Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-04-14
SHOCKING FIRE-aoO LIVES LOST.

StOCkING FIR E--3O0 LIF ES LOST.
English papers bring us the following account
OF the burning Of n Theatre ut ST. Petersburg
and an awful destruction of human life:
! The fire broke out behind the scenes, and the
director Of the theatre ordered the curtain at the
back OF the sIago to he drawn up, that every one
might be aware of the iminence OF the danger
The smoke and flames poured out toward the
body Of the house Laughter was suddenly uru-
ed into pallid fear, and shreks OF horror burst
from the bosoms of thousands, who but now had
been convulsed with mrlh. Grasping what was
dearest TO them, nll rushed towards The outlets.
| These were too few Tor the magnitude OF the
theatre, and it was very slowly that the foremost
made way for those behind them. So much the
more rapidly did the flames communicate to the
resnous fir planks, and quickly advancing from
scene TO scene, they soon penetrated into the body
OF the theatre still swarming with people. AS III
luck would have it, one Of the large folding doors
ut the entrance, which opened inward, had, in the
confusion been accidentally pushed to, and ress-
ted all efforts to open il. Thus only half OF the
fnrin entrance was available for escape IN Iks
critical moment, and the retreat OF the audienc ;
wns, Of course, proporllonally delayed.
The police would not at first suffer private ia
dividuuls to render assistance, that they might
keep the conduct of the business 10 themselves.
A tradesman, nevertheless, contiived, with spade,
TO break down board on one side OF the theatre,
and to drag sixty haf-eufiocated persons out OF
Ibis harIequin's hell through the aperture, with
imminent peril of his own lille. / he Emperor
Nicholas rewarded the worthy man with an order
and, us he was poor, with a pension Of 1000 ru-
bles.
Meanwhile, the people in the street, as may be
supposed, became aware that the matter no
Joke. The fearful tidlugs soon spread through
the city that LehmHn's Theatre was on fire, aud
that thousands of persons in it were likely to per-
sh. Ii is impossible to conceive the CONSERVATION
aud despair seized all Peersburgh There was
not family one more OF whose members
might not be among the wretcled sufferers. -
When The Emperor, on the first news of the fire
hasiened from the Winter Palace to the spot, wo-
men ran up to him and cried, Save, save, save
Ny sm /. among them AMI my husband is there
vs. uu,ucr is not out yetw "Children," replied
the Emperor, 81 will save all can."
" hen the ffe over, when the hames uht
life were eXtltnj anl ia who were within lay II
burned aud CHARGED heap the melancholy bust
ness OF removing The dcnA commenced. Tit
sight is said TO have been hey Ond all idea hnrro"
ing and appalling, when on clearing away the tim
beers which had fallen in, the mass Of bodies wa
gradually discovered. They were pulled out ont
by one with hooks some were completely car
BOMBED, others roasted like chestnuis many nat
only the hair of the head sngcd many will
glazed eyes, burned hair, and charred faces, hat
on their holy day clothes aud decorations whcl
the flames had not reached, on account OF In
close pressure Of the throng.
These presented far more repulslve spectacle
tlan those which were entirely burned. In tia
part of the building which the fumes had sparet
were found dense masses of bodies still slandn
upright like ghosts or shades from the nethe
world. A female found with her head hang
ing over the gallery, aud holding her hand and he
handkerchief before her face. gentleman VII
Witnessed the operation OF clearing away the DoJ
les told me that lie could not touch food Tor tire
days, so irightiul were the images that had lnce'
sanity haunted him aflerwnrd, and n lady, VIII
had looked in from a distance, was so shocke
that she became derious, and raved several day
both sleeping ayh waking.
The number of the vlrt'nls YVES subsequent
slated officially to he 300; buzz person told N
that he counted with his own eyes 80 carts, eac
OF which contained from 10 to 10 bodies Poop
who pretend to know from good authority, repr
seu.ed the number as large that dare not It
repeat it, lest others might think The amount tC
Improbable.