Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-25

and col persons were injured whc II
;hs floor OF tho Supreme Court OF
Appeals gave way fifty years ago
next Tuesday. bringing TO :. horrible
climax the sunferinss the people OF
Richmond had endured during tho
dark period OF reconstruction and
FEDERAL domination OF civil affairs in
rite years immediately after the War
-BEtween the States.
a half-century afterwards. Amos;
to the minute, when all these dine,
cnccs between North and South have
been buried in perfect national unity.
distinguished NirSinians viii gather
on this spot in the States Capitol
building revcrently 10 mark IL with
a table; and 10 recall 10 This genera
lion the spirit OF lis forctathcrs IN
the fight for principle.
While the placing % the memorial
primarily has nothing 10 do with the
historic controversy between Henry
Is. Ellyson and George Chahoon as
TO who should be Mayor OF the city
OF Richmond. the story OF that St-uC-
gle necessarily is brought TO the FORE
front; Il was while they waited to
hear from the lirs OF SUPREME Court
judges the decision that meant SO
much 10 them and their future thar
they were hurled suddenly 10 death
and terrible suffering.
Tablet Already in Plncc.
The tablet already is in place on
the southern wall o; the old lious"
OF pelsEates: Tuesdayz morning at
General William \, anderson OF
Lexington, member ot the les!sla-
tive committee. presidins,. il viii be
inguished officials OF the state and
city. Judge George L. Christian. OF
Richmond, who was a victim OF the
ten the most minute account Of II.
Will draw the veil.
Postmaster Hay T, T-<ton viii
ss,ors. Memories Of thai terrible day
Years old. he assisted pr. liorac
will be recalled 'as Judge Christian
draws the veil from the tablet which
marks the first effort the State has
taken properly to memorabilia tn
1t is enc OF the most vivid rccol-
leciions OF my life" hr said yesterday
in discussing, the disaster. Il was
standing on the corner OF Sixth an,
Main Streets when the fire bells rang
] could see what l took to be 'snok
curling from the Capitol building
People began to hurry that way ami
There was every appearance OF "a
7'rc., The cloud had taken for
: smoke was in re, lily dust occasioned
by the cave-in.' !, rose in dark
volume from the building. and was
very suifocatinG. My FIRST Job on
. arriving was wipinG this dust and
! bits Of clustering from the mouths
OF the victims who lay grouped
around he Capitol, ON the square.
Later. when water had been secured,
frM-ashed their faces. working for
several hours in conjunction With
DR.. Taliaferro.
MY brother, who was page in
the House. narrowly escaped being
caught In the cave-in. He had been
sent out on an errand and was just
i re-entering the bu!ldinre when the
Z disaster occurred"
NRtion'n Eye on Cnse.
Eyes OF tho nation. and particularly
the south. were focused that day
+ upon the Virginia Supreme Court OF
Appeals. This was the day when X
should decide whether George Cha
hoon, carpet Dagger and advcnturcr
/. from the North. should he longer
appointce. or whether Henry *. Ell
Tyson. native son OF the Old Domin-
4 ion. and duly elected Mayor by the
city Council, named by Governor
Gilbert e. Walker under the provi-
sions OF an act of the General AS
z 10 shat office. The consti;utionality
Of the enabling act was 10 be passed
upon.
Both men sought 10 maintain their
. status as chief executive of the city
: Zach OF them s;ubhurnly refused TO
Mayors duties --Chahoon as the
hated representative of the military
( autocrary that held iron sway OYER
Military District No. /. and Ei!yson