Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-05-06

even 10 the present era, by the burn
ing of the Richmond theatre, which
occupied the site on which the "Mon-
umental Church" now stands. Over
one hundred ladies and gentlemen, in
Guiding the Governor of Virginia, per-
ished in the flames. Since that terri
BILE event, which occurred sixty-nine
years ago, this community has not been
afflicted with any calamity so produc-
tive of overwhelming horror, desola-
tion and grief, until yesterday, the 9th
of April, when upwards of fifty of our
citizens were suddenly ushered into
eternity by an appalling accident at
the State Capitol. More than a hun
dred other citizens were MANNED or in
jured by the same dreadful disaster
Our hand falters whilst we attempt to
record the details of the catastrophe.
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
On the 10th of March last new
City Council, appointed by Governor
Walker, in pursuance of the provis-
ions of an act of the General Assem-
bly,, known MS the "enabling act, - cleo
ted Mr.. III. X. Ellyson Mayor of Rich
mond. The constitutionalty of the
said act was contested by the incum-
bent of the Mayoralty, Mr.. George
Chahoon, and ultimately the question
was brought before the Supreme Court
of Appeals, recently elected by the
Legislature. The arguments of coun-
sci were heard last week, and the court,
as usual, reserved its decision. On
| Tuesday, IL was announced that the
| decision would be rendered on the fol-
lowing day yesterday at IL o'clock.
The solution of this vexed question
had excited great interest in this COM
Il - N.s.t
| large crowd of persons assembled in
| the courtroom.
THE LOCALITIES.
The courtroom of the Supreme
Oourt of Appeals occupied the north
eastern corner of the third floor of the
| Capitol, and was separated from the
apartments occupied by the Governor
and his staff by thin partition. The
| entrance to the courtroom was from
the corridor which overlooks the
| Washington statue. Access to the gal
lery was by means of a stairway COM
mencing near this entrance. Under
this gallery was a vestibule, with a
centre door opening into the court
room, and opposite this door, at tie
eastern end of the room, was n plat
form on which the judges sat. The
room was occupied during the late war
by the Virginia Senate, the present
Senate Chamber being occupied by the
Confederate House of Representatives.
The apartment outside of the railing,
i'm front of the judges, would Ordinari-
ly accommodate about two hundred
persons. The gallery would hold about
one hundred. Immediately under the
courtroom, but extending the width
of the building, is the Hall of the
House of Delegates.
i THE CATASTROPHE.
At IL O'clock the courtroom, vesti-
bule and gallery were all crowded with
citizens and strangers, mostly white
eagerly awaiting the announcement OF
the decision. Others were constantly
arriving, and i'm "A very few minutes all
the available space was occupied. Al
the reporters table were scented Mr..
NJ, L. Handy of the Dispatch, DIR.
Joseph B. Brock of the Enquirer, Mr.
Ernest Wilt of the State Journal, Mr.
j. a. Pizzini of the WIG, Mr.. w. d.
Chesterman of the Petersburg Inder
and Mr.. w. &. Elam of the Petersburg
Courier. About twenty-five members o.
, the bar, including the counsel in tn,
case, were present. Gsneral Wise anC
X. n. Daniel, Esq, of the counsel
) were not present. A cheerful gooC
: humOr prevailed on all sides. Present
~ Judge w. II. Joynes entered from
the conference room,' through sid'
door, and made some remark to Ex
Governor Wells. He returned to tht
conference room,h but in a few mo
ments returned accompanied by Judg,
I Il. II. Anderson. They took their seat
Z to await the arrival of their colleagues
who We're expected every minute from
c the adjoining Conference room," il
= which they tarried.
Il A crack was heard as if gun hat
been exploded beneath the floor! Al
: eyes turned towards the centre door
under the front of the gallery, iron
g whence the sound proceeded. In al
' instant, the ominous and alarming
: sound was again heard, and simultane
: ously, To the horror of all present, til
; floor commenced to give way, and i'm
: medatety fell through to the floor be
l. low with fearful crash, followed nc
Q only by the gallery and it's weight {
u humanity but by the timbers overhead
: to which the ceiling of the courtroom
II was attached. We dare not attempt
e description of the fearful scene! !
II wall of horror, quickly followed b
shrieks of suffering mortals, ascende
b, from that abyss of agony and death.
" THE EStAPES.
y That portion of the floor OH whic
u the judges platform was erected di
q not go through with the rest, as thei
ls was comparatively but little weigl
le upon it. Judges Joynes and Anderso
&c escaped to the conference r0om," an
d were followed by Mr.. Pizzini of ii
V WHIG, and several others, who ha
IS struggled through the mass of rubbis
and reached the platform. Colon
ts McPhail was leaning against the mai
y tel, and clung TO it until he obtained
foothold. His arm was badly injure
by the plaster falling from above. NJ
William Taylor, grocer, of this cit.
a grasped window sill near him III
IN held on until assistance came.
r A large number of those who wei
a through sustained no other injury tina
r. "a severe shock and few bruises
er cuts. Ii Is marvellous that so maj
Se escaped death from the falling timbe
lie and heavy plaster ceiling of the couT
sd room which must have fallen upon Il
he crowd.
e. THE SCENE OUTSIDE.
- A few persons were in the Squa
le near the Capitol. Most of them COZ
le pretended at once the terrible acciden
" while Others, who observed the W
10 umes of dust pouring from the wi
~ dows, supposed that an explosion
=; the heating boiler in the building IN
he taken place.
'e MIR. w. III. Grant FASTENED to u
Dollhouse on Ninth street, and at Il
instance the general alarm was soun
ed The bell was tapped rapidly, al
Ie- all within hearing Of the sound we