Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-01-13
Another Account.

In The whole course Of our existence, we
have never taken cur pen under q detper
gloom than we Il ell at this moment. II fall,
o our lot 10 recnld one Of the most distress
ing scenes which can haopen in the whole
circle of human affairs The reader must
excuse the Incoherence of the narrative
there IS scarce dry eve in this distracted
city. Weep, my fellow citizens for We
have seen night of woe, which scarce any
eye had seen, or ear hath heard, and no
tongue can adequately tell.
Let US collect our ideas as well IS w
GER. On Thursday night, a new play aud a
new Gf,erpiece were PLAYED for the benefit
of Mr. Placidc. Crowds swsrmed 10 the
thestre--it was the fullest house this season
There were not less than 600 present
The play sent otf--the pansomime began
the Fl 81 act was over. The whole scene
was before us-and all around us was mirth
aud fes,ivity oh God What horrible
revolution 6ld one minute produce The
curtain rose on the I'd act of he pan,omime
the orchestra was IN full chorus and
Mr. West came on 10 open the sccnce-
when sparks of fire began 20 fall on the hack
part Of the stage, and Mr.. Robertson came
cut in unut,ersblc distress. waved his hand
10 the ceallng. and uttered these appalling
words -" The house is on fire." His
hand was Immediately stretched forth 10 the
pei sous in the stage box to help them on the
stsge--and aid their retreat in that direc
ton. This is all tina, we caught the stage
the CRY of fire, fire, passed with electric
velosity through The house-every one flew
from their seats TO gain the Hobbies and
stlirs.
The scene battles all description. The
most heart-pierc,ng cries pervaded the
aous,. Save me, save me-" Wives ask
ing for their husbands, females and children
shIrking while the gathering element
came rolling on its curling flames and col.
umns of Notwithstanding to devour ey-
cry human being N the building. Many
were trod under ioot-several were thrown
back from the windows which they were
struggling 20 leap. The stair ways were
Immediately blocked up--,he ,hrcng was
so great that many were raised several feet
over the heaos OF the rest--the smoke
sn instant sutiocaiiOn. We can.
not dwell on this piclure.-We saw, we
felt 1t like others we gave up ourselves for
from The windows of the first story, and
were sayec-children and females and men
OF all descriptions were seen to precipi,ate
themselves OIL The ground below-most o,
these escaped though several ofthem with
broken legs and thighs, and hideous contu-
SONS. Most il not all who were in the pit
escaped. Mi. Taylor, the last OF the mu-
sici@ns who Quilted the orchestra finding
the back way cut off lespt into the pii
whence he entered the simicircular which
leads 10 the door OF the Theatre. and found
IL neariy empty. lie was the last that es-
capped from the pit how melancholy, ihst
many who were IN the boxes did MOI also
imp into tile pit aud Fly in The same dice
t'oa. Bu, those who were IN The boxes, a
bose AID below, pushed far tho labbies
many, as has Dues sand, escaped through
the windows, but the most OF them had no
other resource lhan TO descend The stairs.
many escaped ia that way-but so great
was tue pressure that they retarded each o.
ther ;unnl The devouring element approach
ed TO sweep them INTO eternity. Several
who even emerged from the baldiny were
SO much scorched that they have since per
Ished. Some even Jumped from the second
window: some others have been dreadfuly
burnt.
The Are few with rapidly, almost be.
yond example. Within ten minutes afer
Il caught, the whole house wss wrapt il
flames. The colOured people in the gallery
most Of them escaped through the stairs cut
of from the rest Oft house --some Of chem
have no doubt fallen victims. The Bit and
boxes had but one common avenue, through
which the whole crowd escaped, save those
only who les?ed through The windows.
But the scene which ensurd, it is Impos.
sible TO paint. Women with disshsyelled
hair, fathers and moiliers shi king gu, for
their cniidren, husbands for tkeir wives.
brothers tor their sisters, Sled the whole
area on the ouside or the building. A few
who had escaped, plunged ar in into the
flames 10 save some dear object OF their re-
garland they persisted. The Governor
perhaps shared this melancholy fa,e q
theirs were frantic and would have rushed
to destruction, hui for the hand Of i,iena
The bells iolled Almos the whole ,own
rushed 10 the fatal spot.
The f.me Dsast have been car-h. 20 the
scenery from some light behind. Robert.
son saw It, when II was no longer than M.
arm Young Saw 1t on the roof, wien il
hrst burnt through. Every article Of the
theatre Was Consumed as we'll as the
dwelling house next 10 ii. But what is
wealth ~ comparison OF the ,alus,b,e live.
which have gone forever The whole
town sshro0dct in woe. Rratls Of, fan
eAunsushed toreyer--manv and many I
the house, IN which cIas,n has been made
that Can never be Tilted 40. We cannot
dwell on ANS picturc--but took 4, tLe "a.
h"l"s Catalogue ct The victims, and then
Conceive the Calamity which his fJlen an
GA us. We nusl arop tie SEN when w.
have time 10 collect more n.r,,c.,l.r :.
eoun, We SHAFT give it hereafter. On ms.
cradle nigh OF unuttersb.e woe ~
at meeting of the Coz,rrnv,er. a.
a. ~.~L III