The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-05-04
AWFUL CALAMITY.

w hen the awful ulSpensatlOnS OF Dl'lho
Providence are witnessed, it becomes US to
remember who it is that hath smitten, and
humble ourselves under his mighty hand
An event of this kind has fallen upon
Richmond-suddenly, dreadfully-covering
it with mourning. The tidings have filled
the land with sorrow.
The Supreme Court of Appeals was to
meet at the usual hour-11 o'clock, A. NJ,
on Wednesday, the 9th ult. 1t was un-
derstood that its decision would be then an
nounced concerning the cOnstitutionality Of
the Enabling Act of the Legislature, and
thus involved the controversy which has ex-
cited'for some time so deep an interest as
to the two claimants to the Office of Mayor
of this city. The occasion drew together as
many persons as could be packed into the
Court room. This room was over the Hall
of the House of Delegates.
Another fact added to the horrors of this
catastrophe. The ceiling was what is called
a false one. There was a space of about
eight feet between it and the joists which
rested upon the top of the wall, and this
ceiling was suspended by pieces of plank
nailed to the joists. The gallery was sup,
ported in a similar manner. When there.
fore the gallery fell, it started the ceiling,
and drew the whole of it, together with all
it's timbers, upon those who fell with the floor.
So they went down mingled mass of hui
man beings, bricks, mortar, beams, splinters,
iron bars, chairs, desks, and the great mass
of black impalpable dust which had for
nearly century accumulated under the roof
and upon the ceiling. The crash was indie.
scribably awful, and the whole was precipi-
tated, not upon a smooth floor, but upon the
desks of the Hall below. 1t must be re-
cognized as signal mercy that this Hall,
which few moments before was full of
members of the Legislature assembled for
informal conference, did not at the disas.
trous moment contain more than fifteen or
twenty. Otherwise the calamity would have
been greatly aggravated. As it was, no
words can adequately describe it. Those
who were in other parts of the Capitol first
heard strange rumbling noise, and in an
instant came the dreadful shock. A mem
Der of the House of Delegates Or. S. B.
Morrison, of Rockbridge county, who had
just taken his seat-fortunately at the West
side and in place comparatively safe-in,
forms us that his attention was attracted by
the first cracking of the ceiling over the
room, and that such was the suddenness of
the ruin, it might be called dead fall
He does not think the time in which it ali
occurred exceeded one minute.
A cry of agony was heard as the crash
came down. Then came the groans of the
wounded and dying, as they lay in body
for as the floor first sank in the middle they
were thrown together. Through the prompt
and judicious measures taken by Governor
Walker and others who were in the building,
relief was brought as speedily as possible.
The alarm of the bell soon brought out some
of the fire companies; ladders were raised
to the windows and they were hoisted, the
dust was cleared away and fresh air admitted
to the mass of sufferers within.
Then came the work of removing the tim
bers and other rubbish, and extricating the
perishing victims. This was done by
hands, moved by sympathizing hears
details we forbear to dwell upon, emt
both marvellous preservation and fir
massacre.
In the meantime intelligence of &
lamity had spread through the city, al
drawn together vast concourse, neal
anxiously uncertain whether some on
to them might not be found crusF
death. The scene of distress presen
the dead were slowl y extricated and b.
out, can never be forgotten, but over
the veil of silence fall. Some wer
mitted to rejoice over friends who We
ceived as those "alive from the dead.
adds to the grief filling all hearts to
that not few of those who were call
give up life, did so from sufocation
Statements of thrilling interest are
by survivors, of words spoken by the
during the short time in which consciou
and the power of speech remained.
only can be mentioned, which may ser
show what subjects were in the heart a
supreme moment
Says one-'' l fell together with l--
his mouth rested on my cheek. He asked
me who it was near him. l told him my
name, and he asked me, in case I survived,
to carry many messages of affection to his
family. With words of endearment and
love tor those he left behind, he died"
Another fell on the top of gentleman
whose name he could not learn. He asked,
" My friend can you not move little? -
Mr.. B. replied, "No, Icannot stir" "Well,"
said he, 81 must die. Good bye"
Another was heard to exclaim in Chris
tian triumph-"0 death, where is thy sting
0 grave, where is thy victory"
On Thursday morning vast assembly
was convened at the Capitol, where after
appropriate remarks by Governor Walker,
solemn prayer was offered by the Rev. DR..
Hoge. Appropriate resolutions were pre-
nresented hv Jndra Crnmn. and after brief