Connecticut western news., 1872-12-13
RecOllectiOns of Terrible Event.

RecOllectiOns of a Terrible Event.
 A correspondent of the Lynchburg T1r- ginian in late issue says:
 "I ara an old man. Old age dwells much on the past and amongst the multitude of remembrances of my boyhood and youth none are more vivid than those connected with the burning of the Richmond theatre on the nig ght of the 26th ofDecHmber, ,18ll |, Two generations have since come and gone. and perhaps what l write may be of inter est to some now living:
 q was then schoolboy in Richmond, very nearly twelve years old. My parents residing in the country, were in town for the winter. They generally eschewed the theatre, but that evening were per- suaded by some young friends to accom-, pany them. Others from our boarding house to the number of nine or ten, like wise attended. The play was over, and the afterpiece had just begun. The actors paused and seemed confused, and at the same time fire fell on the stage. An actor then came forward and announced, Ladies and gentlemen, the theatre is on firc.' Instantly all was tumult and terror. Parties separated, each rushing forward to find means of escape. Of those who went from our boarding house, no two got out together. The pit of the theatre was on 8 level with the street and escape thence, through the only outer door was easy. Many from the lower gallery clambered down into the pit and saved themselves in that way. A good stairway, beginning a few feet from the outer door, led to the galleries. The house was full :; and Tn the | frantic terror that prevailed, most of those in the first gallery rushed towards the head of the stairs. Here the pressure was fearful. Many were thrown down and trampled to death. My parents were for cibly separated. My mother, without the slightest effort on her part, was thrust upwards on the heads and shoulders of those beginning to descend the stairs and so dense was the mass, she was carried in a'reciining posture, to the bottom on Ter feet and then the outer door, just before her afforded ready egress. Leaving with an acquaintance a message for her husband she set off alone for her boarding house, up Grace street. more than half a mlle distant. She lost shoes, bonnet and cap; and when reached the parlor she had ar- rived, and with her hair streaming over her shoulders, was recousting some of the terrible scenes of the fire. She was the first to reach the house.
 "The father of the writer escaped in a different way. Just after his wife had been carried down stairs, the staircase gave way, and then masses of frantic be. ings went rolling over each atber to the floor. Seeing escape by the stairs cut of, the writer's father sought other means of deliverance. While forced along he felt a current af cool air, and looking to the left he saw an open window few feet off. He was stout heavy man, and by @ violent effort reached the window and seated him. self on the sill. He then rapped his great coat around him and, holding by the out CT edges of the sill as lsng as possible, dropped safely to the ground.
 ''The writer's half sister, sixteen years old, wash the house with her maternal grandmother, with whom she lived. The old lady was heavy and helpless, and making little or no effort to escape, was burned. Her granddaughter sprang to window and leaped out. The fall shattered her right ankle bone so badly that she could not move. After a time gentleman from our boarding house recognized her, and, with other help, carried her to. house one square off. There she suffered agony for many weeks before removal was possible, and a year elapsed before she could walk, and she was cripple for life.
 ssThe writer's mother was sometimes reluctantly persuaded to describe the horrors of that night. Just as she left the theatre, she observed large, heavy old man, lying on his back, beneath a window, perfectly dead. She used to say the look of agony in that ghastly face haunted her for years.
 "A touching incident well authenti- cated, was this: Lieutenant Gibbon, United States Navy, was betrothed to the most beautiful girl in Richmond. The lieutenant and his betrothed were in the theatre but when the alarm was given he was not at her side. He hast. ened to her rescue, and, finding lady
 whom, from her general appearance, he supposed was the loved one, he strug
 gled manfully for her safety, and al length got her without the building ; Here, to his dismay, the bright igh revealed the features of an unknowl lady. He instantly rushed back into thu house, now a mass of fire; but the ad verse throng delayed his progress st much, that, just as he had found he
 whom he sought, the roof fell in, ant | both perished.
 3 Doctor McCaw, prominent physi ? clan was instrumental in saving man, , females. He sat astride the window sil 7 and persuaded them to get on the seat then, holding hand firmly in his, the. ,. were gently lowered as far as he coul reach and dropped safely to the ground l All so aided escaped unhurt. When al 3 whom he could influence had been thu t saved, the doctor, finding the fire clos at hand, leaped from the window, but i B doing so he injured his knee, which ren B dered him lame for life.
 l "One who attends the Monuments . Church in Richmond, sees in front kin {. of mausoleum within which is monu t ment inscribed with the names of ' d victims of the fire. The mausoleum oe t cupies the site of the old theatre. Th d Governor of the state was one of the vit ). tins. Some of the writer's scLoolmate e were in the house; but by pushing unde ? the elbows of the crowd, all escaped" I Prices and Styles of Furs. I Serviceable, handsome furs have com N within the reach of moderate purses
 owing perhaps to the ingenuity display
 ed by furriers Tn the adaptation of skin @ formerly unhcard of.
 l. Seal skin sets of fine quality are t l. be had very low. These look we'll wit y walking dresses, soften the complexion tt and last, though not least, do not al :. tract moths.
 e They are preferahle to 1he.coarse ana