English and Foreign Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 796, 16 June 1870, Page 4

English and Foreign Items.

U.UTED STATES. s?errfofs Accident at people killed, 135 injured. An awful calamity has occurred at "Riehjai'injd, America. The floor of the Court of Appeal fell through to the House of Re-j-iiwntntives, killing 59 persons and injuring 135. We have no papers containing J he first account c:f the accident, but we subjoin a few particulars from the Gnicago Tribune, 29th April;— A DAY O? FUNERALS. "Richmond, April 28.—T0-day all houses pi business closed in consequence of the .calamity ar, the Cap-tol. The streets are filled with funeral corteges. In those of the dead policemen both of police joined- All late political feeling is forgotten. The bolls of the city tolled all day. The streets look like Sunday. About 7,000 people are assembled in the Park, hearing addresses of condolence from Governor Walker, Judge Orr, Judge Crump, (Governor Wise and others. REMARKABLE ESCAPE. One of the most remarkable escapes, yesterday, was that of B. B. White, a member of the Legislature from hligabeth City. Tie fell through the floor, and did not receive a scratch. He remained and Worked vigorously to get out the wounded. Major Kelly of .Fredericksburg was eonversing with Mr Axlettwbeu the crash oo purred, and sais'Aylett was killed by a beam from the gallery. The larger number of deaths occurred among those standing under the gallery. Br Bock was just in reach of it, sitting at his table, whtm the same beam that killed Aylett struck him. "When he was brought out from the ruins he was breathing, but died iu a few minutes. IN THE CAP.TOL SQUARE. The scenes in the Capitol Square cannot ]be described. In several instances wives came qpon bodies of husbands. One oi them was so shocked th it it is scarcely hoped that she can live through the day. Another is insane with little hope of recovery. STATEMENT OE A SURVIVOR. A member of the Legislature describes his fall as follows;—1 heard a low rambling sound, and felt myself sinking rapidly. "" 1 was facing the gallery, and saw it foiling towards me. Fortunately it did not reach me 1 saw men scrambling over ' each other in the galiery, and heard what eei-med one unearthly yell of agony. Then (LMino the crash, and 1 sank into darkness. J found myself under a mass of rubbish, with a dead body me, a wounded ji.an under me, and another at my side. The poor fellow under me said, " Oh me ; bur if 1 could fear God always as I do now. How wicked I have been all my days. Oh Cod, forgive me, spare me, and I will be a follower of Jesus." The man at my bid exclaimed, "' Oh death, where is thy etaig? Oh grave, where is thy victory?"' 1 heard a number of cries on all sides of me Souse were speaking about their wives, and oihers of their children, while some were bogging for aid. I believe many died irom Buiiocation. for allium,, h little hurl myself, I should ha-, e died from sufibcaliou if no? removed when 1 was. THE DEFECT IN THE BUILDING. An experienced architect, who lias viewed the place of the Capitol building, says tingirder which gave way was composed of t w o pieces of wood bolted together, making, when combined, an area of 13 by 20 inches. It was formerly supported by columns, which were subsequently removed to improve the appearance of the Hall of Delegates. In the centre of the girder was a mortice which reduced the available strength to 9£ by 20 inches. The fatal error was in making interchanges without examining the girders with reference to capacity to endure the new strain placeU upon them. STATEMENT OE MAJOR CALVERT Major Calvert, late State Treasurer, makes the following statement: —I was in the Clerk's office, under the gallery, looking through the window in the Court-room. (Standing by my side were Maury, Bald win, Roberts. I was nearest the door leading out. A friend started to come in. Hi remarked, " I will stay here ; it's much safer outside than inside." He went outside the door, and had hardly disappeared when the crash came. I tugged to get near the door, and hud almost made mi escape when I was borne down into the darkness below. I hardly remember anything but a confused din of voices atiu failing timbers. 1 found myself entirely covered. My left side seemed nearly prushed, but my right arm was free, and with this I removed the rubbish from about my head and was enabled to breathe a little. I was released in about thre - quarters of an hour. My left leg was badly broken, and left side bruised. STATEMENTS 01? OTHER SURVIVORS. The following are the statements of the survivors of the terrible calamity : A Mr Woodson says: ' ; The first intimation we had of our perilous position waß a slight crash, which preceded the sinking of the floor a sufficient length of time for me to ulscern a slight commotion, and the next instant we were precipitated jo the lower floor, I suppose, as I have not the rlLhtest recollection of our downward progress, or anything connected with it, except the horrible and peculiar sensations ] "experienced, and which I shall never forget. Mr Ajlett and 1 were standing near mk eft» el i and c w u "W o< "Ming

directly on niy right. "When we readied the lower floor I found myself upon Mr Aylett, and asked him who he was. He told me, and spoke of his wife up to his last breath. I think he died from suffocation. I think Capt. Woolfolk was struck by the stove, which fell with us. His head was resting upon my left a"tn. He asked: me if I thought there was any probability of our rescue, and begg -d nu not to move, t»s his head was crushed, and every movement gave him pain. I was lying on ra» breast, mj face on Mr Aylett's ba:jk, with a dead man across my shoulders, and a, large long 102 on my back- I felt as if every bi't-tith would be my last. I could not collect my thoughts, and I utterly despaired of ever seeing daylight again. Looking up I espied what I fancied to be a light. It gradually grew more distinct, and in about 20 minutes I was rescued. I cannot describe the heart-rending cries of those beneath. Tlicy seemed to manifest no .concern about themselves, but their thoughts appeared to dwdl principally upon those who were dear toTmenvin lite."

