The Lincoln County herald., 1872-12-11
An Old Mans story.
Neeosiections Of a Terrible Event.
tgrom the Lyncbburg Virginian.l

much on the time past; and among The
multitude Of remembrances Of my boy
hood and youth, none are more vivid
shsu those connected with the burning
of the Richmsnd thea,cr on the night Of
,ho 26th Of December, 1911. Two gen
erations have since come and gone, and
perhaps what | write may DO Of interest
to those now living.
III was then echeolboy in Richmend,
very nearly twelve years old. My pa
rents residing in tho country, were in
town for the winter. They generally
esehewed the theatre, but that evening
we're persuaded by some young friends
to accompany thOm. Others from our
boarding house, to the number Of niue
or ten, likewise attended. The play was
over and :he after piece had just begun
The actor. paused and seemed confused
aud st the same time fire fell on the
stage. An actor then cams forward and
asnounced, Ladies and gentlemen, the
thsatsr is on Ere I Instsnily all was
tumult aud terror Parties separated,
each rushing forward to fnj M ans of
escape. OF those who went from our
boarding house, two got out together.
The pit Of the thsater was on q level
with tho .t.sst, aud escape thence, through
the only outer door was sssy. Many from
the lever gallery cIaubered down into
the pit aud saved themselves in that way.
a good stairway, beginning few feet
from tho outer door, led into the
galleries. The house was full and in
the frantic terror that prevailed, most of
those in the first gallery rushed towards
the head Of the stairs. Here the pres
sure was fearful. Many were thrown
down and trampled to death. My parents
we're forcibly separated. My mother,
without the least effort on her part, was
thrown upwards on the heads and shoul.
dcrs Of those beginning to descend the
stairs aud, SO dense was the mass, she
was carried in a reclining posture, to the
bottom on her feet, and then the outer
door, just before her, afforded ready
sgrsss. Leaving with an acquaintance
a message for her husband, she set off
alone for the boarding house, up Grace
street, more than half q mile distant.
She lost shoes, bonnet and cap; and
when l reached the parlor she had ar
rived, and with her hair streaming over
her shoulders, was recounting some Of
the terrible scenes of the fire. She was
the 6rst 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 the masses of frantic
being we're rolling over each other to the
floor. Seeing escape by the stairs cut
of, the writer's father sought other
means Of delivsrance. While forced
along he felt current OF cool air, and
looking to the left he saw an open win
dow a few feet off, lie was stout
heavy man, and by vieleut effort
reached the window and seated himself
on the sill. tie then wrapped his great
coat around him, and holding by the
outer edge Of the sill as long as possible,
dropped safely to the ground.
"The writer's half sister, sixteen years
old, was in 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 grand daughter sprang to
window and leapcd out The fall shat.
tered her right ankle bone so badly that
she could not move. After time gen
,leman frsm our boarding house r.cog.
nizsd her, and with other hep carried
her to house one sqaars off There
she suffered agony for many weeks before
removal was possible; and year elapsed
before she could walk, and she was lame
for life.
"An aunt and cousin Of tho writer had
been attended to The theater by young
lawyer. When the alarm was given fea,
appeared 70 deprive both Of the power te
move In vain the young man besough,
them to flee for their lives. In spite oil
entreaties both sat still, whilst the hea,
and smoke became each moment more
insupportable. The gentleman remained
with them until his nose, eye brows and
whisksrs were scorched. The instinct OIL
self preservation then drove him to
window near at hand, whence he lsapst
for his life. One Of his knees was bad J
spraned. The ladies kept their seat,
und met their doom.
"Ths writer's mother was somstims,
reluctantly persuaded to describe th,
horrors Of that night. Just as she lsf
the theatre, she observed a large, heavy
old man, lying on his back beneath q
window. perfectly dead. She used tc
say that the look of agony in ,ba ghas.ly
face haunted her for years.
"a touching incident, we'll authenti
Gated, was this: Lieutenant Gibbon
United States navy. was betrothsd to the
most beautiful girl in Richmond lie
was the son of Major Gibbon, collector
81 the port, who, ia tho war of the rsvo
luton, led the forlorn hope of volun
tssrs, being lieutenant in behalf of the
storming party, in Wayna's attack on
Stony Point. The Lieutenant and his
betrothed were in the theat0r; but VIII on
the alarm was gwen he was at her side
lie fastened to her rescue. md fndinp ,