Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-24
INCIDENTS, &c, OF THE RECENT QUEBEC
CALAMITY

We nave eonVersed with some parties who were present
at the exhibition the evening question who concur in
stating mat at IFS close, Mr.. Harrison the proprietor
IN front Of the CURTAIN thanking the audieLce for bc,
patronage when strong light shono through the
oaiAe lie immediately drew aside and seenR the flames
rapidly extending tore IL down. but too late 10 arrest the
progress Of the fire. which hal tlen extended IN HE
mic We've, and quickly cnveoping tho vinos and
scenes placed above the "dies be out of the whv Of
the persons moving about the stage. An atismpr was
made by the innocent cause Of this disaster the boy to
uHguish the hre told, by Lieut. Armsro,, or
the l4h Regiment who rushed upon stage for the our
pose-0ui ia vain. Ne should state that bv this nm,
most OF the audience had retired; the re,n., b,
BACK To escape the crush aud retire quietly and IN
comfort The smoke from the camphine and burning
canvass soon however, frightened them and n,,dncod
great confusion The box entrance having admitted them
they thought TO escape the way and the stss heinz
somewhat steep and narrow, the foremost were pehsd
down headlong and there Jammed by others falling mo,
men, unul the passage became completely checked and
the unfortunate people nextrcaby intetaced ersbcd ,d
"eoged IN One gentleman with lady in charge fore
oug me sgh' chnnces OF escape afforded them return
go TO NE boxes with his charge, although they were one
ihird OF the way down the stss. When there b,i,b,
sheel OF name swept across from the ssge TO tie boxes
tanning with ~ burning glow their faces; she sl,i.Ld
ano sprung from his grasp down the stairs lIs focd
~ TIE hope Of re.cuing her and over the bead ~
winning Victims then doomed % inevitable destruction re
P on ms way down, but could find his COM
Pa"o VINO eventually persisted with the rest He bsrams
senseess when about 20 reach the landing plars a, Dr.
entrance, and was dragged by one OF the few
GERS present Another gentleman who was pulled from
the living mass, rushed past u.s. and so bewlde,,d vas bo
would have rushed into the flames then bursting through
he adjoining PIT door, but for the friendly and ptoydsn
ual incorporation OF person him To shevy the DIFF
heuy experienced by the few who yentursd ,bens.I,..
within the burning premises IN cxtricatng the, nb,
leio" ciuzens We may mention that three persons win
we "iIsr' ha' the unfortunate dr. Dsvn by the two
arms, who was standing and apparently enrn1,J
but by those who lay various positions arop,d m, re-,
and who within a foot OF the edge of IN. r,,,,,a,
Tubcon TO be passed, ere life could be savedand with
me own eNortons supersdded, could not move hin, We
slated IS our own Impression when the awful sgb M tb
struggling mass ~ human victims first met on, V,, ,b,,
the 's'rs had fallen Upon reflection this cannot have
Deen me ca7o a. the wooden partition on the one aide d
not extend below the levs, Of the inclination Of ths 49,,
aud consequently h1t they fsen the crowd would bsvs
focd nio me open aea adjoining, aud benoah the boSe,
As was, no implements could be obtained with ,ybib
! o. break down that PARTITION An axe was b,onsb, =, ,
late hour, but too late 10 be Of service The i,,ao..
inside upon us nt the time, ~ readily accounted for when
'he thick gloom produced by the smoke IL taken int,
zoe a"oni mnisnofH borCly penetrated by the 6rul
flashes Of hfe which rushed from shove and ON one side
| tn''ugh ne inie're,s u the burning planks Having
been present only 81 The scene We cannot so,k ~ 10
/ elsewhere. P''''''''u
On Sunday The town presented melancholy aud runere
o. l''nt most o. tie victims 81 The sad calsmity were
men inferred Gloon vas depicted overy pas ne conn
enhnce' and the sghs OF mourning compile civ and glo
" ou'hadowed the COY tns n those whose habipents
Doohenea lher fortunate exemption from share IN hs
general woe. Al time fifteen collins Isv IN tbs French
Cathedral and IN the afternoon three Epscopaan clergy
men, hnd one Presbyterian attendance al tho Pro
,aNi h'Yng ground 70 perform the sod rites Of IN,
church oyet the departed. The Weseysn p,inise, 90,
nIs2 engaged ~ similar melancholy duty.
Nappenr That Lieutenant Hamilton Of the I4th regimen,
VINO pef'ned in lne mes hai attended the exhibition r
company with Mss Ray, bis borothed bride and he, lie
c when The iam's broke out. be succeeded in peune
ne SISTER 10 safety from thc building and returned 1, eel
wi" 'nl,u, when both Of Them tiis misoraby per.shod
Lieutenant Armstrong, Of the same regiment s,ved ~
seU ~ desperate eKcton Of persona strength bsvp,
sprung up 70 window, tie situation Of which he knew,
w o'Seo outa pane oi gas, by which he obtained esl
~ End uiumaely succeeded In forcing HE waV through
I we window escaping With orlys few bruises
~ n'iahce OF crest presence q mind wss shown BY
auI sheen' INC son Of Mr. Robert Shaw who was thsr
Nia Two Younger brothers When the slsrm was given
Do he rush took Psco he prevented bic brothers from
o,g and when The plsce clear escaped With then
" SH9Dlag over The siege end passing through doc
J.'s' haa even one present, two OF Tire
oHp,oeo men, hsd the same presence Of mind IL Is GRO
! V''' WI" not life would have been lost