A member of the Legislature writes : " I was seated at one of the tables with the reporters when the floor caved in, and the crash of the falling 11 ;or and timber followed. My chair thus half fell, and I went over the lodge, but, happily, grasped the floor and was for a time suspended. J involuntarily prayed, and heard a clinging companion say, 'Lord have mercy upo.s me ; lam gone.' That was a terrible moment which I shall never furgjt The crashing of the floor, the shriek of the mass who went dovvu in their death slaughter, and the frantic efforts of some to escape, with my own slight chances of life, wire all fearfully presented in a single instant. When I recovered and got myself back on the platform, I hau fainted, and was hur ried by somebody from the fatal apartment."

GENERAL SUMMARY. London, April 23. Messrs. Noble report sales of llax up to April 20, as having jnesed off without am mation, a few lots changing hands at pre vious rates; p'ivitte sales have been nu merous ; a better demand is anticipated next month ; quotations, £b> to £36. _ Helmuth Schwartz's circular of April 20 reports that the wool sales opened irmly, and a large number of home and foreign buyers attended. An animated competition took place. Some kinds fetched a halfpenny and some a penny dearer than at the last i'ew dates, while all prices stand, j if not higher, at least on a par with the the highest quotations of the last .series. A sale of Australian meat has b-en held ut the Hop Exchange, Borough ; the result. is encouraging. The Admiralty have telegraphed to Commodore Lambert to search the Auckland islands for supposed castaways irom rhe missing ship Matoaka. The Irish Peace Preservation Act has produced salutary effects The national journals are more cautious in their tone, and agrarian ouirages have diminished. The House of Commons is working hard in committee on the Lish Land Bill The ■ Spectator says that anarchy in Ireland! ei.ded with the alternative of a Land Biil Francis KonaM, the original inventor oi ihe electric teie raph, hus been kniguted.

The Education controversy is raging ; public it ottings and new- paper discus ioi.s are ripening public opimon, which is tend ing towards religi< u» iustrucion uudei certain conditions.

Mi' Torrens has moved for a committee of the House of Commons to investigate: the relations of the Homo Government with the colonies. He said in his speeen that the colonies hid been grisly illtreated, e p daily those of -New Zealand aid Australia. Wodehouse's speech bef >ro the Cape Parliament, counselling the colony not to accept responsible .overnment, since that would involve ultimate separation from 'he mother country, is attracting much attention. Canada and New Zealand are cited us examples of what would happen at the Cape. Explanations have been demanded in the Imperial Parliament, but were deferred till the debate on Mr Torren's motion takes place. Lesral proceedings have been instituted against the Sheffield Daily Telegraph for stating that the Prince of Wales would soon figure iu the Divorce Courts. The observer, the Times, and Fall Mali Grazette have warned the Government ol iiie intentions of the Fenians. Tue police authorities report that a large number of Fenians had arrived from America. There is quite a panic. J. he Fenian Government is particularly active. They have threatened the Pall Mall Gazette, the editor of which paper has asked for protection from the Government. Cardinal Cullen has denounced Xedanism. A number of Fenians have been captured at Birkenhead. May 13. The wool sales closed heavily at February prices. Two thirds were taken to the continent. The Liverpool sale of Australian meal was satisfactory. Mr Torren's motion for a committee on the Colonial relations was lost by 43 votes. Mr Gladstone defended Earl Granville's policy. Ttie Atlantic yacht race between the English yacht Cambria and the American yacht Sappho was won easily by the Cambria. In London, several rendezvous for Fe nians have been discovered. Railway \ pare Is from Sheffield and Birmingham !are searched for arms,

Goldsmiths' Work.—The progress of One art manufacture in this branch of trade is strikingly exemplified in a little work jast published by J. W. Benson, of 25 Old. Bond at., and of the City Steam Factory, 58 and 00, Ludgate Hill. It is enriched and embellished with designs (by Italian, French, and English, artistes) of Broodies, Brace ets, Earrings, and other articles suitable for personal wear, or Wedding, Birthday, or other presents, with their price*. Mr Benson (who holds the appointment to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales) has also published a very interesting pamphlet on the Rise and Progress of Watch and Cbck-making. These pamphlets are sent post free for two stamps each, and they cannot be too strongly recommended to those contemplating a purchase, especially to residents in the country or abroad, who are thus enabled to select any article they may require, and have it forwarded with perfect salVty. 1/7