Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-27
DISASTROUS FIRES.
Fire i'm ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of the
SnotswOOd Hotel aud the adjoining
block Of buildfngs-LOssO OF Lille anu
nnrrOw scapes-Estimated value
of property destroyed 100000

hiOck of buIIdfngs-LOss OfLtfe and
narrow eScapeS-Est1mated valuc
of property destroyed 100000
Richmond has been visited by another awful
calamity. The Spotswood Hotel, situated in
the heart of the city, and the adjoining block
OF splendid buildings have been burned and
six or seven lives are known to have been lost,
while several escaped more or less Injured.
On Christmas morning about O'Clock the
night Waterman at the Spotswood being sent
by the clerk to call the servants, whose duty 1t
was to scour the floors, discovered smoke issu-
ing from q crevcc in the weather boarding OF
the pantry upoa the breaking of the door OF
which open, the flames were seen spreading
rapidly. The alarm was at once given. but
before all the occupants could be aroused dense
volumes OF smoke filled the house, and the
flames had made their way through many OF
the thin wooden partitions, aud in less than
half an hour fire was seen on every one OF the
five floors. At the cry of fire, to which was
added tho cry of murder, men, women and
children, frautic with fear, Ieaped from their
beds and rushed wildly about striving 10 get
out, presenting scene Of ipdiscri5able horror.
The screams and prayers of the panic stricken
terrified the more self possessed, and the weak
were either trampled under foot on tho narrow
stairways or sunk where they stood, paralyzed
with fear, awaiting assistance. The rush Tor
the windows, the cries for help and the appear.
ance of mothers cad only in their night gar
mcnts and shivering from the FREEZING air, yet
olaspinp their thinIy clad little ones in vain
endeayor to protect them from sutocatlon and
the flames on the one hand and the biting cold on
the other, formed scero that beggars descrlp'
ton. As far as known, all who LETT their rooms
found means Of escape, and most OF those VINO
persisted were awakened by finding their rooms
invaded by the flames, or who remained or re-
turned in the vain hope Of securing and saving
some Of their property. Those who arc known
to have persisted arc Samuel G. Hines, Eras
mus w. Ross, Samuel NJ. Robinson. II. A..
Thomas, and Mrs. Emily Kennedy. w. Il.
Pace and j. B. Farris are missing, and it is
feared are lost.
Captain Samuel g. Hines was al estimatle
and popular young gentleman, who came 10
Richmond several years ago from Caswcll coun
t., n. G.. He was salesman in the wholesale
div goods house of Moses Millhiser. His room
was on the 6tth floor, in most inaccessible
part of the building; but it is known that he
came down stairs to beg some one to help him
get Ross and Robinson out, they occupying
rooms adjoining his own. The undertaking
was so perious that be could not procure any
assistance, and he returned through the smoke
and fame to the attic. determined to make a
final effort to rouse his friend. He reached
the room in safety, and was presently seen at
the window crying and beckoning for bel p. In
response bedding was placed below the WINDOW,
and he was told to jump aud he would be
caught. But suddenly the flames burst forth
from the very window where he stood. He
was caught 10 their scorchins embrace, fell
backward into the room, and was seen no moro;
through.
+. w. Ross was we'll known Richmond
man. about thirty years of age. His father
was f. w. Ross, tobacconist, and he was a
nephsw of Franklin Stearns.
Samuel II. Robinson was native OF Rich
mord about twenty five years old and kept q
cigar stand on Main street. He was seen at
windoyo in the fifth story, near the southwest
corner of the building, begging Tor help, and
several beds were placed directly beneath the
window, and he was urged TO jump, but SEEM
ed terrified by the depth OF the fall. and did
not do so.
Mrs. Emily Kennedy was the housskeeper
al the Spotswood, about thirty eight years old
and was from Baltimore, where she has SOD
residing. The last seen of her was while the
fire was at its fercest, when she was entreated
by the wife of ore of the proprietors OF the
hotel TO flee for her lie but, anxious to aave
her effects, she needed not the entreaties OF her
friend, and persisted in the devouriug element.
Mr.. II. a. Thomas seems to have been killed
beyond doubt He was stranger, and it is
not known from what State he came He ar
rived in Richmond about week ago as the
travelling agent OF the panorama OF Bunyan's
PiIprim's Progress.
+. +. Clarke, of Philadelphia, the steward
of the hotel. found his egress from his apart
mcnt cut off, and tried to Chamber down from
window 10 window 10 the alley at the rear of the
hotel. Several mattresses wero placed in posi-
ton to catch him in case OF fall He did fall,
but not upon the mattress, and was badly hurt
about tho hip and leg, and otherwise bruised.
The TRANSIENT borders, who, though they
may have escaped, have not yet been traced,
are y. -. w lCuA, vi hJDCNUulS ". -. ' al
den, Virginia Nathan Burnstein, Washing
ton, D. G.; A Leil, Tampa, Fla. ; .. George
and e. II. Andrews. Syracuse, N. Y; Henry
Krolh, New Y ork city, and John Fl. Holman,
Jr., Jackson, Tenn Some or all oftbese may
have found refuge at private boarding houses
or elsewhere.
Mr. w. H. Pace, route agent on tho Dan
Vile railroad, and Mr.. j. B. Farris an OK
press messenger between Richmond andGreens
toro', N. c., are beth known to have discharg
ed the duties OF their respective Offices on Sa-
turday night, and then went to the hotel.
They roomed together 10 the fifth story
Neither has since been seen or heard Of, aud
it is feared that they persisted in the flames.
Mr.. Farris has wife and two children in
Greensboro.
During the fire an unknown man leaped
from the upper story, and as he reached the
ground wall fell upon him, crushing him in
stontlv IN neath