Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-01-06
Ecarlui COnGagration at Hsich-
llOYU,

RICHMOND, Va, December 25.---Tho
Spottswood Hotel and all that block, tho
ilnest in the city, was burned at two O. clock,
thus morning The business houses burned
are branch q Current Crockery Store;
Adams Express Compary's Onicc, uowc's
Sewing Machines Store, and other smaller
stores. The weather, the coolest for thirteen
years, the ground covered with snow. the
Thermometers was five degrees above zero. At
quarter past two, as the porter was waking
passenger for the Southern train, fire was
discovered in the basement. An effort was
immediately made TO wake all the guests
the scene was indescribable; mcn rush about
trying to save their baggage; women half
naked and barcfootcd, rushed into the snow
which covered the streets
Inc engines were promptly on the spot,
| but the water was frozen and caused delay.
Before twenty minutes the flames had pre-
vented escape by the staircascs. The guests
commenced jumping from the windows, low.
cring themselves by blankets and ropes. z.
Il. Clarke, the Steward, was fatally injured
by lcaping from tie third story Mrs. Emily
Cornelius housckeepcr, with two or three
other ladies, appeared at the windows Of tho
nth story, screaming for help. The frcmcn's
ladders failed to reach them BY two stories.
'" "hilc the hrcmcn were cndcavoring to length
en- them, The Somcn disappcarcd in the black
smoke OF tho room, Frightening up few mo.
mcnts later with flames.
The DcrsOnS known to bn go, ><..
to day, are Erasmus Ross, Clerk Of the Libby
Prison during the war, Mrs Emily Cornelius,
housckeeper, Samuel W. Robinson, clerk,
with Enker u Brother and Samuel Hines,
clerk, witli Ncllhisen s. Co. The Register
of the Hotel was destroyed, and it is impossi.
bic to say what strangers arc lost, there arc
about dozen trunks unclaimed Of parties
from New York, and other Northern cities.
1t is noticeable fact that tic fire left ono
building on the corner, the same which
checked the evacuation connagratior. 4 G..
shaffer, State Printer, escaped from fourth
story BY dropping ftom window coruice to
window cornce, reaching the ground badly
burned, but otherwise unhurt.
The correspondent of the New York Her,
aid narrowly escaped. The guests lost u
their clothing. Three hundred thousand
dollars OF the loss is insured mostly in Nor
thcrn Offices.
LATER-The additional names Of those
known to be lost, arc H. A. Thomas, Agent
OF the Panorama of the Pilgrims Progress
w. II. Pace, DanviIle, Va, US. Mail Agent
and j. B. Farris, Messenger of the Southern
Express Company. The Spottswood was val
ucd at sl40,000 and insured for $50, 900.
Subc II. Luck & Co. had $50 900 insurance
on the furniture, and $1,000 on tho wines
and carpets, in the National Insurance Com.
pany, Baltimore. Losses, eight thousand
dollars on all goods ready for delivery in tho
Southern express Office, burned. A man
was seen at the upper window, apparently
paralyzca by fear, tearing papcr into small
pieces, which he threw into the streets, till
hc fell back into the flames
Among narrow escapes were NJ. Maiic, Of
New York, Engineer Of the James isvcr oh
structons; 0 A. pearce, Of Columbia, S. c.,
Private Secrctcry Of Senator Spraguc; Mrs.
McGil proprictrcss Of tho Tlcatcr r. II.
Stowcll, a member of Congress. The Deavo
Troupe lost their baggage. The hotel regis
ter afterwards found only six strangers unac-
counted for. The name of the housckcepor
burnedis Mrs. Kcnncarly.
The following names arc missing strangers ):
j. Il. Wilcox, 1.ynchburg; Nathan Bernstein,
Washington A. Loil, Tampa, Florida f.
George and Il. H. Andcrs, Syracuse; Hen
ry Klatte, New York and John II. ITal;
man, Jr., Jacks on, Tennessee.
OPPRESSIVE TAXATION better illus
tration of the manner in which this country
is misgorcrncd, and the Southern States ara
oppressed, could be wished for, than is afrord
ed in tho annual report of the Commissioner
of Internal Re0eaue. Mr. Delano states
that he expects next year to collect from VIZ.
ginia $4,060,000, aud from Massachusetts
only 81, 900. II the relative 73opa2at.uu
of tho States determined tho amount Of taxa.
ton, which they ought TO pay respectively
Massachusetts, would have to pay five millions
to Virgihia's fou,; Y ilstif tho relative ,eealA
of the two States determined il, Massachusetts
ought to pay four times Us much as Virginia.
Not only is Virginia slancfrIIy oppressed
in this way, but the money Witch she oon,ril