The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-02

Thursday night was ehns,nced fron, ths
Stage, / was leaning over the back of the
front box, which was the next to the north
side of the Theatre OH my left hand was
Lieut.. Gibbon, and on the bench directly be.
low, was Mrs. Gallego, Miss COnyers. Mrs
Gibbon, Mrs. Braxton, Mr.. Venable and o.
theirs, whose names / cannot recollect the
alarm of fire was Immediately succeeded BY
n Cry of, tits false alarm, there is no d,.n
ger, and as we did not imagine any, both
Lieut.. Gibbon & myself, endeavorcd to q.,iet
the approximations of the Ladies i'm the box
liked my eyes on the Stage; the scene
Which was down, had the appearance
Of transparency, behind which CLEANS OF
light seemed to descend but this did not
'cciviacc me, or any person near me mo-
ment however decided, the front scene is in
flames, and then resolved to give all that
assistance which humanity dictated, and
reached over for Miss Conyers, who had
sunk motionlcss below. Lieut.. Gibbon did
the same, VIC took 6cx over, we held her be-
tween us, she is in state OF insensibility, and
to all appearance dead, her head falling o.
yer my left ARM this mannerwe proceeded
towards the head of the stairs, when Glib
bon, said, Lynch, leave Sally to me, 1 am
strong enough to carry her, she is light and
You can save somebody else. replied, God
bless you, Gibbon, there is the stairs. then
turned round and proceeded for my original
situation i'll order to take out some of the O.
Their Ladies, & as returned, perceived
the dreadful element rush with the rapi-
dity of lightning from the stage, along the ia
cling of the upper boxes, taking both sides at
the same time, and from the dreadful Co
lumn of smoke which was then thrown down
uponthe centre of the front boxes, the flames
must have met there: all was now utter
darkness in the lobby, and suffhcation threa-
tened. Icould not do any thing, was in the
midst of crowd of sufferers, the cries were
dreadful, it was an awful period, and only
that the end window was then burst open,
we must all, all that were in that lobby,
would certainly have been suffocated :the O.
pcning of the window brought relief & hope,
i moved OH with the throng to the window, &
got to the West side of it. There was a gen
Heman in a light celoured coat, fixed fast in
the window seat (whom since understand
was Mr.. Hancock, } it appeared to me that
f.is legs & thighs were fixed betwixt the sill
eftile window and the brick work men and
women were precipitating themselves on his
Shoulders, regardless of his entreaties to al
low him to free himself, and of the fate that
waited them below {: many bodies were lay
Ing on the ground to appearance dead, and
the flames were passing out OF the top OF the
window ] was undetermined, and at that
moment was pushed away towards the west
wall of the Theatre, again suffocation cirea-
tened, the flames were rushing on in all di-
Tections, my hair caught fire, for my hat
was gomez hope deserted me, was struck
with the horror at the idea of being burnt "a
live, l rushed towards the window, waving
mi hands as quick as possible over my head,
and clothes: this was a dreadful moment, /
saw many drop down each side of me suf-
located, and passed over some bodies onmy
way the window was now free, and was
scarcely on the bottom of it, when heard
an awful crash behind me, l threw my self
out, and providence preserved me. / am
with heartfelt feelings of congratulation OH
your own providential escape,
Very respectfully,
Sir,
Your most ob't.