New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-29
TIE LATEST RICHMOND HORROR.
DETAILS OF THE BURNING OF TIE sPoTswooD
HOUSE.

DETAILS OF THE BURNING OF TIE sPorswooD
HOUSE.
The Richmond papers of Monday give fear
full details of the fire Sunday morning which de-
stroyed the spotswood House, and in which number Of
people persisted. The Richmond State Journal says:
About I:l5 o'clock Sunday morning. Patrick Byrd, 2
Eighth and Mansts was proceeding TO wake up the e-
male servants whose duty i thus early scour the
dningroom the next floor above the office he dis
covered an unusual smoke and rapid investigation dis
connection between the kitchen and diningroom, and
forming with the latter an l. He atonce concluded that
turned 10 the Office and informed Mr.. Knowles the night
clerk OF his conclusions. Both thereupon hurried to the
pantry forced the door and found that in this short
time the smoke and flames had Increased so rapidly that
alarm Of fire TO the sleeping occupants OF the hotel
the work Of moment, bat il not rapid enough, with
Frantic men, women, and children, leaped from their
beds at this cry Of fire, to which added the cry Of
ton Language is inadequate to the tack Of plcing
feelings, actions aud wild ordinations Of panic
bers such hour such night by the cry OF fire
and the sitting rush Of smoke into Their bedrooms Then
the rush for windows the cries for help and tbs appear
ance Of mothers clad only In nghtcothe and SILVER
ing from the freezing air. yet casping their equally nude
viii leave it to eye Witnesses and participants In the
frghtful struggle for life and safety TO tell Of the events
Of This terrible morning in which they lived ~ aga In
Mr. Edwsrd 81 Alfriend occupied room NO. 80. H re,
tired about ~ o'clock and Wa S,c9sed ne thnk
FIFE p Fire" He sprang out OF his bed and found
to see his hand before him He hurriedy put on his
clothes and gathered few other pieces OF apparel IN MS
hands and as rapidly possible made his escape ron
the hotel He passed along the main passage on the
third floor OF the building, and thence down what Ia
deEseiy led with smoke az TO make It necessary for him
to hold bis breath as much as possible ron me room
down G the or two STsi 4eG T AT r 1e
the entrance OF the passage below him. AS he passed
through the hall he cried Fire banged upon ana Ge's,
these he ascerained occupied by G. A. shaher esq
he oWes the saving Of his lie to M Aifriend MI A.
lost his library valued at 1880 pictures valued al $780,
The bremen were soon on the ground with their steam
engines and other apparatus but oSing TO the t INA.
water With dispatch. Despite the weather however,
which turned water TO icces as by maggie they foued
was useless task. and that the Grant buildings
doomed. The hook and ladder company all the while
thew appeared at the windows. Citizens, among them
Mr. Robert Scanned, Mr. Shields John Jackson coored,
nished us were letting down persons from the upper
by sheets and their GOODNESS and bravery saved
lives which must have been otherwise lost.
During the fire unknown man lesped from the upper
story and he reached the ground wall fell upon him.
Petersburg Railroad eaped from a window aud sus-
tanned 10 injury. While the fire was running rampant
and the flames kissing and eapng for rosh t0od man
appeared at Of the upper windows fronting on
Eghthst. He waved papers which seemed 10 ls OF an
important character, and made desperate appeals for
help. Finally seeing death imminent and succor out OF
question, he tore the papers up and met his DOOM
The above the romantic story current yesterday,
it destroyed by the fact that the person referred 10
was Mr. Eldridge OF NewYork who was brought out on
ladder and left yesterday for home. He tore up no
papers but there were papers lying around DIS head
while he stood at the window.
J. T. Balkins and Edward Sweetman are Assistant In
spectors OF IL is part OF their duty TO attend all
fires off the gas and save the meters which are OF
value TO the city, In the performance OF this dny they
were promptly az the OF the fire yesterday morn
ing and having saved the hundred light meter worth
OH, thpNw
pavement the ten light neer While they were
there the floors OF the hotel suddenly fell Ia with crash
and their retreat was entirely cut OF There an i'm
Inense cloud Of smoke, and the flames seemed about TO
swallow them In 10 minutes they would probably have
been suocated burned TO DEATH when found the
grating in the pavement above and posed his fingers
Through Fortunately somebody's attention thereby
attracted and the crate being lifted both drawn cut
oil