The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-04-28
4. Judges stand.

d. Judges stand. ..
B. B. Reporters tables.
c.. G. CounsePs tables.
D. Clerks office, over which was the gal
lery-the line representing the partition be-
tween the Clerks Office and the courtroom
is just where the girder was that first gave
away.
E.. Door from courtroom to conference
room. !.
r. Door from clerks office to courtroom.
G.. Entrance to gallery and clerks office:
The courtroom is just over the hall OF
the House Of Delegates. .....
sad-sad, indeed-is the duty Of the chro-
nicler Of the sad events and terrible scenes
in our State capitol on yesterday. Umpire
cedented in their awful results, heart-rend-
ing in their every aspect, and bringing
| mourning to our entire city, we 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 il its recollection will remain in
dellibly vivid as long as life shall last. In
sending to a spirit-grieyed people our &C,
count of this dreadful calamity we are well
| aware of our inability to give them more
| than q narrative Of the facts and casuaitles:
| The attendant scenes may be imagined Dut
! cannot be described. We give below, rs
| best we could obtain them, summary OF
| the dreadful events
the CATASTROPHE.
The room of the Court of Appeals was
the scene of this horrible occurrence, and
it's many historic associations and reml-
niscences have eliminated in an affair
which beggars description, and which VIII
be remembered as long as Richmond Is
city. AS is well known, the Mayoralty con-
troversy was about to be decided, and an
immense concourse of anxious spectators
| and listeners had gathered TO ascertain the
result. Members Of the Legislature, visit
ors 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 Of life, were assembled.
rive give above diagram of the room
and clerks Office, with the proper refer
ences.]
The bells had just tolled the hour of II,
| and death-like silence reigned as Mr..
Starke, the clerk, entered and placed his
books on the table. Judge Joynes was in
ing, was talking with him, while the rest OF
the Judges We're in the conference-room
not quite prepared 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-Governor 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 con-
versation by the spectators present. Vari-
GUS were the speculations as to the final re-
suit, when, all at once, panel piece Of Of
ceiling fell, and then the girder, which is
Represented by the line of partition
between the clerks Office and the court
room, gave way with an awful crash,
and precipitated 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 court
room floor through. The mass Of human
beings who were in attendance were sent,
mingled with the bricks, mortar, splinters,
beams, iron bars, desks, and chairs, to the
floor of the House Of Delegates, and in
second more, over fifty souls were
launched into eternity The whole at
mosphere was thick with dense cloud
Of dust from the plastering, and the
human beings sent up groan which
will ring forever in the ears upon which it
fell. In moment, few survivors cling
ing to the windows and fragments of hang
ing timber, and the bare and torn walls
were all that remained to mark the place
where only moment before there was q
scene of life, vigor, 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
Iromonitory rumbling as the floor was set
Ting. Then there came; fearful crash, ac-
companied by cry of human agony and
terror which smote the hearts Of all who
ton was realized. The few who had been
80 fortunate as to be able to get into the
windows shouted aloud for help for those
who had fallen, and called for ladders. In q
short time the bells were toliing, and, the
hook and ladder truck being brought upon
the spot, the ladders were put up to the
windows, and the work of humanity began.
The binding dust within prevented
any one from seeing anything, and the rush.
ing 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 dust cleared away a
little mass of timbers and rubbish of every
description was deserted, and the reflection
of the numbers Of human beings crushed
beneath its weight, dead and dying, was
sickening. Add to this the cries and 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 I'M
der the gallery. Desks, chairs, and tables,
were crushed completely, showing the force
Of the falling wreck. The work Of remov-
ing the debris was a difficult one, but was
undertaken BY those present with will,
and il was not long before the unfortunate
men were being rescued from their painful
position. ..,, -g s....5-.
BRINGING OUT THE DEAD And WOUNDED.
This scene defies even an attempt at de-
setiption. 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
an MIA eed In the Senate chamber or else nm.