Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-11-28
A RICHMOND "REMINISCENCES.
RecOllections of the Burning of the Theater
In ISL.

are more vivid than those connected
with the burning OF the Richmond
Theater, on the night Ct the 26th of
December, 1911. Two generations have
since come and gone, and perhaps what
| write may be of interest to some now
living.
" | was then schoolboy in Rich
mond. My parents generally eschewed
the theater, BIT that evening were per-
suadeel by some young friends to &C.
company them. Others from our board.
ing-house, t. the number of nine or
ten, likewise attended. The play was
over, and the after piece had Just be-
gun. The actors paused, and seemed
confused and at the same time fire fell
on the stage. An actor then came for.
ward, and announced, Ladies' and gen.
tlemen, the theater is on fire. Instant
ly all was tumult and terror. Parties
separated, each rushing forward, to find
means OF escape. Of those who went
from our clearinghouse, no two got
out together. The pit OF the theater
was on a level with the theater was on
was on 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 stair
way, beginning a few feet from the
outer door, led to the galleries. The
house was full and in the frantic ter.
ror, most of those in the first gallery
rushed toward the head of the stairs.
Here the pressure was fearful. Many
were thrown down and trampled to
death. My parents were forcibly sep.
arated. My mother, without the Slight.
est effort on her part, was thrust III.
wards on the head and shoulders of
those beginning to descend the stairs
and, SO dense was the. mass, she was
carried, in reclining posture, to the
bottom on her feet; and then the
outer door, just before her, afforded
egress. She lost shoes, bonnet and
cap; and was the list to reach the
house.
The father of the writer escaped in
a different way. Just after his wife had
been carried down, the staircase gave
way, and then masses of frantic beings
went rolling over each other to the
moor. Seeing escape by the stairs cut
on, he 1elt current of cool air, and
looking to the left saw an open window
few feet off. He was stout heavy
man, and by violent effort reached
the window and seated himself on the
sill. He then wrapped his great coaS
around him, and, holding by the outer
edges of the sill as long as possible,
dropped safely to the ground.
The writer's halt-sister, Is YEATS old,
was in the house with her grandmother.
The old lady was heavy and helpless !;
and making little or no effort to escape,
was burned. Her grand daughter
sprang to window and leaped out.
The fall shattered her right ankle bone
so badly that she could not move. AT er
a time gentleman recognized her,
and, with other help, carried her to a
mouse one square OFT. There she suf-
fered agony for many weeks before
removal was possible and year elaps.
ed before she could walk, and was lame
for life.
" An aunt and cousin of the writer
had been attended to the theater by
young lawyer. When the alarm was
given, fear appeared to deprive both of
the power to move. In vain the Young
man besought them to flee for Their
lives. In spite of entreaties both sat
still, while the heat and smoke becam.
each moment more insupportable. The
gentleman remained with them until
his nose, eyebrows, and whiskers were
badly scorched. Then instinct of self.
preservation drove him to window
near at hand, whence he leaped for his
LIE. One knee was badly sprained.
The ladies kept their seats and met
their doom.
The writer's mother. Just as she left
the theater, observed large, heavy old
man lying on his back, beneath win.
dow, perfectly dead. She used to saw
that the look of agony in that astly
face haunte her for years.
I" A touching incident, we'll autbenti.
Gated, was this: Lieut.. Gibbon. United
States navy, was betrothed to the most
beautiful girl in Richmond. He was
the son of Maj. Gibbon, collector If the
port, who, in the war of the Revolution.
led the 'forlorn' hope of volunteers.
being Lieutenant in command of the
stormlng party, in Wayne's attack on
Stony Point. The Lieutenant and his
betrothed were in the theater: but
when the alarm was given he was not at
her side. He fastened to her rescue
and, finding a lady whom, from her
general appearance, he supposed was
the loved one, he struggled manfully
tor her safety, and at length got her
without the building. Here, to his dis.
may, the bright light revealed the
features OF an unknown lady. He in.
stantly rushed backed into tae bouse
now mass of fire; but the adverse
throng delayed his progress so much
that, just as he had found her whom he
sought, the roof fell in, and both per.
isheo. ts
DR.. McCaw, prominent physician.
was instrumental in saving MANY fe,
males. He sat astride window sill
and persuaded them to get on the seat.
then, holding hand firmly in his. thew
were gently lowered as far as he could
reach and then dropped safely to the
ground. All so aided escaped unburt
When all whom he could influence had
been thus saved, the Doctor, finding
the fire close at hand, leaped from the
window, but in doing SO he injured
one knee, which rendered him lame for