New-York tribune., 1870-04-28

TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
FALL OF A FLOOR ~ THE CAPITOL BUILD
ING AT RICHMOND, VA.

KILLED AND ONE HUNDRED wOUNDED-LIST
OF THE VICTIMS.
RICHMOND, April 27.-One of the most
fghtful and appalling catastrophes occurred at tho
Capitol building this morning, by which over fifty cit
| zens lost their lives, and as many were manned.
"a THE SCENE OF THE DISASTER.
Such was the intense interest felt In the decision to be
rendered by the State Court Of Appeals In the Mayoraty
case to-day that by II O'Clock crowd Of eager cit
liens filed the courtroom which is located on the upper
floor OF the Capitol building the north side, and I'M
mediaely above the ball Of the House OF Delegates
The room is about 90 by 25 feet the judges bench
at end being confronted by small gallery at the
other The entrance to the courtroom Is from bal
conied gallery in the upper story over the washington
monument the lower floor, and above Is skyght In
the roof which admits the light This balcony, or gal
lery, also filed with people who could not gain
| admittance to the courtroom. At the time OF the
catastrophe is estimated that not than persons
were In the but these filed 1t to its utmost
capacity Alarge number Of the legal fraternity and mem
bers Of the press seated in the room Immediately
in front of the bench and the gallery. Tho opposite
end was filed with leading citizens, and the center OF
the small room thronged by q crowd, both seated
and standing There was general conversation or ds-
cussion the merits Of the going on among the
assembled audience, and all were eagerly awaiting the
advent Of the Judges At length two OF their Honors
entered-Judges Joynes and Anderson-and took their
seats when the conversation lued among the people,
ana 10r the nrst time tnere was
THE ACCIDENT.
Suddenly and while awaiting the arrival Of the re-
naming Judges report of a smothered gun under
the floor was heard followed Immediately by another
similar report and everybody started from their seats
looked toward the center OF the room from whence
these Omnous sounds seemed to issue. People there
stood looked themselves for explanation of this
strange and mysterious 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 way in the center OF the room.
simultaneously everybody jumped to their feet, for
all felt that danger imminent, and sepreservation
is the first law of nature But 1t too late. Down
went the floor with 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 2 feet to the floor Of the House OF
Delegates. Then, with the descending mass, the ceiling
above, which somehow attached to the gallery Also
came down with another fearful crash smothering and
crushing the living and struggling mass OF victims
beneath.
PRovIDENTIAL ESCAPES.
ledge OF about twelve feet which the bench was
located did not go down. and on hI many lives were
saved including the judges and reporters AS soon as
the fearful crash had occurred those who could cuched
hold Of the windows stepped out OF the gallery and ran
out other rooms and thus many others were also saved
TERRIBLE SCENE.
The scene which followed is utterly beyond descrip-
tlon Between the two bodies OF the floor and ceiling
was the mass Of people, the force and power OF the lat
ter with gallery falling upon them, forever silencng
their cries for help 1t was scene OF horror never 10 be
forgotten by those who witnessed IL To those who re-
maned about and who ventured to look down into the
vacant space OF the Court nothing was visible but
cloud mick dust which fItc cries of the
victims yet alive could be heard vanly appealing for
help The crash felt in every portion OF the build
ing to the basement out Of which the ofcers ran
in precpitate haste and the alarm OF the catas-
nc yVas
surrounding churches. This sound had the effect OF
bringing promptly to the the Fire Department,
beside large Of citizens, Sere under the
impression that confagration had taken place Hooks
and ladders brought into active requstion
and the work OF extrcang the dead the mangled the
wounded, and the dying was commenced.
BRINGING OUT THE VICTIMS.
One by one they brought forth from the mass OF
debris through the windows and doors, those unhurt
first making their appearance begrimmed with dust and
with torn and battered clothes Next came the dead and
wounded who deposited on the grass plots Of the
square, which soon resembled the after battle,
with afflicted relatives, male and female wandering
about in search OF missing since the announce
ment Of the catastrophe II painful and hearrend-
ing to the groans of the wounded and dying and
the wailing OF and children, strong men being
affected to tears and each fresh VICTIM covered with
dust and debris was borne forth another ana 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 extrcae them but
the citizens and remen worked vigorously throughout
the entire morning until the last one was brought out
and consigned TO the keeping OF friends and relatives
FORTUNATE INCIDENT.
Luckily II was an hour prior to the meeting of the
legislature when the House Of Delegates would also
have thronged and hundreds Of others would have
been added to the already immense list OF killed and
wounded it was, fifteen or twenty persons arc
reported TO have been in the house, some OF whom
escaped and some killed, OF the pages among
them An incident of the lamentabe occasion Is that
both the Mayors-Ellison and Cahoon-who were the
most interested parties present, went down with the
floor into the yawning beneath Ellison escaping
unhurt, while CahOon slightly injured
FIFTYsIX PERSONS KILLED.
tits now positively ascertaned that there were fifty
persons killed in the caasrophe but the number OF
has not been accurately ascetaned as many Of
them walked of 1t is supposed, however that not less
| than one hundred wounded.
LIST DEAD.
The following is a list of the killed, far as ascer-
| tanned:
| PHI Aylett, attorney-at-law.
| n. y. Howard attorney atlaw.
Powhattan Roberts, attorney at-law.
Dr. J. r. B. Brock, reporter for The Enquirer ana Er-
anI' w 4 1,and. Senator from Prince Edward.
VIM A. Charters Chief Engineer OF the Fire Depart
ment - ,,,. 49,.
| Robert II. Maury, jr., land agent.
| W. II. Davis, coal merchant.
| David Dounan, OF W. X. D0nnan
| Col Samuel HairstOn OF Henry County.
| n. f. Robertson OF Cumberland County
| John KObcrtsO a cOlOrcd Baptist minister.
Thomas H. Quarles and Charles Grinnon OF Washington
| City
| Edward Ward Of England
| Can't James Kirby an old citizen Of Richmond
| Thomas II. Wilcox OF Charles City.
| Ash Levy, Old citizen.
| Col Pichegru Voolfolk.
| r. T.. Bradstow, grocer,
| W. II. Thompson OF sidney.
| r. T.. Foley, Deputy United States Marshal.
| r. NJ Schohed, City Assessor.