The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-02
Your most ob't.
JOHN LYNCH.
Richmond Doth Dnc 1911

DEAR SIR-Being told, that for the pur-
pose OF collecting the best information con-
cerning all the circumstances attending the
atedreadful coniagration, you weredesirous
of obtaining from each Individual who had
escaped, short account Of the manner and
circumstances under which such escape was
effected send you the following state
Incnt
AS the curtain arose for the commence
Inent of the Cd act of the pantomime, was
standing in the lobby on the lower range of
boxes, Conversing with some of my friends
through the broken PANEL of a box about
thirty feet from the head of the stairs. This
box was entirely filed among others who
were in it, and whohaye persisted, i remem-
Der Mrs. Gallego, Miss Conyers, Lieutenant
Cibben, and Mr.. Venable. -Immediately
after the rising of the curtain, and as the
scene commenced / saw several fakes of
fire fall about the centre of the stage but
supposed it was probably the falling of some
ornament or lights intended to illuminate the
sccne.-rhe cry of " fire. was instantly
given--I advanced few steps into the lobby
enquiring from whence the alarm arose and
net several persons, some of them known
to me, calling out that it was false alarm
II turned about and now saw the curtain
dropped and very large bright light be-
hind i'll then felt assured that the house
y
ton and confusion had become general
Iclt no fear whatever from the flames, and
was only apprchensive that by the impetu-
.osity OF the crowd, many would be crushed
to death--and with others united in calling
out to those around me, that the danger was
-magniiled, and besccched them not TO press
so fast on those before--we called to the
wnl;ts---I endesvoured now to force my way
back to the side of the box ] had left, to
cain he fcar cF uit u1,r n h,,t
been speaking and to wait until the crowd
had passcd-Ihis however was impossible
The column OF the crowd in which was
enclosed, bore me irresstbly, but slowly a.
long towards the stairs--still feeling no fears
of Je;ng over,aken by the flames, | continued
folded in my cloak and pressing my weight
backwards, to give as far as possible an OPP
p.rtunity to those ON the head of the stairs,
(where the pressure already seemed dread
full to effect their escape-suddenly / per-
ceived thick, black, hot smoke, curl
ms down our heads-persons were No
longer to be distinguished--utte darkness
prevailed-su'focation was fast approaching
for the hrst moment was seriously alarm
e0-and by the most violent excrtions en-
deavoured to make my way to the head oil
the stairs---it appeared to nc / could not
gain an inch--Those around me were sink
ing-my own strength failed, and verily
ocIeVcu thht never SnOuiq see the light a-
gain-At this instant window on my right
was forced opcn---the fresh air some what
dissipated the smoke and revived us to new
excrtiou---a universal scream Of mingled
JOY and despair was given, and q rush to-
wards the wndows--thcsc next it seemed
unable t. move and cried ont Z" that they
we're pressed tn death"-I was within few
PAGES of it-ard by desperate cxertons en-
dcavourcd T. reach i'll could not--In last
effort OF desp IL, assisting myself by the
shoulder of scr,s one next me, ] drew my
feet up and was thrown by the united inn
pulse Of others, and my own excrtions, with