The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-07-08
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TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION.

The telegraph has already informed us OF a dis
astrous FIRE in Philadelphia, on Wednesday night.
The Philadelphia papers OF Thursday furnish full
accounts, from which we make the annexed sum
mary
The fire broke out al few mi sues pact 10 O'Clock
In the National Theatre, corner OF Ninth and Ches
nat streets Various statement made as to the
origin of the fire. One account say. it was caused
by some one attempting to light match by rubbing
it against the scenery; another, that the theatre
set on fire by incendisry and another states
that the FIRE originated from the srng OF gun du-
ring the performance of Putnam
According to the accounts before us, ;he disaster
was attended by the loss of one two lives. II is
said that Sheppard, well known actor, persisted
in the theatre, and that his bones were found the
mex: morning. The Philadelphia Sun says that a
man tell from building il Samson street, and was
killed. Three members the Live Oak Fire Com
pany, (risitors,) of New York, were severely in
iured. Two members of the Diligent Engine were
also badly hurt. Fortunately the extreme heat of
the weather prevented large attendance at the
theatre, and the audience all escaped with their
lives
The efforts ofthe firemen were unayailing to save
the theatre, and it was totally destroyed together
with some half dozen stores in the basement
The Philadelphia Leger says:
The substantial block Of dwellings, once the resi-.
denccs OF the first fanies but since converted isto
stores, were early marked out as a prey 10 the
flames and at one time the roofs of so many had been
kindled by the flakes from the consu ming theatre
that the destruction of the entire row east as far as
Eighth street, was deemed TO be inevitable These
stores were all first class establishments and con-
tanned stocks OF goods of immense value and the
police officers iremen, and citizens, lent their aid
In saving what could be carried out
They were occupied by J. 4. Place. No 2la dry
goods j. s Earle, Nc 2l6, picture dealer and frame
maker, and the second floor by Bodie & Co, hair
Gressers; Thomas Evans & Co, No. 214, dry goods;
4. & w. Frazer, No PIP, dry goods on the frst
floor, and Mrs. Burke's millinery establishment on
the second; next to the Art Union building Nos
PIC and 20S, occupied partly by the Art 1nion Gal
lery, and C. F. Messer, picture dealer ard frame
maker, and by Boutelier Brothers; Mlkcn's linen
store, No 206 f. Clinton, No. 204. fancy goods; Ev-
erest's jeweiry store, No. 202 VIM. 8 Mason, en-
graver, No 200; l.. LRdoinus, jeweler, No 1873 -
and Herman Hooker bookseller, at the corner All
these buildings were, at midnight, or less
aged about the roots, AID the interior injured by
water.
The rear of the houses on the west side of 9Th
street have caught, including the Waverly Hotel,
Bell Hotel, George Reibrick, patent lock manufsc-
turer; Geo X. Fisher, tailor; o C. Nicholson dry
goods store; S. H. ScholI. eating house
The dwellings on Samson stree. were on fire sew
eral times, but the occupants managed to extin.
guish the fire kindled by the sparks falling upon
them.
During the burning of the Chinese Museum, mas
scs OF burning timber was thrown as far as Eighth
street, covering the roots each side of Samson
stree, and setting mary OF them on fire The
crowd In the streets would Immediately warn the
inmates Of the threatened building, and the early
application of water prevented the flames from
spreading in this direction. Many of the sheets Of
TN, from the root OF the museum. were thrown a
distance of two three hundred yards by the force
of the flame
The museum building caught from the rear of the
theatre, and the flames gradually spread along its
cornice and wiudow frames until at midnight, the
entire upper portion of this immense building was
euvel0ped in flames
The settees and other fixtures oftho building were
removed as hastily possible when the pros pect OF
It's demolition seemed inevitable. The walls are
substantially built, and will probably remain stand
ing, so that s rebuilding will be go expensive
as would appear from first glance ct the immense
area within them.
Under our Latest News head will be found some
additional particulars.