The New York herald., 1862-01-05
Disa strous Fire nt Richmond.
TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE RICHMOND THEATRE AND
OTHER BUILDINGS.
rErnm the Richmond Disnatch ian Al u


from the Richmond Dispatch, jan 81
Yesterday morning. at quarter before four O'clock
of seventh and Broad streets saw flames issuing from
that blding and gave the alarm of fire. In very short
time the whole structure was enveoped In sheet OF
ame and when The engines arrived upon the ground
found impossible to do much else than endeavor to
the adjoining property. The fire speedily communi.
which occupied by David A. Brown, sadder and harness
maker, and by Mrs. Jackson, manina maker, was
ey aoy sarn snd the as sohns
store Of \. W. Nelson, adjoining, somewhat DAMAGED
The of the brick building Grace street below
Seventh, owned by DR.. G. Thomas. occupied by Thomas
Lawson and John NJ Lindsay took nre and the furniture
moved out No great damage was done here, except
by water and breakage Mr.. Lawson, who was sick In
his house was re- owed the residence OF nr. Bolton,
In the neigbbofhood The rear wall OF tho theatre fell
and crushed two small frame buildings owneA by Green
& Alien Of which was occupied by VIM. Wrdt, nianu-
f,cturar OF military bGtons, and tho other, we believe,
as paint shop. This property was not very valrab.
NJ. j. ii. Hewitt, manager, ant Mr. II. Ogicn one Of
the actors were asleep in the Office the ord floor
(ron) r the theatre when the are broke ot. and did
ut wake until il was close upon them. They rushed
Own ssrs with sch clothing as they could hastily Sc
care but returned again to sum Of money (abcut
5000 which Mr.. Hewitt had locked up in csritcrc.
They could accomplish this, however, and had mar
row escape themselves through tho flames both having
their hair sInged, dnd Mr.. II. being severely burnt
tho face hands The escroirc Afterwards taken
out through the window, which reached by means II
ladd.r and about the only article saved from The
| building.
The Theatre was undoubtedly set Are to on the stage,
and, perhaps, In several places al the same time-at
least this Reasonable inference from the rapidity
with which it consumed. There were no fires made
ihc stoves the previous night is true there
some discharges OF musketry in one Of the plays The
re%aned Ss II the Green Room Tor an hour and Ss
| after the performance closed, and had there been
any fire resulting from that cause 10 would have
was burning one of tho members Of the or
chcstra went into the alley. below the theatre
with Wow TO saving somo OF the musical nsru-
| monts ard found window open, which assured,
closed the night previous It s stated that negro
man was seen 70 Jump out o. wnaow h tG & .nls alley,
Mr. Crone of the night WATCH passed the building aud
found everything quiet and nothing to Indicate the ap
proach Of disaster In less than IN hour from that tmo
was in flames. lighted, doubt not, by the torch of
| an incendiary.
portion Of the walls. All tho valuable scenery, painted
by the elder GRAIN Gotz, Helgc, and Italian artists
poyed by George Jones; all the wardrobe and property
including some costly furniture and decorations rich oil
paintings and stoe portraits Of celebrated dramatiss;
manuscript plays, operas and oratorios all are involved
In the common destruction. Miss Jennie Tay the Gus
ioian OF the wardrobe lost about 81 200 worth ndvidu
ally while the whole stock wardrobe under her care
nart OF which belonged TO Kunkel Moxley and part to
Mrs McCill-was probably worth from "a 600 COO
Some members OF the company lost quite heavily
Mcssrs Ogden and Dalton several hundred dollars worth
in hooks and wardrobe Mr. Ioebmnn, leader and others
of the orchestral lost between $500 and St00 hi instru-
mens and sheet music. The Instruments destroyed were
drums Thomas Hastcad, machinst, in service at
s,er Point and Frank Elcrs, stage carpenter each
los. Mrs. sgy naSetS Mc The last owner purchased the
theatre in Nav 1856 for SIS 000 when property, par
ticulary Of that description, would not command its
voue at public saio. Since that period many cuety inn
been made upon H. and we suppose that
s5o 600 would not than make good her loss Her
Insurance s25 900 divided among hve Offices as fol-
| Hose Company, 5000; Merchants, $4,000; Richmond
The tbcatrc was built in 1918 or 1872 by Major Cristo-
pber Tomkns, for Joint stock company under whose
control il remained until 1855 when II was purchased BY
Col g s. Myers. IL known, until recently, as the
sMarshai theatre" The season lately nauguraed bid
fair 10 be tho profitable in It's history but Hs ca-
rcer has been suddenly brought TO disastrous tsmina
ton wo learn however, that II Is the purpose OF the
owner TO rebuild as circumstances Will allow
The building occupied by Mr.. Brown, on the east was
owned by Mrs Rawlings The loss s about - 600
probably insured. Mr. Brown we are informed, saved
the larger portion OF his stock Ms Jacksons loss may
| be $500. .. ,,x -
IT. Davidson Is insured for 900 In the Mutual once
which wl probably cover his loss MT DAVIDSON loses
| about AZ Ooo on which there Is small insurance
W. Nelson's house IA insured fer $4,000 IN the Mu-
un and his stock s. 900 each IN tho Marine ana Me.
chants. he loses but little from IRE Or water, e, ~
| IN moving great many articles were stolen. ihe
Kitchen worth about $780, was burned HIS loss may %
p,ty"r Uauscr and other occupants OF tenements on
seventh street suffered damage by the removal Oh
\ their stock and furniture s..-..... .s.. A..
Tho only lives lost by the connagson Were thce ooes
ia o. ,hs ward IN tho rear OF Browns saddery.
vast number Of persons assembled yesterday 70 view
Tho ruins and except In few uncharitablo instances
,oa os general expression OF regret ~ the loss of
,hs, anopular iustitutcn,n y the theatre.
Newspaper Accounts.
From the Norfolk Day Book, Jan