Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-29
MORNING, FEsnuARr 20, 1860.
purn;.a If he RiclmomiRTNeatrs.


Burning Of the Ricamontf1@sd"e:
As the public mind is now deeply inter t.
,stad IN the shocking calamity wn.ch mas
inst occurred at Lawrence, IL may oe
o. hr;no r. the notice of this generation
H. na,,stronbe which befel the people OF
R;cbrn.nd Virginia, on the evening OF pe.
- Of 1911. 1t is somewhat dinereht
=. nature and extent from that OF the
pon,har,on Mills, and yet in many respects
-. las horrible In the burning OF the
Theatre about seventy persons lost ,neir i'!es'
and among these were George ~. Silii'n'
Governor of the State, and Abram d, feha'
HE President OF the Richmond BANK
,rbose who persisted. composed the YOUTH
the beauty, and the fashion OF the city.
The winter opened with an uncommon
% 90 for amusements of all kinds, and on TINS
fated evening there was to be new play
for the benefit of Mr.. Placide Crowds
swarmed to the Theatre-it was the larges'
bouse ne the season, and not less than sis
hundred were present. The play went on
the pantomine began--the first act was over
and all around was mirth and vanity. ~ =.
This moment the scenery caught hire, ana ~
q few minutes the whole building was IN
flames, The cry of fire. fire! passed with cleo,
tr;o velocity throughout the whole house. ana
Tho scane which followed was horrible be-
yond description. There was put one uoof
for the greatest part OF the audience 10 pass
Men. women, and children were pressing
upon each other, while the names were
seizing upon those behind. Most, II not an
of those who were in the PIT escaped, whiie
those in the boxes were unable to get down
the stairs before the flames overlook them
Those behind, urged by the pressing name'
rushed those out who were nearest the WIN
dows. and people of every description began
IN fall one upon another-some with their
clothes ON fire and some half roasted! Inc
most heart-rending cries peryaded the mousse
Wives asking for their husbands-iemaies
and children shrieking, while the gathering
element came rolling Oh its CURING names
and columns of smoke threatening to devoui
every human being in the building.
MANY were trodden under foot. The STAIR
ravs were blocked up, and the throng was
80 great that many were raised se'er'ii iee'
over the heads of the rest. Within ten MN
utes after the FIRE caught, the whole house
was wrapped in flames, and the scene Wmch
ensued, it is impossible to.paint. Women
with disheyeled hair, fathers and mothers
shriekiHg out for their children-husDahas
for their wives, brothers for their sisters,
filled the whole area outside OF the building
Some who had escaped, plunged again into
the flames to save some dear object ottheir
regard, and they persisted. Others were
alike frantic, and would have rushed to des
tructiop but for the hand of friend to keep
them hack. The bells tolled-almost the
whole town rushed to the fatal spot
This certainly was sad day, ana an aW,
full rebuke to the pleasure-loylng people OF
Richmond.
we find in the Richmond Enquirer, OF
Dec. %. 1911, the following notice: AT
meeting of the Government OF Richmond
December 81, a committee was appointed TO
cause to be collected the remains OF persons
who persisted at the Theatre, and to place
in urns or cofins such "a could not be recog-
nized by relatives or friends. The suspen,
sion of all business for forty-eight hours was
directed, and that no public shows or
dances should be allowed for four months.
Alta meeting, also. of the citizens on the
same day, "a committee was appointed Tor
Richmond, and committee for Manchester,
and twas recommended that w ednesday the
first of Januury, 1912, should be observed
as day of fasting and prayer; and that on
that day the Rev. Messrs. Buchanan and
Blair be requested to deliver the funeral dis
courses. and that the citizens will wear Grape
for one month"
For the remainder of the winter the hither-
10 neglected churches were filled with sol
smn and attentive worshippers.