short time, l9"eNer'
~ vas taken out and his lie saved.
W. learn from Mr.. Chandler, who was
.3oin,y well late last evening, that Mr.
samuel A. Eaton was sitting on the back
- bis chair when the floor fell through.
Faton was killed and Mr.. Chandler NOT
seriously iniured-such escapes are most
remark able. ,,s..
Tbe Conservative caucus which had met
iu the hall of the House Of Delegates ad-
i0urned not many minutes before the
calamity. Fortunately there had been a
dispute about the judgessip OF Henry
county. and an adjournment Was neces-
sary. Had this not been the case 1lnre
than half of the Legislature would have
teen crushed.
Or. Thompson. member Of the House of
Delegates from Hanover, was csught IN
der tWo men, who were instantly killed
w a heavy falling beam. De himself vas
'Vbtly injured.
j.. II. keenan, was buried beneath
, he n, - for three quarters of an hour,
- ,-ss 'pupd nearly sunocated under
: be dead bo tes He has almost entirely
recovered. go. ,,-t,,ss ,,s,,a No.,
~ I,,,;a1 81 ths = hBsbssas. One Of
nc ne O'Iie ~ .tnct that Il fs scarcely
t.lla -, ~, .s7, live through the day,
and another is insane, with Dnt tllIle not.S
'.S -e,,ayer1 A member of the Legisla-
ft,re describes his fall as 70 Lows
heard a low rumbling sound, MS sItl
myself sinking rapidly. ] was .sslt5
The gallery, and saw II falling TOW NJ
me Fortunately il did not reach me.
saw the men scrambliBg over each other
IN the gallery, and heard what seemed 10 :
he one unearthly yell OF agony, which
.eetoed sent up from one mouth. Then
came the cash and sank INTO
darkness. found myself under
mass Of rubbish with - dead
body over me, wounded man under
me. and another al my side. The poor
fellow nn0eF NE aaluf DAf nv =
,rould only fear God always as ] DO now
How wicked / have been ell my days!
ON God forgive mel Spare me, and l
will be a true follower Of Jesus The
man AZ nv side exclaimed, oh, death
where is thy sting? Oh, grave where Is
thv victoryg' ] heard a number OF cries
N about me. Some were speaking about !
heir wives, others OF their children,
while others were begging for air. ! be-
Q ieve many Of the men died from sunoca-
lion, for. although but little hurt myself,
] should have died from sutiOcation u
had not been removed when / was.'
Mslor Calvert, late State Treasurer,
,os Nes the following statement: / was ~
he ci.Nrk's Office, Just under the gallery,
1ootiog through the window into the
aonrt-roop. Standing by my side were
NaurV Roberts and Baldwin. Was
nearest the d,9Or leading out. A friend OF
Trine started 70 come In. He remarked,
/ will no. stay hsre; it Is much safer out
-t5s than II Is inside. He stepped out OF
he door. and had hardly disappeared
when the crash came. l tried 70 get 70
the door. l had almost made my escape,
when ! was borne dOwnlnto the darkness
below. / hardly remember anything Dat
the confused din Of voices and ialhng
timber. ! found myself entirely covered;
my left side seemed nearly crushed, but
my right arm was free. With this re-
moved the rubbish from about my head,
and was thus enabled 10 breathe little.
was released in about three-quarters OF
an hour. My EFT leg was badly broken,
and my left side bruised.
The funerals Of John NJ. Turner, lit
lie page In the House of Delegates, and