, 1870-12-28
TIE RICHMOND HORROR,
ScsAt.at tho burning of the Bp&ta-
weed Hotel,


wood Hotel.
.St4sial Dfsp1tek 10 The .Stu FOX Herald.
th.ss.raas lcntrNE here founl ths c5psa:a
where the holly hsd tecu the aighs before 1t
htH.ps.t neloek. l. H., c2n7py Of fro
hnnE estr the Whole city. In one short honr,
buried. but dragged slowly into c:eraitv,
through tho most ho.r:bso dsath- gates ikno1n-
to humanity. On!5 Dantc, In bis Widest
tights ii poetic inasE,u sttpu, could have de-
tic Cd o1e-hrlf the hurrofa Of the burning ot
the saolswcod Hotel. No< sincs tha burning
u the Old theatre las Richmond Witnessed
such scene.
Dailt without any brick partitions above the
dfst noos. the Games having once gottan q
headTay, any attempt to check tLem wAs
vorse than futile. Ii 4 fer minutes Alter the
FIRE was 1iscovesed By the watetraan, who hap-
betn EeGEgentiy allowed to burn, and which,
becoming red hot, communicated to the floor,
it lad rushed with lightning srcod from cellar
10 Eautt, and by tho time the fire department
tsd become Thoroughly organized Tor work,
the "heio INTERIOR Of the fnnease structure
ing fame in its retast!ess. deso1Ating sweep,
hurllng ath1att the frosty eky nasses of
burning timber. like some volcanic demon
labostng to disgorRe itself-now silent,
a. it 70 gather new strength; nos roaring,
c:scklng, laundering. - il striving to drown
luo a4d4tAa Vi 1la F1Enu1E, ING Q04taH co1IE3oa
cries Of the tirsmen. the Ah1ill Whistles OF the
engines. and tie agonizing rum of the away-
ing crowd Of citizena below, ready 10 do and
die in the CAUSE Of humanity, but powerless.
Here Is mother barefooted on tho frozen
streets, and just IS the csy Of fire had startled
her from her slu1nters, Ea,ses that mast ag3-
nizang Ct cries. - Save :ns children :'{here =
wife pleading for soue tidings Of her husband,
who. when last eeeu, was brayinE fro ana
emoke to save eore relation there 4 MN
stnpeied by horror and fear; beside
him .Iotber, Hhoae gallant spirit knows
cot the meaning Of the latter word,
10 rueh aGain into the jaws Of death ID saye
another. Here is Sam Hines, who has iuat
brought tao ideads from the fourth atory out
and Iushes back for third, who Ii seen At
the window OF his room from the asrcet be-
Low but nor The stairway IL in hamee. 01lr
ra1es tos tho fearful leap. Br.yc hesrts will
catch bin II he ctushes them. Too late; the
fire bend Ia. claimed him. 4 volume Of
LIAck. sitting smoke enyelops him; aug1y,
fo'kcd flames leap like eeErents' tongues,
fiom without the .nsss, and Liza gall1as soul
il ln eterLity.
Creeping, wri:hins. tissing during the lnl.s
Of the Ninitt's blAs:-ru.hing - 1t apriur5
fIash ffGnl lis lsir-thc denlua finally saizps
upon two large buildings adjoining tho ho,el
Then the ecenc, il possible, becomes marc
!caffnl thrn before, raihEliug IS it does tic
fnlllng Of Wsiia and the crashing Of the tloors
with the other horrors Of the ot5ne.
At oLe time it appeared al II tic deatru.-
sion Of tho whn1c block VIA snevifabic, The
IiEEt was the seTezest Of this Hinter, tho
erHay 4 enc the tssesms falling in hail upon
/ the hslf-drrssad inmstea Of the hotel, AZ they
!; stood Watching tue means OF cgre-s from the
building, to zee il the next that rushed ont
Was brother. sie.eE, husband, wife, son, or
daughter. or give w1tk Of encouragement tc
/ ttn.e one riieed between two horrible forms
: of.deail,, sud powe1less. except to CRY ont
atsye the din ec1ow, " Save me. l am burn,
inE!!", -
moro than fifty WINDOWS. 1nd rang aut on!y
!; olce. II if 1.ut known positivesF that ther1
:, HeIe more than tivc actual victims Of the
! fsmc., but the uaivcFsAl fear il that this docs
j Lot approximate the number One ahori
/ luur, ALd Us lire fend Lad done its worst.
! 1st ploGresn lad been stayed. but two-thirde
| of.the block f1ontipS AIaia stree. s1M running
I Exck nearly the FANG dietAtce was 4 dery
chatne! lake, etll smoking and seething, bui
| conquered.
Whtn tho fire. arat broke out. and the wild
t mouth to mouth with frantic aud despalsine
| energy, your correspondent. wliosa room vi.
/ il tht LIFT wing Of the buildirg. in the third
e:oEy. woke up. md. after getting on somg
i ctotA.e, 1usheI into the long passage, uog
| filled with smoke. \ terrible scene mot t,,t
eye through the smoky atmosphere. Tne
forms Of half-dressed males aud fen.lcs
could be seen rushing. they knew NOT whilbef
| and sl1rieking with despair. Proceelipe
| further to the bead Of tho staircase ii
egreBe WAS blocked up with an intliscriminAts
Wsss OF }negsge and people trying to esc.pe
Rush'ng then to tue nSss wing Of ths build
I inE another staircase was reached wb1.t
brought ene to tha sasoni ilooF, aud hare the
lorg corridors bat served ~ dues to cnnsuci
the dame Though the building. Continuins
] on, the ground floor is reached It lsst, o1,i
then tho Geld, icy mir str19ca the face.
Here sAw the wife Of Captain Mrrhal1 in he
bare feet, With blanket wl:pped around her
| While ler husband, half lfes.cd. c44riet
I their infant chili, who're riteous criss coul;
be heard atose the din II the failing TIMBER
snd crashing floors. But hero wa5 IN act O.
ehlvA,r5 worthy Of mensien. 4 yonns
man named Towers sp1ang furwar1l
pulled cd tie shaes and gave them to th,
iads, and. divcssins himself of hia oyc.coat
wrapped the CHILD in it aud carried it tis
tance ot several squares to tho house Of
frieua OF Ncrh4trs. Aga:n there W.. anothe
c1y, ''Anaa II df.h-ttcry wlndox," locke,
up, aud there vas G. 4. ScLatf,er, tho Stat
Superintendent Of Public Printing, clineing
the I'LL Of ffth-etor9 window. His fca
renched the upper TOW Of glass IN the four:l
story window, AID he kicks out the p1ues. II
PLACES Liz feot Oh the rasb, moves his haud
cautit u-!y to tho cap nt the window and the
d seeude to tho eift IT t...t wiudow. II thi
naT the ct,lArt :Schaf!ter came fsun story
A:eFy amid the plAucitH Of the tyoSt. br who.
he wAs st;zed and carried ont Of danger xhe
be Ic:Chcl the ground.