Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-05-24

Al noon, from 100 to 900 persons congrs-
gated in front Of the building, and the num-
ber continued TO increase and the sensation
10 become stronger, until toward sundowD,
when thousands from every section Of The
city and country poured in dense masses
toward the scene, and by 8 O'Clock there must
have been concourse Of ten Thousand per-
sons, Of all classes, sexes, ages and cond'l'ons.
We need scarcely state, that % the cFo"d
Increased, the excitement waxed warmer.--
The first demonstrations Of attack were made
upon the windows, which wore thrown ss
from numerous hands and every direction.
An entrance having been effected, tho
next step was breaking the seats, galleries
and furniture in the interior. The Fragments
were hastily gathered together IN the centre
of the hall, and torch applied. The gas
pipes were cut and FIRE communicated 10 The
streams that issued forth.
These are the statements OF tho night TOT
with the conflicting -umors IN circulation,
was impossible to discover any authenticated
account of the more deliberate preliminary
steps. -,
The alarm of fire was speedily given, and
the vas. multitude re-cchoed the cry. State
House bell also rang out, and the engines
and iremen poured in with their apparatus,
which were speedily put in readiness ior
action.
The crowd by this time had swollen 10 an
/ Immense magnitude, and not only Sixth
street, from Arch to Race, presented a dense
mass of human beings, but all the streets and
alleys adjacent, were thronged with eager
and excited spectators.
Il The alarm soon spread through the clty--a
II few hasty particulars passed from mouth to
mouth, and the apprehension was far greater
II among those who had not an opportunity of
witnessing the progress Of the hames, than
the immediate spectators OF the scene.
II This was natural tho Hall being losated
in one of the most densely populated parts OF
our city, within a stones throw OF the Arch
Street Theatre, and number OF frame build
II ings being in the immediate neighbourhood,
H it was feared that, no matter how well d.
rected the efforts Of the fremen, nor how
liberal the supply Of water, they would not
be nble to bound the progress OF the fnmes.
Il Nay more, conflict between the police
and the crowd was upprehended; and hence,
many an anxious mother or sus ceptible wife
dreaded lest the night would not pass by
without the destruction Of life as well a.
property.
Soon after nine o'clock, the whole building
was wrapped in flames, which diffused a lurid
II light around, and throwing their red reflec-
tions upon the multitude below, impaired
remarkable and fearful effect to the scene
H Every window vomited forth its volume, and
Il the roof cracked, smoked and blazed before
the progress of the devouring element.
II 1t was a fearful scene, and yet we never
witnessed so vast csncourse so passive and
so quiet, considering the circumstances OF the
case. The great majority appeared to be
merely spectators unwilling by any move
ment whatever, either to increase the exist
ing, or provoke father excitement.
The fire ragged furiously until all the wood
work of the building was destroyed. The
roof fell in about ten o'clock and as the
flames subsidized, the throng gradually dis
persed.
i AtIl o'clock, Pennsylvania Hall was .
mass Of ruins, the walls alone erect and stand
II ing, and the noise, bustlo and confusion in
/ cident 10 such an occurrence became gradu-
ally more subdued, as the hour Of midnight
approached.
II The New York Com. Adv. adds,-The
Il immediate cause Of the popular excitement
II is said to have been the ainalgamation OF col
ours during the hours Of fashionable prone
nading-.blacks and whites, arm in arm,
thronging the streets by scores. This, il
II true, is poor excuse for the outrageous acts
II of the mobites-acts which we never dream
II ed would occur in the peaceful city Of Phila-
\ delphia. The editor Of the Com. Adv. truly
Il remarks-"The result is fearful-and deeply
H disgraceful to the country"
III