The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-05-09
THE RICHMOND CALAMITY.
l DAY OF HUMILIATION AND
PRAYER APPOINTED. y

- lS--a-I7FTV >
A DAY OF HUMILIATION AND
PRAYER APPOINTED. ~
DESCRIPTIONS; OF THE FEARFUL
FALL by SURVIVORS,.
Tho Terrible Blunder which Caused
~ the Disaster. ~
An immense coucourss Of people, rop-
rcscnting all classes of tho community and
every shade Of political opinion, assembled
at noon on Thursday Oh Capital square, in
Richmond, 10 pursuance Of call Of citi-
zens. Upon the spacious south portion
were collected tho Governor and Licuten-
ant Governor, the Judges Of tho Supreme
Court, the. members. white and colorcd Of
botA Houses ofiths General Assembly.
members Of tho Bar, tho clergy, the
Press, nd.leading citizens of tho State
and city. Governor Walker presided, and
on taking tho chair, made some very up
propriate remarks, After fcrvent and
eloquen. praysr,Dy Rev: DR.. Hose, Judge
W. w. Crrump offered tho following res
olutions: s,..o,,- .5l IN s.f., !
With hearts crashed and bleeding, with
mournful and overwhelming sense Of our
great bereavement, wo have assembled to
testify our sorrow for the dead, to offer our
kindcst and deepest sympathics to tha liv-
ing, and to mingle our tears with the
stricken households over which the angel
Of death has 50 suddenly passed. With
heads bowed in rcveren.ial awe before tho
great disposer Of events. We contemplate
with shuddering anguish that fearful and
terrible catastrophe which has hurried into
eternity our friends and fellow. citizens.
This fearful disaster, which has brought
lamentations and mourning to US all with
out distinction, has, in the universal sorrow
it has diiFused, touched that cord Of SYM
pathy among US Which makes all mankind
akin. Nor has this dread calamity been
confined alone to this mourning city, but
it has cast sombro shade throughout and
beyond The limits of.TIirginia. Insho Cap.
| itol Of our State, within the honored pre-.
cincts Of that ball whore justice sits 50.
preme among It's, in time Of profound
tranquility, at season when nature is re.
newing her life under the glowing warmth
Of vernal sun, when in unison with the
Spring time heart and hope rose highest
without warning, in an instant, death, .ht
rclnorselcss, has snatchcd from life somt
Of eur most valued citizens-co, 1. .icuou.
alike in public and Ptivatc life, and occu
pying every position Of usefulness among
us. Though accustomed BY years Of pain
full experience TO the inevitable hazards 0
war to those who stood vpon the "periloa
edge Of battle though nature woul'
have voice, and tears Of anguish weul,
flow, yet there vas wanting to our gris
the keen pang which has pierced ou
heart in this unexpected and stuunin
shock, which has bowed our souls wit
woe under its dread dispensation.y Nor
than two generations have passed. ava
siace people have been called to meurn
catastrophe so porteDtious. II is Ct th,
wo should follow the example Of our fail
. ors, and before the great Jehovah in h,
initiation and Ia prayer, ask for His msrc
/. and Hisgr1ce to support US in our hea,
afiiction; be II therefore ,ofop,d
Resolrea, Thatw mourn sii,:'' and Oh,
, sorrow The loss which sss,,tl,f her citi.
city has suffered =, .addoned tsur.s
) zen. Tia. :. offer, ..lStioundes, sym,s. !.
. aad .e.nll eyes. SGh,d to The suffering,
! tiles to The Hsfay That as yesterdays af-
and fcryeS, SO may there strength bo.
J, aic!l61retl, That Wednesday, next, ,she 4th
!. il My, be set apart ass day Of humilia.
ton. prayer aud religious ,srvics, on
which day tho people oAlhis city aro re.
quesled u assemble in \heir respective
4 places otpublic worship, such hours as
3 h..,i, jao;,r,ted by thsSor,x ,rhab..