The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-28


Remarkable Piece of Heroism-Ex = citing
scenes and Incidents.
The Richmond Dispatch of Monday the Goth
instant, has the following
The FIRE fiend has again swept over our beau
tiful city, leaving in its trail half block of
buildings in the very heart OF the city heap of
smouldering ruins, while seven or more lives
have boen forfeited to satisfy its burning rage.
By this calamity the great Christmas festival
has 10 the eyes of the people of Richmond,
been stripped of half of its accustomed joys and
sadness reigns this morning where so much of
mirth and gayety was to be anticipated, in view
OF the favorite holiday of the South.
THE sPoTswooD HOTEL ON FIRE.
On the morning of Christmas day, at about
o'clock, Patrick Byrd, the night watchman at
the Spotswood Hotel, was sent by Mr.. Knowles,
the night clerk, to call the women whose duty
il is to seour the floors. Going upstairs he
thought he detected the smell OF smoke, and
looking more carefully presently he saw it
curling from q fssure in the weather-boarding
of the old wine-room, of late used as pantry.
The alarm was Immediately given, and Mr..
Knowles and DR.. Latham, of Lynchburg,
running to the spot, tried to get in the
room to extiugush the fire, but found it impos-
sible TO get in without q key. Presently how
ever, the door was broken down, and the flames
were seen crawling up the walls and licking the
ceiling with their fiery tongues. It was too late
for buckets of water, and messenger was sent
TO sound the fire-alarm. Meantime the cry Of
fire was raised in the house, and the halls of the
second floor were in few minutes filed with
frightened, stupefed, half-clad people, throwing
open the doors and otherwise clearing the path
OF the fiery element.
THE BUILDING IN FLAMES.
Those who escaped say that in space of time
almost Incredibly short the smoke had filed the
whole house, and the flames made their way
through the thin woodwork partitions with fear
full rapidity. Ghe Fire Department, notwith-
standing the extreme cold, was on the ground
with remarkable promptness, but the water
could not be made speedily available. In
lees than half an hour fire was observed on
every one of the five floors, and the passages
were choking with hot air and almost impalpa-
ble ashes.
The scene was now one OF indescribable terror.
Men, women, and children were in the burning
building and all who we're awake were striving
TO get out. With fire on every side and smoke
-blindipg, suffocating smoke-penetrating
everywhere, this no easy task to those not
thoroughly acquainted with the landmarks. The
screams and prayers of the panic-struck terrified
the self-possessed the weak were either tram
pied under foot on the narrow stairs or sank
where they stood paraly zed by fear, waiting for
relief. Fortunately, however, there were those
within who retained their presence of mind, and
those without bold enough to risk the danger to
save human life. SO far as is known, all who
left their rooms found means to escape, though
with life alone; and there was woman's cry
for help or infants wall OF terror that did not
bring man to the relief. Most of those who
lost their lives were awakened by finding the
flames in their rooms, or remained in the vain
hope of saving also their property. The floors
not but perish.
BELIEVED TO BE KILLED.
1t is pleasure to say that the number OF
deaths was greatly exaggerated in the reports
Thd Theh dS sW about the city morning 5
Those who are believed on all sides to have
been killed are Samuel @. Hines, Erasmus w.
Ross, Samuel NJ. Robinson, and Mrs. Emily
missing. and it is feared they are lost. These
are persons all known to the people OF Rich
mond. 1t remains to be discovered what
strangers or other transient boarders were
killed. The names OF none have transpired.
A MARTYR TO FRIENDSHIP.
Captain Samuel G. Hines was a most estima-
ole and popular young gentleman, who came to
Richmond several years ago from Caswell
county. N. C. He was salesman in the whole
sale dry. goods house of Moses Millhser, No.
911 Main street. He had been spending
Christmas Eve with party of gentleman
friends, and returned to the hotel at about
o'clock.
II is known that he came down stairs to beg
some one to help him get Ross and Robinson
ont, they occupying rooms adjoining his own.
The undertaking was so perilons that he could
not procure any assistance, and, noble fellow
that he was, he returned through the binding
smoke and flame to the attic, determined to
make final effort to rouse his friend. He
reached his room in safety, and was presently
seen at the window crying and beckoning for
help. In response bedding was placed below
the window, and he was told to jump and he
would be caught But suddenly the flames
burst forth from the very window where he
stood. He was caught in their scorching en-
brace, fell backward into the room, and was
seen no more. In few minutes afterwards the
floor fell through.
Poor Hines has many mourning friends in his
adopted city. We doubt If he ever had an
enemy. Generous and charitable to fault he
fell sacrifice upon the altar of friendship. He
could not save a brother knight of Pythias, but
attempting it, dared the danger and lost his life
He was a member of Old Dominion Lodge No
a. Knights of Pythias. In respect to his memory
the supper of Old Dominion Lodge, which waf
70 have taken place on Tuesday night, has been
indefinitely postponed.
SCENES, INCIDENTS, AND MARROW ESCAPES
| Captain d. w. Bohannon was so fortunate az
to be among those who escaped with life. Al
10 o'clock he retired to his room on the fourth
floor. He was awakened at about 2 o'clock BY
Some one bursting into his room and exclaim
ing, "For Gods sake, Captain, get out of this
if you want to save your life" He sprang Ou
The man who walked him asked, "Can l helI
you 2" and receiving an answer in the negative
left. Captain BohannOn thinks this was Mr.
Hines, who was afterwards lost in attempting
TO save 3 friend. The Captain, having got into
his coat and pants, picked up bundle Of
clothes, and wrapping his cloak around his face
ran down stairs through the flames aud smoke
arriving at the main entrance almost suffoeated
Had he not been perfectly familiar with th,
course of the stairs, he must have blunderei
and been lost.
Mr.. c. A. schaffter, of Lynchburg, superin
tendent of Public Printing, had narrow escape
He heard the roar of the advancing flames, auC
first thought it the noise of Christmas frolic
but presently smelling fire and hearing al
alarm opened the door to see the passage full o
smoke Realizing that his retreat by the ordi
nary avenue was cut off, he slammed the doc
Al, ox.t., Don r. ~,