Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-11-22

the planets which surround hlm-he bound
them ia their respective orbits, and gave them
their light, their heat, aud their motion Let
him not, then. Shrink from the high destina-
Don which he has courted; and having alrea
dy ruined Blanneihasset in fortune, character
and happiness forever, attempt TO finish the
tragedy by thrusting that vi faied man be
tween himself aud punishment
Upon the whole, sir, reason declare Aaron
BUR the principle in this crime, and herein
confirms the sentence of tire law.
The following account 81 The Burning OF
the Richmond Theatre, is extracted from ~
History of the American Theatre" recently
published by tue Harpers, Of New York,
The house was fuller than on any night OF
the season. The play was over, and the
first act OF the panton,iae bad passed. The
second and last had begun. All was yet
gaity; all, so far, had been pleasure. eariosi
~ was yet aveJ and further qualification an
.icipaled- the orchestra sent forth its sounds
of harmony and joyj-when the guidance
perceived some confusion on the stage, and
presently shower of sparks falling from a.
hove. Some were startled, and Others thought
il was pail or the scenic exhibition A
performer on the stage received portion of
perceived that others were tearing down the
scenery. Some one cried out from the stage
That there Gas no danger. immediately az.
ter, Hopkins Robinson ran forward and cried
out, 1.-THE house lie Oh fret" pointing 10 The
ceiling, where the flames we're progressing
like wild iiie. in a moment, all was appal
ling horror ond distress Robinson handed
several persons from the boxes to the stage
ready way for their escape. The cry Of
"blre. Fire!' can through the house. ming led
with the wailiogs OF females and children. The
general rush was 10 gain the iobties 1t ap.
pears from the following description of The
house, and the scene that ensued, that this
was the cause OF the great ioas of life
The general entrance to the pit and boxes
was through do1s not more than large G.
hotagh to admit three persons abreast. This
outer entrance was within triiiing distance
OF the pit door, aud gave an easy escape TO
that part Of the house. But 10 attain Tie
boxes from the street it was necessary 10 as
cend INTO long passage, and descend again
by an angular staircase. The gallery had
distinct entrance, and its occupants escaped
The suffering and death fell on the occupants
OF the boxes, who panic struet, did not see
that the pit was Immediately left vacant, but
pressed on to gain the crowded and tortuous
way by which they had entered.
The pit door was so near the entrance,
that those who occupied that portion of the
house gained the street with ease. gentle
man who escaped from the pit among the
last saw it empty; and, when 10 the street,
looked back again upon the general entrance
TO the pit and boxes, and the door had not
been reached by those from the lobies A
gentleman and lady were saved by being ac-
I'D h, Al - k.fa t.f
those who persisted would have escaped IL
they had leaped from the boxes, and sought
that avenue to the street But all darted to
the Hobbies. The stairs were blocked up Hi
was enyeioped in hot scofchiDg smoke and
flame. The lights we're exiingnished by the
black and smotherinG vapor. and the shrleks
of despair were appalling, Happy for mo
inent were those who gained window and
inhaled the air of heaven. Those who had
issued.to the Street cried to the sufferers at
the windows to leep down, and stretched out
their arms to save them. Some were seen
struggling to gain the apettures to iphale the
fresh air. Men, women, and children pre-
ciptated themselves from the first and second
stories. Snme escaped unhurt-others we're
killed or lnangled by the fall. Some with
their clothes on fire. shriekiDg. leaPed from
the windows, to gam q short reprive and DIE
In agonles
"Svho can picture" the distres of those
who, unable TO gain the windows or afraid
10 feep from them, were pent up in the mar
ros passages" The cries OF those who reich
ed the upper windows are described as be
ing heart sickeniDg. Many who found their
way to the street were so scorched or burnt
as TO die in consequence, aud some were
crushed to death under foot after reaching
the outer door.
Add 10 them this mass Of suferings. the
feelings Of those who knew they had reia-
tives or friends who had gose to the house
that night Such rushed half frantic to the
spot with crouds of citizens from all quarters
while the tolng bells sounded the knci OF
death to the father or mother whose child
had been permitted TO visit the theatre on
that night oihorror. :,
as nv father was leading me home" said
Mr., Henry Placid, eve saw MIR. Greene, ex
hausted by previous exertion, leaning on
fence and looking at the scene Of rum" k'o'
all was now one black mass Of smoking dc
| struction. r,
"Thank God" calculated Greene, "Thani