, 1872-11-10
A TERRIBLE EVENT.

A correspondent OF the Lynchbu1g Firg'n'an
in late issue says:
IT nm In old man. Old age dwei]s much On the
my boyhood youth moro vivid than those
connected with the burning Of the Richmond Theatre
On the night of the o6th Of December, 151 Two gen
erntions have since aud gone, and perhaps WAX
/ write may be Of interest to some now living:
II WIS then echoolboy IN Rchmond. very nearly ~
intowu for the winter. They generally eschewed ths
theatre, but that evening were persuaded oy some
Ioarding-house to the number Of nine or ten like
wise attended The play over, and the afterpiece
had just begun The actors pas@s @ ana us sase
actor then camo forward, aud announced iodies ARD
gentlemen the theatre is on fire. instantly al was
forward to find means Of escape OF those who vent
from our boardingho,sae no two got out togetnsr:
and escape thence, through tho only outer door, wss
easy. &lsuy from tho lower gallery elsmoerea "a
tas teR Tss fsst from s0oq the 'It oasi ieeF, led
to the galleries. The house was fnn; oGS M ID
the rst gallery rushed towards the head Of the stairs
Here the pressure was fearful. Many were thrown
down and msd PIE the
| on her part was thrust upwards On the neaas aua
shoulders Of those beginning to descend the stairs
clning posture to the bottom her feet; and then
the outer door, just before her. afforded ready
band. she set OF alone for the beardinghorse up
ciraee street. more than half mile distant She lost
Shoes bonnet and cap and When rescaea tne pr pr
her shoulders was 1ecounting Of the terrible
scenes Of the fire. She was the first to reach tho
"The father Of the writer escaped, in different an
way Just after his wifo had been carried down the
tho t rdSns SnEs s5a
Beeing escape by the stair cut of, the writer's 1atner
sought other means Of deliverance. While forcsd go
along felt current Of cool air, and LOOKING to INC
left Ia s1w m opeu window few feet OF. He Was y
stout heavy man and by violent effort reached tne
the Outer ges Of tho sill as long possible, dropped
safely to the ground. ,, g..
whom whom she she lived Ths old ady vas heavy am, and
hsp'sss to ss;aps and wsa @a1'9S Sarned. s Her
daughter spfane to window md leape1 ont it, Ihs
f a peF e Renemnn
boarding house recognized her, and win oshef neip
carried her of to h"ss ono sunrs on :snova
was lame for life.
alarm was given fear appeared deprive both Of the
them to fee for their lives In snite Of entreates bott
sat STILL willis. the heat and smoke became each nc:
ment more indispensable: Tue gentleman remained
badly scorched. The instinct Of self-preserSation
then drove him to window near ut hand, whence he
? lc1ped for his lie. UHe knee WAS UHQy bpta4aeo
The Indies kept their seats aud met their doom. !,
. "The writer's mother was sometimes reiuctantl.
persuaded describe tile horrors Of that night Jus
as left the theatre, she observed large, heavy oe
man. lying his hack, beneath window, perfectly
dead. She used to say the look OF agony IN tina
| ehssty face haunted her for years.
IA touching incident, well authenticated, Wes TINS
Lieutenant Gnbon, United States Navy, was betrothet
to the most beautiful girl in Richmond. Ho was th'
the Var Of the Revolution, led the @forlorn hope
volunteers, being Lieutenant in command Of tn
storung- party, in Wayncs attack OIL Stony Point
The Lieutenant and hiR betrothed were In the thea
| tire: but. when the alarm was given, he was no
at her side. lie hastened to her rescue, and. find
t ing lady, whom, from her general appearance, b.
supposed WINS the loved one he struggled manfuy TO
her safety md at length got without the building
Here to his dsmay the bright light revealed the tea
lures unknown lady, He instantly rushed baca int
the house, mnsa ct fire; but the adverse thron
DELAYED bis progress much that. Just as he ha
found hcr whom be sought the roof fell In, and oot
persisted.
Q strumental in saving many females. He sat nstrid
window sill and persuaded them to get on the Sc a
. then holding hand firmly In his, they we're gentl
lowered as far he could rench and dropped safely
i the ground. AL so aided escaped unhurt. "nen q
q whom he could influence had been thus sayad, n
doctor finding the fire close at hand, 1eaped from tn
is window, but In doing he injured one Knee, Thlc
q rendered him 1a1ne for life.
- "One who attends tho Monumental Church, IN Rc1
- mond sees in front kind Of mausoeun, within whc
- is inscribed with the names OF ssvent.
two victims Of the fire. Tho mAusoleum occupies II
sits Of the old theatre. The Governor Of the State
Ia one OF the Victims Some Of the writer's schoolmatt
d were in the house; but BY pushing under the eboP
II OF the crowd. Ill escaped"