The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-05-04
From the Richmond Dispatch.

From the Richmond Dispatch.
Sad-sad, indeed-is the duty of the
chronicler of the sad events and terrible
scenes in our State capitol on yesterday.
Unprecedented in their awful results, heart
rending in their every aspect, and bringing
mourning to our entire city, VIC almost
halt in palsied horror in the undertaking of
their narration. To describe it would be
beyond the power of man, and with those
who witnessed it its recollection will re-
main indelibly vivid as long as life shall
last. In sending to spirit grieved people
our account of this dreadful calamity, we
are well aware of our inability to give them
more than narrative of the facts and cas-
ualties. The attendant scenes may be i'm
agined but cannot be described. We give
below, as best we could obtain them, sum-
mary of the dreadful events:
THE CATASTROPHE.
The room OF the Court of Appeals was
the scene of this horrible occurrence, and
its many historic associations and reminis-
cences have eliminated in an affair which
beggars description, and which will be re-
membered as long as Richmond is a city.
As is well known, the Mayoralty controversy
was about to be decided, and an immense
concourse OF anxious spectators and listen
ers had gathered to ascertain the result.
Members of the Legislature, visitors to the
city from all parts of our country, members
of the bar, representatives of both police
forces of the city, members of the press, and
representatives of all classes and conditions
-oi life were assembled. ---ss5-
We give above diagram of the room
and clerks office, with the proper references
The bells had just tollcd the hour of II,
and death-like silence reigned as MIR. Starke,
the clerk entered, and placed his books on
the table. Judge Joynes was in his seat
Mr.. Starke, leaning over the railing, was
talking with him, while the rest of the judges
were in the conference-room not quite pre-
pared to enter on their days duty. The
counsel for Mayor Ellyson, Messrs. Neeson
and Meredith, had taken their seats, and
were ready to proceed to business. Ex-Gov
ernor Wells and L. II. Chandler, ESQ.,, were
also in their places; and the reporters of the
Enquirer, Dispatch, Wing and State Journal,
were at the desks set apart for their use and
accommodation. The moments were spent
in pleasant conversation by the spectators
present Various were the speculations as
to the final result, when, all at once panel
piece of ceiling fell, and then the girder,
which is represented by the line of partition
between the clerks Office md the court ROOM
gave way with an awful crash. and precipi
tated the spectators who were in the gallery
of the courtroom to the main floor, and the
additional weight in one single moments
time crushing the courtroom through. The
mass of human beings who were in attend
ance were sent, mingled with the bricks,
mortar, splinters, beams, iron bars, desks
and chairs, to the floor OF the House of Dele
gates, and in a second more, over fifty souls
were launced into eternity The whole at
mosphere was thick with dense cloud of
dust from the plastering, and the human be
ings sent up a groan which will ring for
ever in the ears upon which it fell. In
moment, G few survivors, clinging to the
windows and fragments of hanging timber,
and the bare and torn walls were all that re-
manned to mark the place where only mo
ment before there was scene of life, vig0r
and hope.
SCENE ABOUT THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
The scene about the Capitol building just
after the sad occurrence was one of terror.
The first notice that those who were in the
building had of the impending evil was the
promonitory rumbling as the floor was set
thing. Then there came fearful crash, &C.
companied by cry of human agony and
terror which smote the hearts of all who
heard it. In moment the frghtful situa-
aticn was realized. The few who had been
SO fortunate as to be able to get into the
windows shout aloud for help for those who
had falleu, and called for ladders. In a
short time the bells were tolling, and, the
hook and ladder truck being brought upon
the ladders were put to the windows, and
the work of humanity began. The blind
ing dust within prevented any one from see
ing anything, and the rushing of persons
within the building and the cries of the
wounded was all that could be heard.
IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Here was scene that fairly made ones
heart bleed. As the duet cleared away q
little mass of timbers and rubbish of every
description was deserted, and the reflection
of the numbers of human beings crushed
beneath its weight, bead and dying, was
sickening. Add to this the cries aud groans
of those who were there, many in the agony
of death, and there is picture to make the
stoutest hearts quail. The entire hall was
flooded with the ruins, except the space un-
der the gallery. Desks, chairs and tables
were crushed completely, showing the force
of the falling wreck. The work of remoy-
ing the debris was difficult one, but was
undertaken by those present with will,
and it was not long before the unfortunate
men were being Iecued from their painful
position.
BRINGING OUT THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
This scene defes even an attempt at de-
| scription. The doors and windows of the
| Hall were thrown open, and within were
soon collected the busy workers, who, mid
their own shouts and the agonizing groans
| of those they were seeking to rescue, were
removing the timbers. As the wounded
and dead were reached they were brought
out and placed in the Senate chamber, or
else under the trees in the Square, where
they were attended by our city physicians
and others who were on hand with such APP
nliances ascould be obtained. As the men
were brought out they were so covered with
dust that they could scarcely be recognized,
and for awhile the anxious inquiries of the
bystandcrs. who is he p could not be an
swered. One by one they were borne out
the dead and dying. Here was one man
gled and silently enduring, another crying
! aloud with pain, while the still form of a
third told too well that its spirit had fled
to another world. In one moment the gray
! hairs of age could be deserted upon the