Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-27
CAPITOL DISASTER.
TO-DAY THE TwENTlETH ANNIvERsA-
OF THE OCCURRENCE.
q Contemporaneous Account and LIST OF
the Killed ana wounded-The
Aftermath.

Events In the History Of Richmond" DIR.
Hore. among other things. spoke OF the
Capitol disaster. and with his WONDERFUL
pathos and power Of description photo
rraphed upon the minds OF his audience
picture of this great calamity. Ever SINCE
then many who were very young NJ tue
time OF the fateful occurrence, or were not
then residents of the city, have been asking
for fuller particulars.
This is the twentieth anniversary OF the
accident, and IL seems an appropriate Gay
Cor GRATIFYING the wish thus expressed.
Tbo r,so,,ch however. is not unmindful
NJ raeny whose eyes will be dimmed with
ssars as thew ecan these colunins and recall
dear once whose faces lighted by life went
cn, a view forever IN the orumbling TIM
Ss,s and dust and sudocation OF that
For twenty years the grass has been
growing over tho graves OF these dear ones
Iwics then planted by Their mounds are
trees now. and bros percheu on 'nea'
branches are singing sweet requienls.
Babes these fathers left in their wives arms
aye now men and women; but though two
decades are added % the faded past, these
beloved dead are still enshrned IN the
hearts Of their families andfrlends, ana tue
Dispnich. though but discharging MS duty,
epoloretically refers 20 the day-to the
place and 10 the incidents OF that cIu .
evcnt which plunged Commonwealth lDUo
grief. ..i.o, from q
The account following is taken iroln
pamphlet compilation OF newspaper IT,
Sorts) which was published IN loW py
tllyson d Taylor:
Breakinx In of the Suprome-co"rt No"''
Floor.
The room Of the Court Of Appeals was
the scene of this horrible occurrence. Oh
fhe I6tb of March last new City Couhcl'
appointed by Governor walker IN puInu-
ance Of the provisions OF an eee ot !no
General Assembly. known rs the enaoilhg
oct y elected Mr.. H. X. Ellyson Mayor. OF
Eicbmond The constitutionality OF the
eaid act was contested by the incumbent OF
d. ,navoraltv. MIR. George ChahoOn, and
ultimately tho question was brought before
che Supreme Court of Appeals. Inc argu-
mcuts of counsel had been hearu, ana ihe
Court. rs usual, reserved It's DECISION
Wednesday, fApril u. 1870, 0s was general,
r. knou,p the opinion of the Court would
he pronounced and the controversy was %
Lo decided. and All immense cOncourse OF
anxions spectators aud listeners had gath.
cd ~ ascertain the result. Members OF
che Ieoislaturo. visitors TO the city from
all PARTS of our country. members OF inc
bar representatives of both police FORCES
of the city, members Of the press, anu
representatives OF all classes anu VOnu'-
tiOns of life were assembled.
THE FEARFUL CRASH.
The bells had just tolled the hour OF H.
and death-hke silence relghed as Mi.
Starke. the clerk. entered aud placed MS
hooks on the table. Judges Joynes ana
Anderson were IN their seats. MIR. Starke,
leanino over the railing. was talking with
chem. while the rest OF the judges were IN
the conforence-room, not quite prepared
20 enter on their days duties. Inc couh,
sci for Mayor EllysOn, Messrs. Neeson anu
Meredith, had taken thelr seats anu weIe
ready to proceed TO business. EX-IoV-
ernor Wells and l.. N. Chandler, Esq,
were also in their places and the reporters
OF The EgGuirer, Dispd'ch, Wing, and Stdie
Journal were at the desks set apart Tor
their use and accommodation. The mo-
rnents were spent ii pleasant conversation
by the spectators present. Various were
the speculatiOns as TO the hnai result !;
when. all at once, a panel piece OF coming
fell and then the giTder gave way
with an awful crash and precipltateq
The spectators who were IN the gallery OF
the courtroom 20 the main moor, and inc
additional weight in one single moment \
time crushing the courtroom through
Tie mass of human beings who were III at
I, ldancs We're sent, mingled WIN tho
bricks. mortar. splinters, beams, IRON bais'
dcelrs and chairs. 10 the floor of the House
of Delegates. and in a second more nifty
seven souls were launched into eternity
The whole atmosphere was tDlck Win
dense cloud of dust from the plastering,
and the human beings sent up sroah
which will ring forever in the ears upon
which it fell. In a moment few servl-
vors clinqing TO the windows ana IaS,
ments of hanging timber, and the bare ana
torn walls were all that renamed 70 marx
the place where only q moment beiore
there was a scene of life. vigor, and nope:
ALI. HANDS TO THE RESCUE.
In few minutes after the alarm, which
Mr. w. II. Grant caused TO be rung, was
sounded the hook-And-ladder company ar
rived on the Square and immediately SET
10 work in eleyating their ladders. ,Other
fremen followed rapidly and united WIZ
the ladder-men III attempting the fescueo
those who were buried III the runs IlanS
of the citizens who hurried 10 the scene
also lent their assistance, but the majority
seemed petrifed with horror. or feared
That the old building would fall III anC
crush oil who ventured near its walls. One
NV one the survivors of the crash came
forth, or were assisted othe open ar, eaei
one whitened with plaster-dust, or so Gls
figured by blood and dirt az to DO Amos
unrecognizable. ,.. 40
only firemen, but members OF the Legisia
ture and citizens generaly-who Wen
boldly and manfully into the midst OF th'
debris and proceeded TO clear the hall OF TN
accumulated mass of rubbish or TO brin!
ont the wounded and dead.
Nearly all who entered upon the, wori
iabored untiringly, and then heroi
efforts entitle them to the highest praise;
All the surgeons and physicians IN tn
CITY were upon the ground as promptly a
possible, and rendered all the and IN thei
bower TO the sufferers. The Senate cham
Der was made a temporary hospital ant
morrue but most of the bodies OF the dea'
and diving. as we'll as those not serlousi
wounded, were takon to the grass piots u
the Square. Carriages and other vehicle
were brought into requisition, ana nun
Der of the wounded were conveyed at one
10 their homes or 10 the hospital al IN
Medical College.
LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED,
Killed