The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-05-12
The asicasfmond Calamity.
The Capital Bnilding.
IT'S HISTORY AND IT'S WE4kEEss.

We noticed briefly the Richmond CAL
amity Immediately after It's occurrence.
There were about 60 killed Immediately
some by suffocation-and about 200 in
jured, some so severely that they have
since died. We take the following from
the New York Post. iea4 .e.s5fa
The appalling disaster which has
Shrouded Richmond in gloom, and sent
thrill OF pain throughout the country,
lends vivid momentary interest to all
that is connected with the occurrence and
the scene.
The State House, or, as it is called, the
Capitol of Virginia, is an old building
standing on the highest point Of ground
in the city, in the centre of a. park of
thirteen acres, known as the Capitol
Square. The groun s were some years
ago laid out with taste by hoffman, of
Philadelphia, and are adorned by some
If the best statuary in America. The
great monuments Washington, designed
Ivy Crawford, surmounted by his colossal
equestrian statue OF the Pater PatriR,and
.hanked by heroic statues of Patrick Hen
ry, Marshall, Jefferson and other Virginia
worthless, occupies position but 4 short
distance from the Capitol building, and
in another part Of the grounds there is a
marble statue of Henry Clay from the
chisel of Hart, erected by the women of
Virginia. rgsa
The Capitol was built Immediately at
the close Of the Revolution. The model
chosen for it was the well-known Maison
Carree at Nismes miniature pattern of
which was sent over from France by Mr.
Jefferson, but the architect made many
deviations from the model, whereby the
eff. of the building was greatly impair
| ed. 1t was always an ugly, announcement
and ill-arranged structuie, though from a
distance it has an imposing appearance,
and even looks like a. arthenon. M .4a
| It's. historical associations are of the
most interesting kind. In the basement
story. where the Chancery Court. was
held in the old time, Henry Clay began
life as deputy clerk under Chancellor
| Wythe, the George Wythe of the DecIar-
alton of Independence. In its halls sat
! the memorable Const itutionai Convention
| of 1S29-30, which numbered among its
nembrrs John Randolph, John Marshall,
James Madison, James Monroe, and many
other men scarcely less illustrious. TWEEN
three years before, the trial OF Aaron
Burr for treason had been conducted
there. From the southern portico of the
building it was that Daniel Webster de-
livercd in October, 1910, standing be-
meath an October sun" the political
speech which has been thought one of his
finest popular expositlons of the Consti
tuition.
In the war Of the rebellion, upon the
removal of the Confederate government
from Montgomery to Richmond. it became
necessary to fit up apartments in the
building for the accommodation of the Con
federate Congress, and great changes were
made in consequence in its interior ar
engagements. The building, which was
originally strong. was thereby greatly
weakened by the removal of supports and
Orders. The court room which has Just
given way, entailing so fearful a loss of
human life, was made by throwing two
apartments into one, and was occupied by
the Confederate Senate throughout the
war. The floor had swayed much from
the true level, and settled from the sides
towards the centre, to such an extent that
an examination was ordered into its secu-
rity, and it was not until a report was
made by master carpenters that it was
safe, that the Senate consented TO occupy
the chamber. Had the examination been
more thorough the alarming insecurity of
the floor would have been detected and
this recent heartrending disaster would
have been avoided. The Superlntend.
.ent of Public Buildings in charge of the
Capitol at that time, died but a few days
ago. ~ s& ~ ~ 49, /
Directly beneath the courtroom was
the hall of the Virginia House of Dele
gates, and in the Rotunda adjacent there
to is the marble statue of Washington by
Houdon. Had the court room given way
an hour later the Hall and Rotunda
would have been filled with people and
the consequences would have been vet
more terrible.
Among the victims of this calamity
were some of the most useful and en1in-
ent citizens of Virginia. Patrick Henry
Aylett was the great-grandson of the
great orator whose name he bore. HeI
was conspicuous for his ability as an adj
vocate and as journalist, having been
editor of the Richmond Enquirer and Ee-
ominer, and filled the position of District
Attorney. But a few weeks ago he was
in this city, on hurried visit of pro
fessional nature n. 2. Howard was a
man of ripe learning, at one time Pro-
fessor of Law in the University of Virgin
la, afterwards the editor of the Virginia
Law Reports, and, at the time of his
DEATH a prominent member of the Rich
mond bar. Mr.. Powhatan Roberts, law
yer, Col. Samuel Hairston, of Henry Co.,
DIR. ]. p B. Brock, of the Richmond Dis
patch, all killed, were men OF great worth
and usefulness. Among the manned and
mutilated will be recognized the names