Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-01-03

iSye.y cf Othe7S.
RfcHMoND. December 25.-Last NIGHT VAS
the coolest felt here for thirteen years. The
ground was covered with hard frozen snow,
aud the Thermometer indicated Eve degrees
below zero
At a quarter past two o'clock this morning,
just as the porter commenced Wakeniug the
passengers for the Southern train, the Spots
wood Hotel was discovered 70 be on Gre on the
lower hOOr. An effort was Immediately made
TO wake the guests. and the scene became one
Of great CONFUSION. men rushing about trying
to save their baggage, and the women. nearly
naked and barelOoted, fleeing into the SNOW
covered streets
The steam engines were promptly on hand,
but the waller being frozen, it was some time
before water could be thrown on the building.
In twenty minutes the flames spread to such
an extent, that escape by the staircase was cut
on. The guests then commenced leaping from
the windows and descending by ropes made
from blankets aud sheets p. p. Clarke, of
Philadelphia. the steward Of the hotel leaped
from the third story. receiving mortal injuries.
The most distressing scene If the disaster was
the appearance of Mrs. Emily Cornelius. Of
Baltimore, the housekeeper, at 4 window in the
fiftr story. with One or two other ladies scream.
ing for help. The IRE companies ladders
were put up. hnt failed by two stories TO reach
the Wind0ws and while the firemen were
making efforts TO lengihen the ladders. the
crying women disappeared in the thick smoke
and were lost. the room frightening mp a mo-
ment later with'the flames.
Up to nom tD-dHy the only persons burned
whose names are known are Erasmus Ross.
clerk If the Libby Prison during the war
Mrs Emily Cornelius. hOusekeeper. who leaves
= nj II
clerk with Eilker & Bro and Samuel Hines.
clerk with Melhizer & Co. The register of
the hotel was destroyed. and IL is impossible
to say what strangers are lost. though il is
supposed several have persisted. rs there are
about dozen unclaimed trunks Of parties
from New York and other Northen cities.
Il IL n notable fact that the FIRE. after dc,
strOyihg the block. left one store on the Garner.
the same building that stopped The c"nfagra-
tiOn at the evacuation Of Richmond. The
weather was 80 in, DseIy cold that the taIe-
graph wires in front Of the burning building
were covered with ice while the fire was RAJ
ging. The fire steamers we're enclosed in ice
an inch thick. Among the remarkable es-
capes was that of 4. G. Sho1er. the State
Printer. who was in the fourth story. and es
capped by dropping from window cornice to win.
dow cOrnice until he reached the ground safe,
u
the New York HcrTR narrowly escaped
The guests lost all their clothing. and the
ladies had to walk bare foot over snow to reach
shelter. The total loss by the FIRE is $500 600;
insured mostly in Northern companies.
The business houses destroyed were Branch
Il CurrRnt's crnckery store Adams Express
ComPany's Office; Howe's sewing machine
store, aud other smaller stores.
GSECOND DEsPATcU7
Three More Victims of HE D;suSfer- The
Destruction nj Property
RICHMOND. December 25 The following
areadditi"nal names of persons who are known
to have been burned TO death in the Spots,
wood Hotel: II. 4. Thomas Agent fur the
panorama Of the Pilerim's Progress; ". II.
Pace, of Danvile. Va. United States Mail
Agent, and j. i. Farlss. Messenger Of the
Southern Express Company The SPOTS.
wood Hotel was valued At $4,000. and was
insured in Northern companies, represented
by d. N Walker for 100000 Branch <
Currant were insured in the North British
and Mercantile for $4,000. Sublett. Luck &
Co. prOprietOrs Of the SpOiswood. had the
furniture insured for $50 900. aud wines and
carpets insured in the North British for
$1,000.
The National Insurance Company. Of Bath
iosea SS.OOO All TIE goOuS ready for delIV~
cry in the cellar of the Southern Express
Company were destr' yed. and the Company's
money safes are buried in the ruins.
An incident Of the Are was the appearance
Of man At one of the upper windows. paraI>
lied by fear, VIII" sat tearing paper into small
pieces and throwing them ont of the window,
until he fell back into the flames
Among those who made narrow escapes were
NJ. Maillefert. OF New York engineer James
River INSTRUCTIONS; S. A. Perrce. Of Column
bia, South Carolina. private secretary to Sem
ator Sprague; Mrs Elizabeth Mag II. pro.
prietress OF the theatre and K. u. Shovel,
member of Congress. The Delave troupe lost
their baggage The hotel register Was found
to night and there are only six strangers not
accounted for. 1t is probable some of the
citizens have taken some Of them 10 their
houses. Tho name Of the housekeeper bur-
ned was Mrs Emily KennearIy.