Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-06-02

DESTRUCTION OF rENNsYLvANIA HALL
The popular excitement growing out of the ded
ication Of unsylvania Hall, end the aitcndins
circumstances, reached fearful pitch through
o'' yesterday. The tumut of,hc previous nigh
WIS the theme # all tongncs; . thousand extrav
a1ant stories were circulated, nad the apprehcn
SON became general, that the night would 10
pass by, without still more fearful and exciting
scene. Daring the day, tho Hall was open, and
rs we believe, one or two Lectures were deliver
ed. Al noon, from 100 to 200 persons congrega
ted IN front Of the building, and the number con
iinued Ia increase and tho sensation to bccoms
stronger, until towards SHUTDOWN, when thousand.
from every section Of the city and county, pourc,
in dense masses towards tho scene, and BY eight
o'clock, there mist have been q cnncOursc Of ten
thousand persons Of all classes, sexes. ages and
conditions.
THE Mayor. arc told, made bis appearance
Mt an carly hour and closed the doors Of the Hall
notw outstanding ii WAS understood that Society
would meet there in the evening, for the purpose
ofdiscnssion. We need scarcely state that as the
crowd Increased excitement waxed warmer. The
first demonstrate lions Of attack made upon the
windows, which were thrown Mt from numerous
hands and from every direction.
force the doors, which at first did succccd the
efforts, however, were soon redonbIcd and en-
trance speedily effected. The next step was
breaking tho seats, galleries, and furniture in the
interior. The fragments, il is said, were hastily
gathered together in tho centre Of the hall, and
torch applied. The gas pipes were cut md fire
communicated TO tho streams that issued fori:s.-
These arc TIC statements Or the night; Cor with
The conflicting rm,noss in circulation, il was i'm
possible ~ discover any authenticated account Of
the moro deliberate preliminary stops. The a
lasnH 0f iro speedily given. and the vast mul-
'i."ds re-cchood The cry. The state house bell
also sss9 ous, and the engines and lircmen pour
ed in with their aparaaus, which they speedily put
in readiness for action.
Tho crowd by this time had swollcn 10 m i'm
sncnse multitude, and not only Sixth street from
Arch TO Race, presented dense mass Of human
beings, but all the streets and alleys adjacent
were thronged with eager and excited spectators.
The alarm spread through the city-a few
Iasty particulars passed from mouth to mouth,
and tho apprehension wa3 far greater among
those Who had mot an opportunity Of witnessing
tho progress Of the flames, than the immediate
spectators of the scene.
This was natural; the Hall being located in ono
Of tho most dcnscIy populated part. Of the city,
within stones throw III the Arch Street Theatre, !
and number Of frame buildings being in the i'm |
mediate ncighborhoot, il was feared that, no mat
ter how we'll directed tho efforts Of tho Gremcn,
nor how libernl tho supply Of water, they would
not be able to bound tho progress Of the flames
Nay, more. conflict between tho police, and the
crowd was appsehcndcj; end hence, many an anx-
ious mother or susceptible vito, dreaded lest the
night would not pass by without tho destruction
81 Iifo ss we'll ~ property.
Soon after niue o'clock tho whole building was
wrapped in fumes, which ddlased lurid light
around, and throwing sheir rcd reflections upon
Inc multitude below, impaired . remarkable and :,
fearful effect u tho scene. Every window vom'-
ed forth its volume, and tho roof cracked, smoked
md biazcd before the progress Of the devousing
clement. Il was fearful scene, and yet VIC ncy- 8
e witnessed 30 vast . concoursc passive and I
. quiet, considering tho circumstances Of the
asc. The great majority appeared Z" be merely
pcciators, filling, by any movement whatever, i
ther to increase the existing, or provoke further
excitement. The fremcn were perfectly sclf- i
assessed; and took especial pains ~ protect q
nd save tho surrounding property. This was
ask Of geeat difficulty, bue one IN which, rs We
clisvc, they proved fully successful. Torrents &
{ waser descended; and - fast Is tho strength h
ono isoiy Of men gave way, their places were d
instantly supplied by another.
We saw several coourcd persons in the out d.
kirss Of the crowd; bot far our observation f
Intended, no cfY;,rt was mado to modest them. We
,ere told, however, that several driv on from
be- ground. The FIRE ragged furiousy until oil the
rood work Of tho building was destroyed. The
r,f fell in about ten O'Clock; and rs the flames 8
nbs;tlcd. tho throng gradually dispersed. Al III Of
clock, Pennsylvania Hall was mass Of ruins,
he walls alone erect and standing, and the noise,
ustle and confusion incident to such nm occur D
cncc, became gradually more subducd, as the o.
our OF midnight oppeOlC0cO NC Ousy oCCucnt
nat We heard Of, one caused by nm engine G.
'hich, running . fireman, fractured his leg.
10 was carried off ON q board Ivy a number Of CT Of
zens. We need scarcely add, that the condi- G.
on Of the residents in tho immediate neigh 81
orI,ooJ. aud especially at the commencement Of IL
he occurrence, was alarming and painful in the o
xtreme.
Tho Public Ledger states that shy . law passe0 !e
tho late legislature, il is provided that tho in
,ry done To any property from the violence If .
,ohs, 10 to be- compensated fnr out Of tho public y
snds Of the district; that THE act Is, in effect
estroying our own property. The cost Of the G.
ui:,ling VIC understand to have been mot far short
{ $4,000. =
Further Psreicszars-Wc yesterday gave No n
cfa,lcd account time and limits would pos q
,is Of tho destruction by fire Of the Pennsylvania u
IaIi, in North Sixth street. We have since en- {,
Favored ascertain further particulars, and pro- Il
ecd 10 give the result u inquiries. II n
Gems that the worA Of destruction planned x
MI roosummated in the mist deliberate manner. c.
r,s Mayor was on the ground at an early hour, p
, the head " party of Police. He locked the G
oor and took the key Of the Hall, and cnjoiocd d.
oacc and good order upon the multitude that was Al
,pilly assembling. He was replied 10 mildly II
- f;rr,lx ~ 6.sf and IN attending TO arrest VI