Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-11-13
Tne constitutional GglJiG.
ls{$CCissstsGGHS.

Richmond Theatre is extracted from "a History OF
tine American Theatre" rcccmtly published by the |
Harpc,s OF New York;
Tho house iilllcr thaa any night of the !
season. Tho play over, dnd the first act of the
psntomiuio had passed. Tho second aud last had
begun. All was yet gaiuty; ALL far. had been
pleasures curiosity Was yet alive; and further gra-
tica,ion anticipatcG-thc ochestra sent forth its
sounds Of harmony and joy;--whcn the audience
perceived some confusion the stage; and pre-
senty shower oil sparks falling from above. Some
Were startled, others thought ii part of the
scenic exhibition. performer the stage e.
ccivcd portion OF the burning materials from on
high, aud II was perceived that others tearing
down the scenery. Some cried out from the /,
stage that there danger Immediately al
ter, Hopkins Robinson ran forward and cried out
"the house is on fire. pointing to the ceiling, !
where the flames progressing like wiid-hre. In
moment, all appalling horror and distress.
Robinson handed several persons from the boxes to
the stage ready way for their escape. The cry
of Fire. Fire." ran through the house, mingled
whit waings of females and children The ge-
neral rush was to gain the Hobbies. i: appears
from the following description of the house, and
the scene that ensucd, that this the of
the great loss If life.
The general entrance to the pit and boxes
through door not more than large enough TO ad-
nat three persons abreast. This outer entrance
within triiling distance of the pit door, aud gave
an easy escape Ia that part OF the house. Blu, to
attain the boxes from the street it was necessary
TO descend into u long passage and descend again
by angular staircase Tie gallary had distinct
entrance, aud its occupan escaped The suffering
and death fell on the occupants of the boxes, who,
panic-struck, did not that the pit inmcdi-
ate'y left vacant, but pressed to gain the crowd
cd and toriuors way by which they had entered.
Tho PIT door was so near the entrance, that those
who occupied that portion of the hossc gained tho
street with ease. y gentleman who escaped from
the PIT among the last saw it empty and, when in
the street, looked back again upon the general en-
trance to the pit and boxes, and the door had not
been reached by those from the Hobbies. A gentle.
man and lady were saved by being accidentally
thrown into tho pit, and NEST of those who perish.
cd would have escaped ifthoy had leaped from the
boxes, and sought that avenue to the street. But
all darted the Hobbies. The stairs were blocked
up. All was emvcoped in hot scorchng smoke
and flame. The lights exiting uished by the
black and smotherng vapor, and the shrieks of des
pair were appalling. Happy for moment
those who gained Il window and inhaled the air of
heaven. Those who had issued to the street cried
to tue sufferers at the windows to leap down, and
stretched out their arms to save them. Some were
seen struggling to gain the aportures to inhac the
fresh AR. Men, women, and children precipitated
themselves from the first and second stories. Some
escaped unhurt--othcrs were killed or mangled by
the fall. Some With their clothes on fire, Shrek
ing leapod from the windows, to gain short
pricvc and die in agonics.
"Who can picture" says a correspondent of the
Mirror, ''the distress of those who, unabls gain
the windows afraid to leap from them, were pcnt
up IN the long narrow passages" The cries of
those who reached the upper windows described
as beng Notwithstanding. Many who found their
way to the street were scorched or burnt as to
die IN conseq''cn aud crushed to
death under foot after reaching the outer door.
Add to this mass of suffering, the feelings of
those who knew that they had relatives or friends
who had gone to the house that night. Such rush
ed hall frantic to the spot with the crowds of cit
rens from al! quarters-while the tolng bells
sounded the knell of death TO the heart of the ia
thar or mother whose child had been permitted to
visit The theatre on that night of horror.
'As my father was leading me hoine," said MIR.
Henry Placdc, ''wc saw Mr.. Greene, exhausted by
previous exerton, leaning fence and looking
at the scene of ruin" For all was now one black
mass OF smoking destruction. THANK Giod!"
CALCULATED Greene, 'Thank God. Iprohibited Nan
cy from coming TO the house might! she is saiap
Nancy was his only daughter, Just sprngng
into womanhood, still at the boarding school of
Mrs. Gibson and beautiful and lovely Girl rs
Imagination can picture.
Mrs. Gibson and The boa:dcrs had made up
party Tor the theatre that evening, and Nancy
Greene asked her fathers permission TO accompa-
ny them. lie rciused=-but unfortunately added
his reas"n-''the house will be crowded, and you
will occupy scat that would otherwise be paid
for On these words hung the fate of youth, in
noccncc and beauty. II will pay for your ticket"
SAID the KIND instructrcss, 1--WE will not leave you
behind" The teacher and the pupil were buried
IN the runs on which the father gazcd, and over
which he returned thanks for the safety of his
child. lie went home and learned the truth.
An instance of the escape of family is given.
The husband, with three children, were in the Sc.
cond boxes; his wife with female friend, in ano
Tier part of the house. The wife gained window
--IeaPed out and escaped unhurt. Her friend fol-
lowed and was killed. The father caspod TWO
helpless girls to his breast and left boy of twelve
years OF age TO iollow-thc boy forced from
he father, ran to IL window, sprang out and was
safe The parent, with his precious charge, fol-
lowed the stairway pressed upon by those behind
INN, and those who mounted the heads and
shoulders OF the crowd before them--he became
Unconscious, but still borne aong--he was
taken up, carried to his bed and opened his eyes TO
SEE all his family safe
On the contrary, Lieut.. Gibbon of the Navy as
exemplary in life heroic in the service of his
country, and on the brink of Il union with Miss
Conyers, the pride of Richmond for every accom-
Pilshnen; and vrtue-was swept into eternity
while excrtIng himself to do all that man should
III such trying circumstances. He was with his
mother at the theatre, and carried her to a place
OF saiety--tlen rushed back to save her in whose
fate his own bound up--he caught her in his
rms-had borne her partly down the staircase,
when the steps gave way, and body of flame
swept them away TO eternity.
Fran Campaigns and Cruizes in Fenezueld
Among those who were put to death during tho
period OF terror, the Colonbaus will long reIncm.
her the unfortunate Doua Apolinara IalIibarriata,
better known Ivy the name of La Poll, who was
sentenced 10 death by Ianano, aud shot, together
with her brtrot!icd husband. She was young la
o. OF good family in Bogota, and Distinguish
ed by nor beauty and accom- pIsbments Eutlusi-
a'ticaliy attached to the cause Of liberty, she de-
voted herself TO the hazardous task Of attaining
ana rnn'miting to Bolivar secret intelligence re-
"Pectpg The force, disposition, and plans of opera
ton OF the royast army. The particulars Of this
Important Information she conirved to collect from
the HPinish officers themselves, the terfuLiGs or
evonIug cOnvcrsazloncs at her house, which were
.troquented by them, who listened with delight to
her powers Of conversation and singing, accompa-
NED by her guitar. From thcsc officers, who could
not possibly suspect so young, and apparently art
icSs, female OF any dangerous design, hhe used