The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-01-03
Observation-Disclosures
TOTAL Loss OVER 100000.

RrcHMoNb, VA, December 25.-Last
might was the coolest for thirteen years
The ground was covered with snow, and
the thermometer indicated 5 degrees. At
q quarter past 2 o'clock in the morning,
just as the porter had commenced wax
ing up the passengers for the Southern
train, the Spottswood Hotel was discov-
|ered to be on fire on the lowest floor
An effort was Immediately made to wake
1.-THE guests, and the scene became inde-
scribable. Men were rushing a5oat try
ling to save their baggage. and women,
nearly naked and barefooted, ran out
Into the street into the snow. The steam
engines were promptly on hand, but, the
water being frozen, it was some time be-
fore water could ne thrown on the build
ling. In twenty minutes the flames
spread to such an extent that escape by
the stairway was cut off. ss
The guests then commenced leaping
from the windows. P. P. Clarke, of
Philadelphia, steward of the hotel, leap
ed from the third story receiving fatal
Injuries. The most fearful scene of the
disaster was the appearance of Mrs. EN-
lily Cornelious, of Baltimore, the house
keeper, at window in the fifth story,
with one or two other ladies, screaming
for help. The fire companies ladders
were put up, but failed by two stories to
reach the window. While the firemen
were endeavoring to lengthen the lad
ders the crying women disappeared in
the thick smoke, and we're lost, the room
Frightening up moment after with
flames. Up to noon to-day, the only
burned whose names are known are
Erasmus Ross, clerk in the Libby Prison
during the war; Mrs Emily Cornelious,
housekeeper; Samuel W !. Robinson, clerk
with Milhiser T. Co. The register of
the hotel was consumed, and it is i'm,
possible 10 give the names of the stran-
gers lost Several have perished, as
there are about adozeu unclaimed trunks
belonging to New York and other Nor
thern cities.
The weather was SO intensely cold
fbof tho talarroph Uiroc in front of tho
bn;ld;nas vac Covered with ice and the
t;ro etaan,prs incaseds IA ice an inch thick
Arnong tho rao,rarkahla escanes vas that
|of C. Sheffter,y attached to the Office of
the State printer, who was in the fourth
.torv and escaned hv dronnino from
window cornice to w;ndow cf,rnice until
ha roacbed tho ground Ha was badly
burned however The correspondent Of
the New York Herald had narrow es-
cane. The quests lost MI their clothing,
and ladies had to walk barefooted to a
place of shelter. Total loss $500, 600 !:
the insurance ia mostly in Northern
companies. The business houses de-
stroved were those of Branch & Cur
rants crockery store: Adams Express
Company's office; Howe's machine store
and other smaller stores.
The following are additional names of
persons who are known to have been
burned to death: w. H. A. Thomas,
agent for the Panorama of the Pilgrims
Progress: II. w. Pace, Danville iva. J
|U. S. Mail Agent j. B. Forrest, Mes.
senger Of the Southern Express Compa-
nv The Spottswood Hotel was valued at
s l4O, 600, and was insured in Northern
companies for 900 600 Messrs Subtell,
Lusk 4 Co. we're the proprietors. The
Spottswood had the furniture insured for
$40 900, and the wines and carpets for
81 600. in the North British Company.
All the goods ready for delivery, in the
cellar,in charge of the Southern Express
Company, were destroyed. The compa-
ny's money safes are buried in the ruins.
An incident of the fire was the appear
ance of q man at one of the upper win
chewing paper into small pieces and
throwing them out of the window, ,tlil he
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