Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-01-09
RICIlMOND LETTER.
RIcHMoND, 1876 1877.

" W
stepping out and the new one is
mounting the throne Of the future
The centennial year goes out amid the
music of Sabbath bells, and all its hat
lowed memories are recalled with the
arrical display amid the hallowed rites
and ordinances Of church service. In
the forenoon | attended Episcopal SER
vice ut ST. Johns Church, the one in
which Patrick Henry made his i'm
mortal speech that stirred the fires of
revolution century ago, The iden-
teal building remains, but has been
added TO, 20 that only part of the
structure as it now stands is the
oue Of colonial days. A beautiful grove
surrounds it, and is filled with graves
over which stand slabs aud monu-
ments, covered with the moss of cen
fury. The music is refined and elegant
almost to perfection. a blind lady, of
most attractive face and . eetness Of
manner, is the soul of the choir, and
the sweetest singer l have ever heard
I'm this or any other land. 1t is worth
trip to Richmond to hear this lady
sing. In the afternoon | was at the
Monumental, built upon the site of the
burned Richmond Theatre and as
monument to those who lost their lives
in the fire, including the Governor of
the State. 1t is peculiar churchi in
appearance, being an Octagon in shape
with dome on top, and the interior
finished TO the summit of the dome.
from which comes tie principal light
The gallery surrounds it except on the
side used as the recess chanCel whose
two symmetrical columns are over
thirty feet in height. In rear of
them are two tablets with the ten COM
mandment in git letters, and over the
two columns in large letters the in
scrption,
GIVE EAR O, LORD!
The supporting columns of the gallery
are covered with gold foil and the
walls are papered with sigular and sur
passing taste. The interior Of the dome
is papered with aIlcgorical paLneIs.-
In the vestibule is marble monu-
ment bearing the names of the vic
Tins of the fire of 1916. EXteriorly
the church is very singular and attrac-
tive in appearance, and interOrly it is
the prettiest and, to the eye, the rich
4 6
immense size and is operated 10y Prof.
Leo. Wheat, who has no equal in the
Southern States. The music at the
Monumental is its chief distinctive
glory, and vast crowds attend it for
this reason. The service on Christmas
day was elaborate and scientific to
degree never before surpassed i'm the
city.
Tonight | heard DIR. j. T. NJ. Curry
at the second Baptist church. His SER
mon Of sixty minutes was appropriate
to the expiring hours Of the year, and
was of very great force and value.
The members OF the Legislature are
returning from their homes. My col
league, Mr.. Coale, arrived a few hours
ago after painful and fearful pilgrim
age of two days aud nights. Some
two miles below Central Depot he was
aroused from his slumber, at day
break yesterday morning, by finding
himself precipitated beneath the sea-
in front of him, with spittons, water
coolers, ssove fragments, zeal hOds and
promlscuous baggage piled around
him. The train, with Capt. Barnes,
conductor and Pat Callan, engineer,
had collided with n western-bound
freight train, with Charley Smith, con-
ductor and Ned Stanley, engineer
The latter was out of time and Capt
Smith, like a man, and worthy n bet
ter fate, AT once announced that the
fault was wholly his, and that he
would give million if he had, it to
undo the harm The harm fortunate
ly was not very great. The two en-
glnes mounted in air and stood there
like two monsters with each other
~ lhe lllIOuJ, Inc leNueI Ol Napl'
Barnes's train had telescoped into the
baggage ear. and would have killed the
baggage Charley Williams,
but for large box Of Express freight
which caused it to mount above him
as he lay asleep As it was he was
considerably injured, but came on to
Lynchburg. Both engineers and ire-
men saved their lives by jumping Off
their engines and are uninjured.-
There were few passengers on board
ana they were unhurt.
The winter here has been very Sc
we're, but much less 50, l think, than
III the Southwest, We have had four
heayy sheets, which have made it dan
E'rous to 20 about the city, and many
broken limbs are the result. One man
IelI and broke his back, ard one OF the
i'aalng me.chants of the city broke
MS arm very badly.
During the high wind Of Friday
night the four story brick building,
used as commission house by Mr.
0nelourne, Of Montgomery county,
caught fire and was consumed. Al one