The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-07-07

10 absent himself from the convention
for sometime That was really the
beginning OF his collapse. He strug-
gled manfully. bravely. but from that
time he was never the robust, the
daShing Daniel of former Years.
Virtual Retirement.
Then IL was that his retirement
from active politics in Virginia was
marked. He took occasional partici-
patton in the afrairs politically. but
he was not the center that he was
at one time. Perhaps his last appear
ance was at the Roanoke convention
which sent delegates TO the conven-
ton which nominated Bryan the last
time. II was there that Senator Dan
iel displayed much OF his old-time
are and vim and dash and vigor. He
was opposed to having the delegation
from Virginia instructed, and he made
"a speech along that line. He aroused
much OF the enthusiasm and admira-
ton OF his opponents by the outright
manner in which he said what he
thought He made no apologies, and
was unalterable in his belief that il
was the best policy for Virginia to
send her delegates to the convention
without any instructions. And to
show the hold that Senator Daniel
had on the people, the convention, in
the face of his opposition to Bryan,
unanimously elected him as one OF
NAS 0CAN6oNCC- &C ~ INC AaAAOndl
convention.
His Last Speech
II was in the Roanoke convention
Of two years ago that Senator Daniel
made his last appearance as a speak
er. That incident is recalled by the
writer, who sat within a few feet of
the distinguished gentleman and
heard him make his farewell address,
as IT may be called, to the Democracy
of the Old Dominion. He had been
y m Or
arose he received an ovation such as
Daniel only could get. He walked to
the front of the stage, hesitated for a
minute, looked around the sea Of
faces, acknowledged the compliment
and said:
II have answered every roll call (of
the party, have never sulked on the
field or slept in the tents when there
was an engagement"
In report of the convention, pub
iished in this convention. the follow
ing is taken: Senator Daniel closed
with tribute to the old soldiers, his
emotion being betrayed by his tone
he declared that they were getting
fewer, and 1 wish you all the bless
ings OF life, hoping to meet you on
the other shore. bid you goodbye"
And with that the great and peer
less Daniel passed away from the
stage OF politics in Virginia. 1t was
final farewell for the orator, the SOL
der, the statesman. and since that
time he has made no speeches of a
political nature.
But few people now living recall the
fact that Senator Daniel n1arowly es-
capped death in the Capitol disaster.
which occurred April %, 1870, and
that the Ellyson and Taylor pamphlet
printed shortly after this frightful ca
tastrophe, has him listed among the
injured. Little harm was done him,
however, and opposite the majors
name are the four terse words,
slightly hurt above head"
1t viii interest people of antiquarian
tastes to know that Delegate ]. N
Stubs, the present member of the
House from Gloucester, who, Just be-
fore the close of the legislative session
of 1910, offered a resolution providing
that the General Assembly should do
all honor to Senator Daniel likewise
figured in the disaster
on that eventful day, nearly forty
years ago, as now, he represented
gloucester in the House. The pam
phlet above alluded to says that Ma
lor Stubss was severely cut about the
head"
Under the circumstances il is no won
der that the Gloucester legislator. an
old Confederate soldier, feels tenderlv
towards Major Daniel and that he
honor.
1t seems that Fate was determined
perish
the day sixty or more lost their lives
at the Capitol, while scores Of others
were frightfully wounded. The pam
phlet, singularly enough, prints an in
terView with the young legislator. then
not thirty years old.
Concerning the catastrophe Major
Daniel said:
Happily for a number OF us near
the bench, narrow margin OF the
room about the breadth of the bench
chung 10 the walls-the bench itself
being unoccupied and not so much
strained, and throwing ourselves for
ward, we grasped the ratings that
guarded II and thus held on at the
very brink OF the vortex
The ratings, too, protected a good
many from the timbers OF the ceiling
oy breaking the force of their fall
McCaun John Al was the first
one or those clinging to the ratings
10 eXtricate himself from the debris
OF the ceiling. which covered us. And
In that spirit of gallant and unselfsh
courage which makes hearts warm to-
wards him, he proceeded to help those
OF us who were less fortunate, instead
OF making good his own safety.
The door of the conference room
where the judges were in coosulta
tlon happily opens at that end of the
nail, and soon those who were nor
pinned to the floor climbed through
the ruins, and through it reached the
unlnJured portion of the building and
the open air, and assistance came to
those confined and wounded.
"McCaull, Mahood and myself and
Greer and Hatcher we're equally for
tunate."
Senator Daniel. in this interview.
makes no reference to having received
any injury in the accident.