Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-04-02

Lower part OF the house was mass Of flame Be.
fore the wretehed inmates Of the upper part were
aroused; and when they awoke TO conscioss-
ness OF their situation scene Of horror snsued
which beggars description. The cries for aesies :
, tnnee which could not be rendered, and the -.
nc efforts OF those who had escaped to sasslkstB
friends or children. made up q scene whiuk g. ]
only DO imagined by those who have wit1sssed
ono equally terrible. s
No. 90, on the frat fiosr, was occupied bvs1
Vim Rodman ~ grocery and liquor store IN
the remaining parts of the house were six fami-
lies and the remaining three houses, Nos. 94,06
and os. were filed wholly by families, in all over
twenty-probably aboat thirty families.
Andrew Wheeler, with his wife and four chill
lren. occupied tho third floor Of No. 90. In the
rear. Jane Mentally, sster-in-law Of Thomas
Bennett, another occupant was sleeping on the
fourth floor OF No. 30. When aroused by the tu-
nnlt below, she attempted to escape by the stairs.
but wns met by solid Of fame. Finding
every other means Of escape impossible, she
jumped from the window OF the fourth floor, into
the yard, breaking her thigh in the descent. In
addition to the injuries sustained in falling. she
WINS badly burned. She was conveyed TO tho hos
ptal, and the physician who dressed h& wounds
Ia Of the opinion that her recovery is impossible.
Mrs. Wheeler ind her four children were burn
ed to death. The names and ages OF the children
were US follows Bridget, aged fur years; Cath
arinc fourteen Thomas, aged twelve nm infhnt
daughter. Mr.. Wheeler. the head of the family,
is night hborer in tho stables Of tho Sixth ave-
nno rrilrond, and was not at home mt the time Of
the fire. lie heard of 1t, and hurried home only
to find tho charred reIhnins of his entire family.
Another entire family, with the exception Of the
father. was burned 10 duah. namely Mrs. Bennett
wife Of Thomas Bennett. aud four children. Tho
names Of Mr.. Benefits children who perished by
fire nre.Thomas, John, EosN-aged respsctively
II. 0 and ysars--and an infant, aged one year.
Their remains, when taken from the ruins, were
No barncd and charred as to be past recognition.
Mr.. Bennett is also night laborcr in the Sixth
avenue railroad stables, and was absent.
William Irving occupied . part oi tho fourth
floor of ono OF tho houses. and jumped from the
window 10 save his lie. Every thing ho bad was
burned up; he has no insurance.
Tho when the friends and relatives ga
thered about the bodies. TO discovcSujf possible,
some traces by which they might be identified
was deeply affecting and tragic. The sobs Of the
women. aud tho more silent grief Of the husbands
and fathers were enough to move the hardest:
One, approaching the remains of his wife. raised
TIE cloth with his loft hand, and gazing silently
for moment pointed with his left hand to the
almost shapeless mass and said 10 the spectators:
There is my vile, there is my infant; there is
my boy. believe, though am not sure; 1t 10 all
that is loft OF my family )" and walked away with
bo we'd head and tears falling fast
The fames communicated to tho adjoining
apartments. No. 80 was also consumed and 81
and &c damaged. They belonged to the estate Of
tho late DIR. George II. Allen, were erected In
1853. tho year the Crystal Palace was started, and
and was intended foi boarding houses during the
worlds fair They were mere shells, and cost
but 1900, though they are insured for the sum Of
$1,000 1t is said they rented for 5000 year
each
Each house bad scuttlc-way to tho roof, but
M, s6 was the only one that was provided with
ladder II wns not used however. whom the
time cf danger arrived. A coroners inquest was
bold over tho bodies Of the victims and the jury
IN their verdict censurs the owner of said build
ln3; for not providing ladders to the scuttles,
Which, had they been provided would in the
opinion ot the jury, have prevented the accident
AMI loss Of life.