The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-01-05
Particulars of the Great Fire in Richmond,
Virginia.

full catastrophe occurred 10 Lne capltOl DulIulnS
at Richmond, Va, by which so many valuable
lives were lost, and threw the community and
State into mourning. And now we have to
record another terrible disaster to that il-fated
city,. On Christmas morning, when there was
again donned the habilaments of mourning, in
consequence of fearful fire and the sad loss of
life accompanying it. 1t has not been definite
" ascertained as to the number of lives sacIi-
feed by this fire, as SOME of the passengers
registered at the Spotswood Hotel left on the
morning train, and it is impossible to know
until all of these are heard from as to who per-
ished in the flames. The Richmond Dispatch
gives the following graphic account of the
great fire:
On the morning of Christmas day, at about
2 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
it is to scour the floors. Going up stairs, he
thought he detected the smell of smoke, and
looking more carefully, presently he saw it
curling from fissure in the weather boarding
of the old wine-room, of late used as pantry.
The alarm was Immediately given, and MIR.
Knowles and DR.. Latham, of Lynchburg, run
ming to the spot, tried to get in the room to ex-
tinguish the fire, but found it impossible to get
in without key. Presently, however, the door
was broken down, and the flames were seen
crawling up the walls and licking the ceiling
with their fiery tongues. 1t 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 a few minutes filled 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
filled the whole house, and the flames made
their way through the thin woodwork parti-
tions with fearful rapidity. The fire depart
ment, Notwithstanding the extreme cold, was
on the ground with remarkable promptness, but
the water could not be made so speedily avail
able In less than half an hour Ere was OBJ
served on every one of the five floors, and the
passages were choking with hot air anl almost
impalpable ashes. The scene was now cne of
indescribable terror. Men, women and chill
dren were in the burning building, and all who
were awake were striving to get out. With fire
on every side and smoke-blindng, sufocating
smoke-penetrating everywhere; this was no
easy task to those not thoroughly acquainted
with the landmarks. The screams and prayers
of the panic-struck terrified the selfpossessed; !;
the weak we're either trampled under foot on
the narrow stairs or sank where they stood par
alyzed 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 no wOman's cry for help, or in
fant's wall of terror, that did not bring man
to the relief Most of those who lost their
lives we're awaked by finding the flames in their
rooms or remained in the vain hope of saving
also their property. The floors began to fall
and all in the building then could not but per-
ish.
PROGRESS OF THE FIRE
A strong wind swept the flames westward,
and the sparks and ashes flew all over the city,
causing serious apprehensions lest there should
be fire in remote places, while the services of
the fremcn were needed where they we're
After the Spotswood, the adjoining building,
occupied by the Grover & Baker sewing ma
chine depot, E. Currant's house-furnishing
store, and Mr.. Hungarfords banking establish
ment, caught and was speedily destroyed
Wofdecke's cigar store and Anderson's tin and
stove depot were then fired, and only the con-
stant play Of the engines upon the building on
AS Bosher's Hall, and under which was the
grocery and liquor store of w. D. Blair & Co.,
saved it from following suit. On Eighth street
the old frame building in the rear of the Spots
wood, and belonging to the concern, was par
TALLY destroyed. At S o'clock the fire was
stayed.
On the fifth floor there were more children
than in any other part of the hotel, and it
seems almost miraculous that any of these es-
capped, when strong men like Robinson, Hines
and Ross perished. Here were the families of
the proprietors. Messrs Sublett, Luck and
Bishop. These gentlemen with their wives and
little ones, without exception, got out before a
single floor fell, and escaped serious in: &!
Mr. Luck was afterwards badly scorched 1t
tempting TO get papers out of the Office. Et is
not known that any children were lost. If So,
they were the children of transient borders.
Mr. A. G. Schafer, of Lynchburg superin-
tendent of public printing, had narrow es-
cape. He heard the roar of the advancing
flames, and first thought it the noise of Christ
mas frolic; but presently, smelling fire and
hearing an alarm, opened the door to see the
passage full of smoke. Realizing that his re-
treat by the ordinary avenue was cut off, he
slammed the door to and opened the window.
Some in the crowd urged him to jump; others
urged him to wait for help. He determined to
do neither, but took chance equally as hazard
ous Climbing out of the window of his room,
he clung by the hands to the sill, and jumped
miraculous as it may seem) to the window be-
low, alighting on the sill of that, and holding
fast by the cornice He was now on the third
floor, and intended to try the same plan to get
lower, but ladder was now brought to his aid,
and he descended in safety. His beard was
snged and his hands badly cut by glass. He
lost what baggage he had in the room and about
$40 worth Of Christmas presents, which he de
signed taking to his wife and children in Lynch
burg yesterday morning.
]. L. Batkins and Edward Swcetman arc as
sistant inspectors of gas. 1t is part o. their
duty to attend all fires, c'st off thegas, and save
the metres which are of ralne To the citu In