The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-04-25

DEATH OF CAPTAIN SAMUEL FREEMAN
On Saturday morning at O'Clock Captain
Samuel Freeman, an old, esteemed, and
brave citizen Of Richmond city, died at the
ripe age of seyenty-tive years at the Airing
ton House.
1t is seldom that we record the death of a
man whose life has been such an eyentful
one as that Of Captain Samuel Freeman
He was native of Virginia, and came to
this city when very young, and for LONG
number Of years was prominent builder
here. His undaunted courage was his cha.
| racteristic, and we could not begin to re-
count his many daring deeds as Rich.
mond fireman. One of them, which
has become historical, was the saving
of the prisoners in the penitentiary from a
horrible death, when that institution was
burned in 1924. The flames were spreading
with great rapidity, and there were six or
seven Of the prisoners who were cut
off from assistance by them. Captain Sam,
as he was familiarly known, had been I'M
tiriug iii his efforts to save life and property,
and declared his intention to save these men.
He was told that it would be useless to at
tempt such Il thing, but he persisted in the
attempt. Gilbert Hunt, one of the best es-
tccmcd and most noted colored men
cf Richmond, volunteered to assist him. A
ladder WAS procured and placed upon Gil
bert's shoulders. Upon this Captain Sam,
with toolSin his hands, climbed to the level
of the cell in which the prisoners were: con-
fined. The spectators looked on i'll breath
less fear as he assembled, undaunted. amidst
fame and smoke, and looked every minute
to see him enyeloped and destroyed. But
bent upon his noble and humane mission,
he continued, and cut the prisoners out of
their dangerous position, and came down
amid the cheers Of the crowd. His hands
and face and clothing were badly burned,
and his injuries kept him confined for some
days.
Another feat of Captain Freeman's was the
saving of the capitol building from partial
if not total destruction in 1850. A terrific
gale was blowing, and part of the root of
the building had been ripped up. 1t was
necessary to nail it down in order to save
the roof, and had this been blown off great
ed. Captain Freeman, upon hearing this,
knew no hesitation in mounting the roof
with hammer and nails. No one thought
he would ever come down except by the
force of the wind. He had hardly been on
the roof before the gale struck him, and
would have blown him entirely off had he
not caught by the lightning-rod. He
got upon the roofagain, and began his labor
under the greatest difficulties. The wind
bleW the foOnnS up aC one tlne, ana tne
copper completely enveloped him, cutting
him badly in several places: In spite of
this he persisted, and did not leave the top
of the capitol until he had completed his
work. There are many other brave deeds
which marked this eVentlul career, and
which made him man among men.
Captain Samuel Freeman was q man of
great industry and integrity of character,
of untlinvhing courage and indOmitabic
will and perseverance. He was possessed
OF the kindcst disposition, and of his noble
nature his actions will sufficiently attest.
He was appointed Superintendent of Pub
lie Buildings by Governor Wise in 1855,
which position he occupied until recently,
when he was removed by General Candy.
He was buried yesterday afternoon.
Thus has passed away, after life of use
fulness and honor, an old citizen as brave
as the bravest, and rs honest as the days
were long. ReqmeScat in pace.