The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-05-11
The Richmond Calamity.


In addition to the full details alrea-
dy given in the dispatches, we copy as
follows from the Richmond Whig. of
the 2Stl:
The court room of the Supreme
Court 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 court room was from
the corridor which overlooks the
Washington statue. Access to the gal
Iery was by means of stairway com
mencing nea, this entrance. Under
| this gallery was vestibule, with a
centre door opening into the court
room, and opposite this door, at the
eastern end of the room, was plat
| form OH which the judges sat. The
room was occupied during the late war
by the Virginia Senate. the present
Senate Chamber being occupied 10y the
Confederate House of Representatives
The apartment outside of the railing,
in front of the judges, would ordinari-
ly accommodate about 200 persons.
The gallery would hold about 100
Immediately under the court room, but
extending the whole width of the
building, is the Hall of the House of
Delegates.
THE CATASTROPHE.
| At ii O'Clock the court room vesti-
bule and gallery were all crowded with
citizens and strangers, mostly white,
eagerly awaiting the announcement OF
the decision. Others were constantly
arriving. In very few minutes all
the available space was occupied. At
the reporters table were seated Mr..
P. Handy, of the Dispatch, DR.. JOS. B.
Brock of the Enquirer, Mr.. Ernest
Wilt, of the State journal, Mr.. j. A.
Pizzini, of the Wing, Mr.. w. D. Ches-
man, of the Petersburg Index, Mr.. w.
G. Elan, of the Petersburg Courier.
Ahout twenty five members of the bar,
including the counsel in the case, were
present. General Wise and r. Il. Dan
iel, Esq, of the counsel, were not pres
ent. A cheerful good humor prevail
ed on all sides. Presently Judge w.
Il. Joynes entered from the ''confer-
ence room," through side door, and
made some remark to Ex-Governor
Wells He returned to the ''confer-
enee room," but in few minutes re-
turned, accompanied by F. T. Ander-
son. They took their seats to await
the arrival of their colleagues, who
were expected every minute from the
adjoining conference room," i'll which
they tarried.
A crack was heard as if gun. had
i been exploded beneath the hoori All
eyes turned towards the centre door,
under the front of the gallery, from
whence the sound proceeded. In an
instant, the ominous and alarming
sound was again heard, and simnlta-
neOusly, to the horror of all present,
the floor commenced to give way. and
Immediately fell through to the floor
below with a fearful crash, followed
not only by the gallery and its weigh
of humanity, but by tie timbers over
head, to which the ceiling of the court
room was attached. We dare not at
tempt description of the fearful scene!
A wall of horror. quickly followed 10y
shriels of suffering mortals, assembled
from that abyss OF agony and death.
THE ESCAPES.
! That portion of the floor on which
, the judges platform was erected did
not go through with the lest, as there
was comparatively but little weight
) upon it. Judge Joynes and Anderson
!, escaped to the conference rOom,' and
were followed by Mr.. Fizzini of the
, Wing, and several others who had
/ struggled through the mass of rubbish
! and reached the platform. Coione
f McPhail was leaning against the man
} tel, and clung to it until he obtained a
, foothold. His arm was badly injured
, by the plaster falling from above. Mr.
! William Taylor, grocer of this city
: grasped window sill near him and
held on until assistance came.
2 A large number of those who went
through sustained no other injury tina.
, severe shock and a few bruises OF
cuts. 1t is marvellous to so many es.
capped death from the falling timbers
, and heavy plaster cei.ing of the court
!. room which must have fallen upon the
I crowd. e.
THE SCENE OUTSIDE.
A few persons were in the square
4 near the Capitol. Most of the then
compreliended at once the terrible ac
+ cident, while others, who observed the
;, volumes of dust pouring from the win
i dows, supposed that an explosion q
: the heating boiler in the building hat
Taken place.