The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-26
From The Pennsylvania MQ,.irey

DESTRUCTION OF PENNSYLVANIA HALL-The po-
pular excitement growing out of the dedication Of
Pennsylvania Hall and the attending circumstances,
reached fearful pitch throughout yesterday. The
tumull of the previous night was The theme of all
! tongues; thousand extravagant stories were cir
eulaed, and the apprehension became general that
the night would not pass by without still more fear
full and exciting scene. During the day the hall
was open, and as we believe, one or two lectures
were delivered AT noon, from 100 10 200 persons
congregated in front of the buildings and the num-
Der continued TO increase and the sensation to be-
| come stronger, until towards shutdown when thou
sands from every section of the city and county
poured in dense masses towards the scene; and by
3 o'clock there must have been a coneourSe of ten
thousand persons of all classes sexes ages and con-
dltions. The Mayor we are told, made his appear
ance at an early hour, and closed the doors of the
Hail. notwithstanding it was understood that So
cieiy would meet in the evening for the purpose of
discussion. We need scarcely state that as the
crowd increased, the excitement waxed warmer
The first demonstrations Of attack were made upon
the windows which were thrown at from numerous
hands and from every direction. This movement
was followed by an attempt to force the doors
which, at first, did not succeed; the efforts however
were soon redoubied and an entrance speedily eff
fected The next step was breaking the seats gal
lerieS, and furniture in the interior The fragments
il is Said were hastily gathered together in The CEN
ire of The hall, and torch applied The gas pipes
were cut, and fire communicated to the streams that
issued forth. These are the statements of the night;
for, with the conflicting rumors in circulation il
was impossible to discover any authenticated ac-
count of the more deliberate preliminary steps. The
alarm OF fire was speedily given, and the vast null
titude re-echoed the cry. The State-house bell also
rang out and the engines and fremen poured in
wihlher apparatus, which they speedily put in rea-
diness for action. ..' .1.
The crowd by this time had swollen to an i'm
mense magnitude and not only Sixth street from
Arch TO Race, presented dense mass of human be-
ingS, but all the streets and alleys adjacent were
thronged with eager and excited spectators. The
alarm soon spread through the citv-a few hasty par
ticuars passed from mouth 10 mouth and the appre-
henson was far greater among those who had not
an opportunity OF Witnessing the progress of the
flames, than the immediate spectators Of the scene
This natural, the Hall being located in one
within stones throw Of the Arch Street Theatre s
and number of frame buildings being in the INN
diae neighborhood, it was feared that, no matter
how wefdrected the efforts of the fremen, nor
how liberal the supply Of water they would not be
able to bound the progress of the flames. Nay
more, conflict between the police and the crowd
was apprehended; and hence many an anxious mo-
Their or susceptible wife dreaded the night would
not pass by without the destruction of life well as
property "..
Soon after nine o'clock the whole building was
wrapped in flames; which difused a lurd light
round, and throwing their red reflections upon the
multitude below, impaired remarkable and fearful
effect TO the scene Every window vomited forth it's
volume, and the roof cracked, smoked, and blazed
before the pr greSs of the devourng element. 1t was
fearful scene, and yet we never witnessed vast
concourse passive and SO quiet, considering the
circumstances of the case. The great majority APP
peared TO be merely spectators: unwilling, by any
movement whatever either TO increase the existing
or provoke further excitement. The fremen were
sel-possessed, and took especial pains protect and
save the surrounding property. This was task Of
great difficulty, but in which, as we believe they
proved fully successful Torrents of water descend
ed, and fast as the strength of one body of men
gave way, their places were instantly supplied by
another .-..
We several colored persons in the outskirts
of the crowd but, far observation extended
no effort was made to modest them. We were told
however, that several were driven from the ground.
The fire ragged turiously 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 dispersed.