Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-04-30
Burning of the II Richmond Theatre in
the year lSIl.


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Burning of the Richmond Theatre in
the year ISL.
The following account of the burning OF the
Richmond Theatre, in 1911. will be read at this
time with mourniul interest
Fromthe Richmond Enquirerof Dec 2S, 1911
OVERWHELMING CALAMITY.
After pathetic introduction, the narrative
Proceeds
On Thursday night new play and new
after piece were played for the benefit OF Mr.
Placlde. Crowds swarmed to the theatre-it
was the fullest house this season-thcre were
not less than 600 present. Tho play went off
the puntomlme began, the first act was over.
The whole scene was before us, and all around
Us was mirth aud festivity. Oh, God what a
horrible revolution did one minute produce
The curtain rose on the second act of the pan
tomime-the orchestra was il lull chorus, and
Mr.. West came on to open the scene
when Sparks. OF fire began to fall on the back
part CT tbs stage, and Mr. Robertson came out
IN unuttcrsn!e distress, waved his hand 10 the
ceiIinr, and uttered these appalling words,
The house is on fire. His hand was imme
dlately stretched forth to tho persons in the
stage box to help thea, on the stage, and aid
their retr. attn that dire ctiou. This is all that
We caught of the stage-thc cry of fire, fire,
passed with electric velocity through the
house-cvery one few from their seats to gain
the lobby and stairs The scene battles all de-
scription; the most heart rendiDg cries pervad
ed the house; Save me" wives asking for
their husbands; females and children shrek
ing, while the rathering element came rolling
on Its curling flames and column of smoke,
threatening to devour every human being in
the building. Many we're trod under foot.
Several were thrown back from the windows,
from which they were struggling to leap. The
stairways were Immediately blocked up; the
throDg was so great that many were raised
several feet over the heads OF the rest the
smoke threatened instant destruction. We
cannot dwell on this picture. We saw-we felt
it-like others we gave up ourselves for lost.
We cannot depict it,
Many leaped from the windows OF the first
story and were saved. Children and females
and men OF all descriptions, were seen to pre-.
cipitate themselves 90 the ground below. Most
of these escaped, though several OF them
with broken legs and thighs and hideous contu-
sions. Most, if not all, who were in the pit,
escaped. Mr. Taylor, the last Of the musicians
who quilted the orchestra, finding his retreat
by the back way cut off, leaped into the pit,
whence he entered the semi circular avenue
which leads to the door of tho theatre, and
found it nearly empty. tie was the last that
escaped from the pit. How melancholy that
many who were in the boxes did not also Jump
into the pit and fly in the same direction, but
those who were in the boxes above and below
pushed for the lobbies. many, as has been
said, escaped through the windows, but the
post of them had no other resource than to de-
scend the stairs Many escaped in this way,
but so great was the pressure that they rctard-
ed each other until the devouring element ap.
preached to sweep them into eternity. Several
who even emerged from the building were so
much scorched that they have since perished.
Some even jumped from the second story win
dows; some others had been dreadtuIly burnt.
The fire few with rapidity almost beyond ex-
ample; within ten minutes after it caught the
whole house was wrapt in flames, The color
ed people in the gallery, most OF them, oscap.
ed through the stairs cut off from the rest OF
the house-some have no doubt fallen victims.
The nit and boxes had but one common ave-
nue. only through which the whole crowd
could escape, save those only who leaped
through the windows
But the scene which cnsucd it is i'm possible
to psint-women with dishevelled hair; fathers,
and mothers shrieking out for their children;
husbands for their wives, brothers for their sis
ters, filled The whole area 90 the outside OF the
building A few who had escaped, plunged
again into the flames to save some dear object
of their regard, and they persisted, The Gov
ernor, perhaps shared this melancholy fate
Others were frantic, and would have rushed to
destruction but for the hand OF friend, The
bells tolled-amcst the whole town rushed to
the fatal spot
The flames must have caught TO the scenery
from some light behind. Robertson saw 1t
when it was no. longer than his arm. Young
saw it on the roof when it first burst through.
Every article Of the theatre was consumed. as
we'll as the dwelling house next to 1t butWh
is wealth in com parison TO the valuable lives
which have gone forever The whole town is
strouded in woe. Head OF families exlogu'sh'
cd forever. Many and many is the house IN
wbich q chasm has been made that can never
no filed up. We cannot dwell on this picture ;
bnt look on The following catalogue OF the vic
tins and then conceive the calamity which has
fallen upon u.s.
LIST OF DEAD AND MISSING.
Gov. Georpe w. Smith, Sophia Trouin, Ce
celia Trouin, daughters of Mr.. Trouin Joseph
Jacobs, Elizabeth Jacobs. his daughter; Cyp
r;an Marks wife of Mordecia Marks ; Char
lotte RaphieI, daughter Of Solomon RsphleI ;
Adeline Bausman, Ann Craig, daughter of
Mrs. Adam Craig INITIAL; Pleasant, mulatto
woman belonging to Mir. VIM. Rose; Nancy
Patterson, (coTorel), Abraham B. Fcnable,
President of the Bank VIM. Souhgate, sor
of WRIGHT Benjamin Bolts and wife; ArlanlS
Hunter, Mary Whitlock, Juliana Harvey. NJ
Heron, Mrs. Girardin and child -; Mr0
Greenhow, Mrs. Boss Barrack. - Kobe
Mrs. Leslie, Edward We :, udah's child
VIM. Brown, Mrs ..ulor, Geo. Dixo
Mrs. Taylor Patterson, John We!c
Mrs. Je-- .raston, Mrs. Elizabeth Pae
~" ..od, James Walden, Miss Elliott;
~ Kent Margaret CapIand' Margaret1 ~ :,
dcrson, Sally Gatewood, Mary Clay, hp u,
Gwathmey, Louisa Mayo, Mrs. Gerard " NJ
Gibson, Mrs. Green, Mary Davis. IboS' eI
zer. Jane Wade, Mrs. VIM. Cook aud dauE
ter !; Elizabeth Stevenson. Mrs. Convert
child Patsey SniA6p, Fanny Goff, Bets