The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-25
COL. UINSTHdD'S DEATH.
u Looks More Like an Accident Than
suicide

The terrible tragedy Of which the city
Han was the scene carly Thursday morn
ms sim formed the general topic Of con-
versafi0n an over the city ycsterday'
and especially about the municipal build
INK Those who were unfortunate enough
o. witness the sad affair say they VIII
never forget the disheartening sight me
few UpTSOns who saw Colonel NihStfH"
IAN still adhered 10 the details as they
had stated them on the previous day Dul
the drop from the ballustrade. a dls-
tance Of ~ Feet was 50 quick. ana al nv
same time was unexpected. mat II stauns
10 reason that these eye witnesses Hikhl
deceive themselves as 20 the details Whlch
they think they noticed.
The statement Of Mr.. E.. -. Winstead,
noyeW az Colonel j. ". Winsiead, That his
uncle fen from BIS Ligh position while
suffering from a sudden attack Of vertigo
is considered by many persons as the pos
sibie solution. The hallustrade over
which Colonel Wiustead may have leaned
IS only feet IA inches high, ana. nav
ing suffered a good deal with rheumatism
IN his feet II seems very plausible that
he took on his shoes to relieve MS ieet'
and held the former IN his hands at the
time
While speaking 10 a civil engineer about
the accident yesterday the latter express
ed himself in the most positive manner
AGAINST the suicide theory. lie thought
IL almost impossible for man VINO
jumped OF the top OF the baiustrdde 10
land on the iron railing. which is almost
directly under the baiusirale. IN MS
opinion. a jump would have landed COL
oncl Winstead on the concrete Sidewalk
some little distance outside OF the IRON
railing.
All day yesterday the pasSers-by stop
ped for while when they reached the
CIV Han. and either looked up to the
balustraae OF the tower or east their
eyes over the iron railing down into the
areaway. eagerly discussing with edch
otncr what they had heard or read about
the tragedy.
A good many people called during the
day al the office of the superintendent OF
the fire Alarm Telegraph, expressing
desire OF being admitted 20 the tower. IN
order 10 visit the spot from where Colonel
Winstead went to his death. Most OF
them. however were refused admission.
No visitor will hereafter be permitted
TO enter the tower alone, according 10
the statement OF Superintendent Thomp-
son. OF course, the tower viii not be
closed I'm consequence Of the fatality. but
as long as the key IS at his ONCE, the
Superintendent says, visitors must De
accompanied by an attache of the hall or
be personally known TO some one IN the
office before admittance will be granted.
When the municipal Offices were for
many established In the big new build
Ing the key 4 the tower was lett at
the fire alarm office for no other reason
than that 1t was the most convenient in
the hall TO the tower. Superintendent
Thompson then made few laws for
the government Of the tower, one Of
which was that every visitor should in
scribe his or her name upon the register
i'm his Office before or after going into
the tower Mr.. Thompson says that the
usual order regarding the tower ard Its
visitors VIII be maintained while he is
i'm charge or until the Grounds and
buildings Committee decides TO take aC-
ton of some kind with reference 10 the
Colonel Wmsteads death marks the
sixth accident that occurred since the
building Of the CITY Hall had been com
menced. Before him three persons met
with their death In the structure. while
two others received more or less serious
injuries
Michael Walsh lost his life by falling
through one of The elevator shafts.
David Kees a lahoIcK, was Killed by
falling from scanod iu the building
An emIl0Ve IF the Richmond L,como-
tive Works. who was sent TO the CITY
HALL to paint the inside Of the big
boilers. was found one morning I'm one
Of the boilers smothcred to death.
Daniel O'Donncl, plumber, received
injuries I'm October, 1887, while at work i'm
the building. ly falling from a scaffol T.
from which a board had been removed by
laborcr.
John Beattie, n foreman = the stone
masons. also received injuries by falling
from a scaffold.