Southern shield., 1860-02-04
BURNING or THE RICHMOND THEATRE

BURNING OF THE RICHMOND THEATRE As the public mind is now deeply in
 tcrested in the shocking calamity whicl x has just occurred at Lawrence. 1t may bt we'll to bring to the notice of this gener S ation like catastrophe which befel the people of Richmond Virginia, on the evening of December 26 1Sl1. It is somewhat different in its nature and ex- tent from that of the Pemberton Mills, and yet in many respects not less horri- ble. In the burning of the theatre about seventy persons lost their lives, and among these were George " Smith. Governor of the State, and Abinm B. Ycnable, Presi- dent of the Richmond Bank. Those who perished were generally from the first families, and composed the youth, tho beauty, and the fashion of the city.
 The winter opened with an uncommon rage for amusemcnts of all kinds, and on this fated evening there was to be a new play for the bcnefit of Mir Piacide. Crowds swarmed to the theatre---it was the largest house of the season, and not less than six hundred were present.
 Tie play went of-the pantomime be- gan--the first act was oyer, and all around 2 was mirth and vanity. At this moment the scenery caught fire. and in a few min- utes the whole building was in flames !, The cry of fire fire passed with electric velocity throughout the whole house, and the scene which followed was horrible be- yond description. There was but one door for the greatest part of the audience to pass. Men. women and children were pressing upon each other while the flames were seizing upon those behind. Most, if not all, of those who were in the pit es- capped, while those in the boxes were un- able to get down the stairs before the flames overlook them. Those behind, urged by the pressing flame, pushed those out who were nearest the windows, and people of every description began to fall one upon another-some with their cloth < es on fire and some half roasted The most heart-rending cries pervaded the house. Wives asking for husbands-fe- males and children shrieking, while the gathering element came rolling on its curling flames and columns of smoke threatening to deyour every human being in the building
 Many were trodden under foot. The stairways were blocked up, and the throng was so great that many were raised sev- eral feet over the heads of the rest.-- Within ten minutes after the fire caught, the whole house was wrapped in flames, and the scene which ensued it is impossi- ble to paint. Women with disheyeled hair, fathers and mothers shrieking out for their cnildren-husbands for their wives, brothers for their sisters, filled the whole area outsideoftsle building. Some who had escaped plunged again into the flames to save some dear object of their regard. and they perlshed. Others were alike frantic, and would have rushed to obstruction but for the hand of friend to keep them back. The bells tolled, almost the whole town rushed to the fatal spot.
 This certainly was sad day, and an awful rebuke to the pleasure-loving peo- pie of Richmond.
 We find in the Richmond Enquirer, of December 27th, lSll, the following notice: :" At a meeting of the government of Rich. mond, December 27th, committee was appointed to cause to be collected the re- mains of persons who perished at the the atre, and to place in urns or cof1ins such as could not be recognized by relatives or friends. The suspension of all busi- ness for forty-eight hours was directed that no public shows or dances should be allowed for four months" At meeting also of the citizens on the 1 same day" A committee was appointed for Richmond and committee for Man .thester-it was recommended that Wednes- ", the lst of January, 1860, should | \ observed as day of fasting and prayer; X d that on that day the Rev. Messrs. s1nchanar and Blair be requested to de- i
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