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

ever In the ears upon which 1t fell.
inc IN Il ," ON ir = re" snFEiv@rs cling,
hanging timber and the hare and
torn walls were all that remained to
mark the place where only a moment
hcfogc Wa; a scene OF life. vigor and
hope.
The scene about the Capitol build
!nE jus, after the sad occurrence was
one OF terror. The first notice that
those who were III the building had
of the Impending evil was the pre-
monitory rumolinS as the floor was
settling. Then came Il fearful crash.
accompanisd by cry OF human
hearts OF all who heard IT, In a mo-
neat the trieh;fml situation was re-
allied. The few who had been so
The windows shouted aloud for help
/ FOR those who had fallen. and called
;or ladders In short time the
ladder trucks being brought upon the
spot. the ladders were put up ~ the
windows. ana The work Of humanity
began
Here was = scene that fairly made
ones heart bleed. AS the dust cleared
away a little, mass of timbers and
rnonish ~ every description was de-
serted. and ;hc reelection " the num-
hers o: human beings crushed be-
meath its weight. dead and dying.
was sickcnins. Aid 10 this the cries
ana SroanS o: those who wcrc there
there Is n picture 10 make the stout
eSi heart quail The entire hall was
hooded with the ruins. except the
sSaSS nn1cr ihe gallery. Desks.
p!s;eiy. showing the force OF the
;a!inE w,,"ck: The work of rcnov-
ing the debris was a difficult one.
bur VAS undertaken by those present
Win VIII. and IL was not long be-
i"Te the unfortunate men were being
rescued from their painful position.
brinKtnE out bend and Wounded.
This scene dctics even an ATTEMPT
al descriptions The doors and win
'"wS Of the hall were thrown open
and within were soon collected the
shouts and the asonizinG groans of
those they were seeking to rescue,
Wrr" removing the timhcrS. Az the
wounded and dead We're reached. they
wrre brought out ana placed in the
Senate chamber. or else under tho
trees in ;hc square. where they were
attended by our city physicians and
others who wcre on hand with such
appliances as could be obtained
Ms the men We're brought out they
wer" so covered with dust that they
could scarcely be recognized. and for
while the anxious Inquiries OF the
hc answered. One by one they were
horne out-the dead and the dying
Here one was manglcd and silently
enduring. another crying aloud with
pain. while the still form of third
told too well that it's spirit had fed
10 another world. In one moment the
gray hairs OF age could he deserted
upon the head of some dead one
while the next tall. manly form OF
one who had been cut off In the full
bloom of life was being borne past. II
seemed as If sickening horrors would
never cease and ages seemed to pass
in the performance OF this sad duty.
The tolling of bells, the rushing
ana shouting Of excited men, and the
news of the fearful calamity, which
spread like wildtrc over the city in
an incredibly short space of time.
brouEh, an immense crowd of all
classes, ages and colors TO the square.
Hundred. Watch Dead Removed.
Hundreds Of wives, mothers and
friends were constantly filling the
grounds. who. with wringing hands.
sought. in their despair. to know if
the number manEled. War. with its
horrors, its aGonies. its sad scpara-
tons, its CHASTITY wounds. it's horrible
deaths, pictures TO the mind no such
scene as the one which was yesterday
enacted on the square.
ITO contemplate such Il shocking
affair-to see the faces o: those who
expected each moment TO find n near
and dear FRIEND borne from the ruins
10 be cared for on the grounds by
the citizens and physical in attend
ance--iillS the soul with horror and
awful fear.
Hacks. anhulances and vehicles Of
all descriptions were promptly on the
ground. ready TO convey the wounded
away rom the scene of disaster to
their homes, where they could be
cared Cor and their wounds dressed Ia
better advantage than in :hc dense
crowd with which they were sur
rounded. The dead. who had been
brought out. were respectfully and
decent!y laid aside and covered with
blankets and afterwards borne away
10 their hercavcd families.
The excitement OF the moment
over. the beautiful city of Richmond
was wrapped in gloom. The popular
heart was sad. the voice OF woe and
mourning resounded throughout the
city and the asperities OF life were
sof:cned in the sympathy OF a public
calamity, leaving our people united in
grief and in the desire TO show their
respect Tor the dead and feeling for
the injured. All the business houses
OF the city We're closed and badges
Of mourning displayed. and save for
the number % persons in them our