Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-05
THE RICHMOND DISASTER.
FIFTY Persons Killed and Over One
Hundred Injured.

morning with eminent ctIzens, many To-
cal politicians, and a great many OF the
public at large, drawn there ty curiosity
TO hear the decision upon the question OF
the Mayoralty. Among many proml
nent men present were OK Governor
Wells, ex Congressman Nelson, Judge
John A. Meredith, Patrick Ii. Ayalett,
L. H. Chandler, and others. E
At IL o'clock the galleries of the
court room which, were crowded, fell III :.
The floor followed, and descended thirty
feet. to the floor below, which was the
floor of the House of Delegates Of Vir-
| rinia, on which some few of the mem
bers of a caucus were waiting. There
was a general crash of the timbers, and
falling of the inside wall. 3 = ~
The following persons were killed.
Patrick II. Ayalett: Capt. Charters, chief
of the fire brigade; E. M. Schofield, city
assessor and brother of Gen. Schofield;
DIR. J. b. Brook, editor of the Enquirer ;
Julius A. Hobson, city collector; S. Dug
ger, member of the House of Delegates !;
| T. A. Biewis, commission merchant OF
Alexandria; Samuel Eaton, of Boston, a
| former theatrical manager: Powhattan
Roberts, commissioner in chancery of the
Court of Common Pleas; Jas. A. Bla-
mire, Of Berlin. Prussia; 5. E. Burnam,
of Syracuse, New York; N. p. Howard,
lawyer; Ash Levy, merchant; J. w. d.
Bland, colored, Senator from Prince Ed
ward, and, merchant of DanviIle:
Thomas II. Wilcox, exConfederate gen.
eral; Samuel H. Harrison, a wealthy
landholder of Henry county; Charles j..
Gruman, Of Washington, d. c.; Robert
II. Many, Jr., land agent; Edward
Ward, of England; William H. Davis,
coal merchant; John Robertson. colored,
Baptist Minister; Colonel Pichigne@
Woodiolk; L. H., Foley, Deputy U. S.
Marshal; w. r. Randolph, of New
York; r. e. Bradshaw, grocer, and
twenty-three others. Among them are
one captain, one sergent, aud niue pri
Yates of police on duty in the building.
Among the wounded were Gov. Wells.
ribs broken, and o. Berwese, internally
injured; Ma. A. Kellyson, slightly; ;
Mayor Cahoon, slightly L. II. Chan.
der, Judge john A. Meredith, James
Reesou, John Howard, Rush Burgess,
collector of the district; VIM. @. Dur
ham, agent of the Virginia, New York
and st. Thomas steamship "Luce;" Hon.
7. S. Bocock, right leg amputated; Gen.
NJ. d. Cerse, of the Confederate army;
Col. G. w. Brend, Capt. G. w. Alien,
w. @. Elm, a newspaper correspondent
and broker; T. E. Baldwin. merchant,
from Newark, N. j.; w. d. Chesterman,
of the Petersburg Index; Wm H. Sep
per, merchant of Baltimore, and about
one hundred others. s."
Directly after the disaster the fire
alarm was sounded, and the hook and
ladder companies of the city repaired to
the rescue. A Gordon of police was
drawn around the building, and ladders
were thrown up TO the windows. For
three hours the scene was full of horror.
Minute after minute there appeared,
swung by rope tied around the middle,
the body Of some popular favorite, who,
after being swung on the shoulders of
one of the fire brigade, mangled and
dead, were brought down the ladder in
TO the green of the public park, where
j. was instantly surrounded ty 1000 or
5000 of those who bad gathered to
recognize the slain. The park was filled |
with weeping and anxious men until 2
o'clock, when the last victim was drawn
from the building. After this the police
closed the park, and refused admittance |
to any one, the bodies Of the dead hav-
ing been sent out.
All the stores in the city are closed,
and placards put upon the doors, "Closed |
in consequence of the disaster at the
Capitol; no more business done during
the day." To night meetings will be
held of members of the press association,
late military organizations, bar and cti-
zens generally. To morrow will be OBJ
served as day of general mourning.
LATER.
Major Calvert, ex State Treasurer, and |
w. G. Durham, of New York, are dy-
ing. Both are victims of the Disaster
The business houses are still closed.
Twelve funerals of victims Of the disas.
ter took place to day, including that Of
E n Schofield, City Assessor and broth
or of Major General Schofeld, which |
was attended by nearly 1000 people,
and those of Julius Hobsun. collector of
city taxes, and VIM A Charters, chief of
the fire department. The latter was at
tended by an immense crowd. The
body was conveyed on an engine and
followed by all the other engines of the
department decorated with eyergreens.
A telegram was received by the, Sec
rotary of State to day from Mayor Fox,
Of Philadelphia, stating that subscriptions
are being raised for the sufferers. A
merchant of Chicago has. also advised
the Relief Committee to draw OH him
for necessary funds. 1855 81 aiu
No further deaths to day. 80 j
Provisions of the New Banking Bill.