Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-25

theme OF admiration IN that part OF the metropohs,
is now a heap OF ruins; and what height, the |
tale is, that many hunan lives have
been the sacrifice. AS TO the cause of this mos
irjghtiul event. all is at present conjecture The
roof was lion, and, il is supposed, was too heavy
for the still green walls TO support its ponterouS
weight IL appears, as far can be collected
from the conflicting accounts, amid the dislnay
and agitation which the event has excited tina, a
rehearsal ofGuy Mannering was proceeding, and
about half past eleven, when all the performers
were on the STAGE the external wall suddenly fell
into the street, and the whole building in
stantly mass of ruins; il also Knocked down the
two houses opposite, Qhe Star public house and
baker's) the proprietor of the latter (Batz) was
killed. A dray and two horses, belonging 10 Mes
Elliott, passing in the street, crushed 10
atoms; lady, and gentleman, who passing
at the time had very narrow escape, 4 portion
OF the ruins fell upon the leg of the gentleman
who saved himself by desperate muscular effort,
and extricatcd his leg from the boot Mr.. Percy
Farren, the stage manager, brother TO Mr.. Farren,
OF Covent Garden Theatre, was on the stage, SUI
perintcnding the rehearsal, when the melHncho-
" event took place. The following is his ow
statement
was sitting on the outside OF Nv. Maurice
box, which is a level with the stage, speaking
10 him concerning the entertainments for Monday
next; this was about twenty minutes past eleven:
the performers standing the stage 70 begin the o.
pera ofGuy Mannering. a crash directed the at
tention TO the roof of the building, and saw the
lustrc falling. Mr.. Maurice rushed to the cen
ire, and chung to the pillar of the proscenium.
| ~ minute did not capsc when the whole fell
not by pieces, but massc, and entirely swept all
before it, boxes, scenes, stage and actors. cloud
OF dust for second obScured my view; but when
perception returned, found that the opposite pill
lar, and that part OF the box 10 which chung
alone remained; the rest VI the editice ming
gled mass OF iron, timber, and bricks j now dis
unguisled that Miss Yates, by some extraordina-
ry preservation, was making her way towards me,
covered with blood streaming from her head, and
imploring me 20 save her. dragged her over the
box; where we remained completely blocked in,
for nearly half an hour. At the expiration OF
| that PERIOD l distinguished three or four carpen-
ters wading through the rubbish TO gain the street
| for the front wall having fallen, a passage a
fearful one, It's true was left, BY ciambeIng over
the ruins. Upon inquiry, l was told that our
present security was very frail, and that should
endeavor 10 escape. l did so, and, after some
difficulty, contriyed To get her over the ruins; in
doing which need not describe my horror at
hnding one OF the resting places for my feet was
the face OF the unfortunate sufferer OF the name OF
Gilbert. However, as if by miracle, did escape,
and as far as my inquiries lead, the only person
entirely unhurt who did so. 1 then went to APP
Prise my friends of my safety.
Messrs. Maurice and Carruthers, (who had
erected the theatre, and expended considerable
sum in its completon,) were behind the scenes,
witnessing the probable effect that the drama
would produce, when at about % minutes TO IL o.
clock, slight crash of timber was heard. which
might have been the falling of beam from the
hands OF carpenter, who, with others, was still
employed in completing the building; another
came, and twas equally disregarded; third fol-
| lowed, which excited only momeutary alarm, and
shook the iustre; but a fourth followed with ins.an
taneous rapidly, and buried the greater part o.
| the performers on the boards in its ruins.
! When the theatre fell in, there were at leas
I 10 persons within it. Connected with the thea.
trical performance, there were at least 90; and
with the mechanics employed about its completion,
there could not have been less than ITO. The
greater part, it is 10 be hoped have escaped. The
! accounts given by Mr.. Goldsmith, one of the sur
viVors, is quite corroborative of other statements
he adds, that while on the stage and speaking tc
/ hir. lyman, another OF tho company, he removed
! from some kind OF presentment, to the right hare
stagc-box, immediately opposite to which Mr.
P.taTren, the stage manager, was sitting, ant
casting the parts; but scarce had he arrived there
when he perceived tremendous motion about the
| lustre, and the crash Immediately followed He
says there were at the fine, Mr. Wyman and a
least 81 others the stage and behind the scenes
occupied. In the orchestIaswas Mr. Fearon, its
CONDUCTOR arranging the music for the next
night performance; and Immediately behind il
were his two sisters, who also sisters Of Mrs
Giossons called Madame Fearon. When he (Mr.
Goldsnih) first heard the shoc!S he says that his
instant feeling was TO quit the house, but yet he
remained Till the ruins tumbled in. III fortunate
~ escaped, and while making his way, and struC-
60 throua. brick and mortar, he called out in
anxiety, sn9 Two sai.crs at the moment rushed in,
and assisted him until ,.2 Tas N place Of safety
Hardly had he got without the building, when ne
was met by Nj u. Farren, whose escape was c.
qually proYidential, and the exclamation was, MIR.
Wyman and female being with him, 3" Good
God! Goldsmith, have you escaped We are the
only persons who are left to tell the story We
ought TO fall on cur knees and thank God lor his
protection"
hundred labourers from ST. Catharne's Docks,
were instantly sent TO assist in removing the rub
bish, and by their exertion3 several persons were
saved, though dreadfully mufila'e1.-The bodies
dug out at 4 late hour this morning were-hIr
Maurice, printer, Of Fenchurch ST., principal pro-
priotor; Mr.. l.. Gilbert, q performer; Miss Fcaron
sister 10 Madame Fcaron and Miss Freeman, ac-
tresses; Robert Purdy, blacksmith; Allis and Pin
told, door-keepers: Jesse Miles, carpenter; and
Levi, cloihosman who was reading the play bill
at the door.-Miles was carpenter, employed
at the theatre and is mentioned as having been an
excellent wOrkman ne has left family Of five
children. Levy was not recognizable by his friends
It was only the Table or Laws which was found
atlacted to his breast that enabled them to iden-
tiiy his mangled remains Near the spot where
Levy was found, lie the dray and the poor horses:
their limbs literally crushed to atoms, and their
bodies bruised and lacerated in a dreadful man
ner. Mr.. Caruthers, the other proprietor, was
taken up most dreadfully iniured-afd upwards
Of twenty sufferers were carried of TO the Lon
don Hospita-some with fractured limbs 9TH
ers with heads confused, some with backs bro
ken, and many others with much sghter iuju-
ries were dug out. The bodies Of several Of the
sufferers only recognizable by parts Of their
dress, or memoranda found upon them. The
eXertions OF the labOurer5 unremiting I'D
TO II O'Clock last night, when, it being consid-
cred hopeless that any Of the unfortunate crea-
lures who still remained beneath the ruins could
possibly retain life they were sent hofue To re-