Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-01-23

BURNING OF RICHMOND THEArRE.-As the
public mind is now deeply interested in the
shocking calamity which has ust occurred at
Lawrence, 1t may be well to bring to the no.
tice OF this generation like catastrophe which
betel the people of Richmond, Va, on the eve
ming Dec. 18th, 1911. 1t is somewhat diff
1erent in its nature and extent from that of the
Pemberton Mills, and yet in many respects
not less horrible. In the burning Of the thea
tire about seventy persons lost their lives, and
among these were Geo. w. Smith, Governor
OF the State, and Abram b. Venable, Presi
dent Of Richmond Bank. Those who persisted
were generally from the first families, and COM
posed the youth, the beauty and the fashion of
the city.
The winter opened with an uncommon rage
for amusementS OF all kinds, and on tuis iated
evening there was to be a new play for the
benefit of Mr.. Placide. Crowds swarmed to
the theatre-it was the largest house OF the
season, and not less than 600 were present
The play went off-the pantomime began
the first act was over, and all around was
mlrth and vanity. AT this moment tile scene
ry caught fire, and i'll few minutes the whole
building was wrapped in flames! The cry of
fire! fire! passed with electric velocity
throughout the whole house, and the scene that
followed was horrible beyond description.
There was but one door for the greatest part
children were pressing upon each other, while
the flames were Selling upon those behind
Most if not all of those who were in the pit
escaped, While those in the boxes were unable
to get down the stairs before the flames over
took them. Those behind, urged by the
pressing flame, pushed those out who were
nearest the windows and people of every de-
scrpton began to fall one upon another-some
with their clothes on fire. and some half roast
adj
the house. Wives asking for their husbands
females and children shrieking, while the
gathering element came rolling on its curling
flames and columns of Smoke-thre ltening to
devour every human being in the building
Many were trodden under foot. The stair
ways were blocked up, and the throng was so
great that many were raised several feet over
the heads OF the rest. Within ten minutes af-
ter the tire caught, the whole house was wrap.
ped in flames, and the scene which ensued it is
impossible to paint Women with dishevelled
hair, fathers and mothers shrieking out for
their children-husbaDds for their wives, bro.
theirs tortheir sisters, filled the whole area out
side of the building. Some who had ESCAPED
plunged again into the flames to save some
dear object OF their regard, and they persisted.
Others were alike frantic, and would have
rushed to destruction but for the hand of
friend to keep them back The bells toed,
dluDSJ uue WnOie town rushed 10 the fatal spot.
This certainly was a sad day, and an awful
rebuke to the pleasure-loying people of Rich
mond We find in the Richmond Enquirer of
Dec. q, 1911, the following notice :-"At
meeting OF tile government of Richmond, Dec.
II, 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 as could not be recognized by relatives or
friends The suspension OF all business for
forty-eight hours was directed, and that no
public shows or dances should be allowed for
four months. AT a meeting of the citizens on
the same day, ga committee was appointed for
Richmond, and one for Manchester 1t was
recommended that Wednesday, the LIST of Jan
uary, 1872, should be observed as a day of
fasting and prayer; and on that day, Rev.
Messrs. Buchanan and Blair be requested to
deliver funeral dseomses, and that the citizens
will wear Grape Tor one month"
For the remainder OF the winter, the hitler
to neglected churches were filed with solemn
and attentive ppers.-Poytiand Adye-