Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-05-13
COMMUNICATED
The Richmond Calamity.


The disaster at Richmond has elected the
EARNEST sympathy of every generous heart in
The country. Material aid for the sufferers, and
the families of the dead and wounded, is prac-
t;caIy illustrating this feeling Of sincere condo
lepce.
Il is painful to contemplate this great calam-
inv in all the circumstances OF bereavement and |
sorrow which attend it. Human language falls
n convey any adequate idea Of the scenes en-
octed on that terrible occasion. The Instantly
Tiled can tell US nothing of their experience,
the event only is for our hearts to brood over
in sorrow. The wounded and bruised are speak
ing to US in great simplicity, and with much
nathos. of their mental and physical agony. An
old member OF the Richmond Bar, IN letter 10
n relative in Maryland details IN plain words
his sufferiDgs and experience. who can de-
scr;hc the agony and horror OF that Intelligent
consciousness OF certain approaching death from
snffocation undar the rulnS OF that court ROOM
ubich haunted mspysutferers until the merelul
deliyerence came.
have certainly been near 10
death, and saved by merclfu Providence and
| deeply feel that cannot be too eTa'cin! 10
| God for the manifest interHosliinn when
snatched me from the very mouth OF the grave.
7 went down from point near the centre OF
tho Court room. had Us. been coAqerslng
with several brethren OF the bar. Two ct the
Jndge, of the Court OF Appeals had taken Their
rSnai seats on the platform, and was waiting
for the appearance Of the others from tic Con
fcrence room, when heard heavy sound be
hind me like the mutiled report CT muskef.
It was the breaking of the glrder between the
Court room and the Clerks otncc turned
| iustinctigcIy towards the door but w5S separat'
ed f ON ii By dense crowd ict the nooF
giving way beneath U.s. and saw the gallery
behind me breaking in two, and tic people
falling. I then brac.d myself firmly in an up
right posture, wishing if possible TO 90 down
standing, and thus use my eyes ard arms 10 gct
ont, [ remember also 10 have closed M mouth
and set nv rccth strongly together. which was
fortunate aud probably saved me from snil32a
ton. -,
At this moment was struck and stunned ~
falling debris, and went down UNCONSCIOUS
| have not the slightest recollection OF III" act
OF falling or o! the shock OF reaching the t1o:
of the House OF Delegates below.
When | awokc to consciousness ! iGu2I my
self wedged in among bodies around ana on me
[ could not move, aud feeling certain that dea'i
was inevitable sought to contemplate rs ap
proach with such compo2urc aEd proper
, thoughts as | could summon. The pas-a:'
from the scripture BE sc :! 80 ready, 10! II
! such an hour Is y2 tn!uh uJs, 'iic '''' 20 =.
cometh." was constantly occurring to M. ic'
! even then the thoughts OF M dear vile ani
children we're present and tuaie IN" caTnc>ti!
pray that | might be cxtrleaicd then -
Z came conscious that men were WORKING c.VSe l
me taking out the wounded. | suc2tctc: Ii
3 disencsgiug my right arm AMI stretched 3u
s nv hand and Iccby beckoncd TO them On
= of them Immediately stopped down and locke
5 in NV face and recognized me through ih9 t"Ic
3 cover Of plaster and dirt, which waS last suite
r eating me- lie called ny name "Ai INSTANT
the most earnest efforts were mad to get III
: out. They pulled of the men ~!:o were YIN
= on me zone OF whom was dead, who had gon
C down lust by my side and putting thor hand
) under my arms puIIc'! Ec OIL! - lIai" '"I''
& / was SO tightly pressed that one OF my s&0'
d having an elastic gora was pulled from III
foot. They lifted ma carefully iii 'AsT arm
r and bore me down the western sl2is 81 III
$ Capitol and laid me the gIas$. h' "ir
n drew into my lungs was like lie aud 'lraV"" L
i me- One OF these kind men washed NJ iAca
: and said to me lou are net fatally hurt.
,, SAID immediately that | vi. not aau urged hlI
to go back and save n! he could. II" >HId
you lave c1mc out better 'l:an sol"" .! YOU
u brethren. Ne have Just brought p3or Mr.
: Howard oct and he is dead. ielt srcatl
It concerned at this, as ny own safety mad" Ii
d hope that all others would escape a. we'll.