The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-10-08
THE DISPATC II.
DESTRUCTION OF THE CRYSTAL
PALACE
'hl DAY MoRHINe.....-..... ......oc1oBER 5. Ies

FRIDAY MoREINe....-..... .....o OCTOBER 5. Is:,
DESTRUCTION OF THE CRYSTAL
PALACE.
TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE Bv1LpyyG-
WORKS OF ART DESTROYED-TERRIF7
SCENES IN THE PALACE-FALL or TIL
I DONE, DC
The famous Crystal Palace, opened 10 New Yor
in 1853, for the Worlds Fair, was destroyed by fl
| on Tuesday last. The structure was of iron an
glass; with the exception of the floor, reof, and
portion of the dome. The ground floor containe
lllOo0 "a uare feet Of space, and the total area
walking space, galleries and ALL covered four acre,
The Herald in description of the copaegratiou
says:
The fire was frat discovered shortly before a VI
o'clock in the afternoon, n the northeast corner O
the bnilding, about two hundred feet from wber,
| tho machinery was on exhibition. At this tim,
1 there were about three thousand persons in tn,
onnding, mostly women and children, who wer,
| viewing the articles on exhibition. The build
Ing was 80 large that it proved difficult to spread
! an alarm, and 1t was some time before the yisi
. ters could be warned Of their danger; and the
danger to all in the palace was most imminent
for the flames, when they got under head way
spread with fearful rapidity, and as If by
I magic the vast edlfce was one mass Of glow
ing fire aud flame. There were eight hydrants
. in the building; bat the snddenness with which
} the hre spread gave the employees of the Amer
lean Institute no time to use them, and almost
before the hose could be screwed on, the copf1a
grafton had made such headway that all attem pts
70 save anything ON exhibition, much less the
building, was entirely useless.
The scene in the Palace during the progress of
the flames was one of indescribable confusion A
panic seemed to seize every one, and the bewilder-
| ed visiters scarcely understood their dangerous
position we'll enough to provide for their own
safety. Tho children screamed, women tainted
and their distracted male attendants with Difficult.
ty found their way to the doors. At the time we
write there is no certainty as to whether any lives
are lost, but if all who in the palace escsped
it is little less than miracle. Last night was TO
have been concert night, and the managers es-
tinate that at least 10000 persons would have
been present. Had the fire, therefore, taken
place three hours later, there is scarcely doubt
but that thousands Of lives would have been lost
as all could not have passed the doors before the
doom fell.
/ The pitch pine which form ed the flooring, stairs
and framework OF the entire Palace, afforded q
most lnnamnabie pabulum for the confagration
to feed upon, and this explains the reason of it's
rapid spread. The scene when the fire WAS at its
height was one of fearful magnifcence. The huge
dome was like a vast ball of fire, and the flames
leaped up Its sides in great waves of urid light.
At one time the whole palace was glowing like a
burning coal, and vomiting up fire at a rate that
would have done credit to Vesuvius. All who wit
messed the spectacle declare that was one of those
q
About twenty Eve minutes after the fire wa. first
discovered, the dome fell with fearful crash aud
the flames made one final leap upwards, aud sunk
20 rise no moro. In forty minutes from the break
Ing out of the fire, the Palace and all it contained
were totally destroyed and all that mark the site
of this once proud building are few standing
towers and smoking heap of ruins.
The destruction of this building will recall vi
Vdy to the public mind the various demoustra.
tions of which it the scene. Commenced
shortly after the brilliant success of the London
Crystal Palace, its projectors INDUCED in all sort
of golden visions respecting its future stock was
subscribed for with avidity, and ran great W ays
above par. 1t opened in 1858 with a great
flourish of trumpets, and the President of the
United States, the members of his Cabinet, and
the chief State and city dignitares assisted on the
occasion. But the great exhibition turned out to
be failure rs it wretchedly misnana ged
from the start To resuscitate the concern after
the stock had fallen long ways below par, Bar
mum was employed, aud he got up bogus demon
stration that excited some curiosity and much
mrth at the time it took place. But Barnum
whose genius always fails him when be gets be
yond dwarf or woolly horse, failed ingloriously
in his efforts to put the Palace its legs again and
the stock finally went down to nothing. The con-
cern finally went into the hands of a receiver and
the city has lately come into possession of 1t, rs
the condition OF the lease given to the Company
had not been complied with by them.
For years past it has been used for various pub
lie demonstrations-for Julien concerts for the
the disgraceful one of the Hunter W Woodis Associa
ton the most Be:eable,) and lastly, the great
civic cable demonstration which took place on the
LIST of September last.
1t will be remembered that the Latting Observa.
tory, which erected along with the Crystal
Palace, has also been destroyed by fire.
All the statuary and paintings in the Palace
were, of course, destroyed. Some of the statues
were very fine, and ranked high works of art.
The most striking object in the statuary depart
ment was the Thorwaldsen group, representing
our Saviour and the Twelve Apostles, which was
greatly admired by all the visitsrs to the Palace
The figure of Christ was represented with out
stretched hands, as if in the act of blessing-the
head slightly inclined. The statues Of the Apos
ties stood smaller pedestals and were nged in
the form of a semicircle.
Kiss equestrian statue of the Amazon Attacked
by Lion, attracted very general attention, and
was usually surrounded by group of persons 1t
splendid work of art, and its loss will be
regretted.
An equestrian statue of Washington, life size,
by Baron Marochett. An imposing group and
much admired colossal statue Of Danel Webster,
in marble, hy Caven of London.
Lion and boa constructor in death struggle.
Colossal group OF man struggling with bear
"a very fine piece of statuary. In addition to
these were a large number of life sized busts Of
0Connell Moore, Father Mathew and Washing.
ton, in marble and plaster. Together W ith sta
tue.tes of nymphs, dryads, satyrs, goddesses, &c.
The group of the Lovers going to the Well
y,
been a serious loss The destruction of Kiss fa-
nous statue is especially to be regretted
Among the losses by the fire are-in Pianos,
ChickeriDg Co., $4,000; Stenway Co., 81 900;
Schultz & iolf, ST. l,500; Bordmau, Gray Co..
$1,000 Jewelry-D. Raft, $4,000; Tiffany & CO.,
$1,000; W. II. Wilson, 900; Agricultural ImpIe.
ments, total loss, $l3,50o. Wagons-Stevens &
smith, $5,oOo f. Youngs, s., 500. Photographs
S. Root, $4,000.
The rope machine of Woodwork, of Boston, and
Ericcsons caloric engine, were also destroyed -
Messrs. Sarony, Major Knapp, and Messrs .Sibert
Shenman Roberts, lost photographic presses and
other articles. Davis lost his machine for max
ing lightning rods and Dodworth's Band lost a
number of their instruments. The aquarium, cases
OF miinery,stoVss, ranges, fruits, preserves, wind
mill, brass, plated ware and enameled furniture
and ten thousand other noticeable things that
were lost defy enumeration.
The loss to the contributors. the managers of
the institute estimated at over $500 900 about 100
600 of which is known to be insured. There were
six hundred more entries during the present sea
son than at any previous one for years without
Doubt therefore, the loss must be all Of if not more
than, the above estimate.
PARTIAL RECAPIrULATIog OF LOSSES.
Losses stoves. ranges. &c ,............. Sc Coc
Agricultural implements 10 y q
fianos
Sewef Vuu
steam ana calHrlc engines i3 UtO
sewing machines. ,0t0
Eurntture, dc 0
Institute property coo
Total i57 .o0O
The Journal of Commerce of Wednesday after
noon, says:
A portion OF the statuary broken into over o
thousaDd pieces. Law streWed around, and the