The weekly clarion., 1875-04-07


mond, one of the most valued antiquari
ans and historical complieis of Virginia,
appointed K. Alonzo Brock, Esq, OF
Richmond, his literary executor. Among
the interesting documents OF his collec
ton is the following letter addressed tc
Hon. James Peasants, of this city,
concerning the awtully celebrated
burning of the Richmond Theatre in
1911:
DECEMBER %, 1911.
DEAR SIR-Thursday evening the
Richmond Theatre was destroyed by fire,
and from one to two hundred persons
consumed Awfully fatal was the event
of that disastrous night, and not one fam
lily in Richmond but mourns the loss Of
some dear connection or esteemed friend
Among the dead are numbered the Chief
Magistrate of this Commonwealth, the
president of the bank, Mr. Bolts and fami-
! ly, Mrs. Gallego, Mrs. Patterson and many
others Of your acquaintance The Gov
ernor had effected his escape, but returned
to rescue his daughter, and with her was
consumed. Yesterday
HIS BODY, OUT OF sIxrY-NINE
which were taken from the ruins, was the
only one known; and for that consolation
! his friends are alone indebted to his
stock buckle, which, uninjured, bore
testimony to the identity of his person.
In Mr.. Bolts untimely death and much
! lamented exit is recorded a course rs am
iably magnanimous as rare and unexam-
pied. As he could not release his wife
and little children he chose to bow to the
supremacy of death surrounded by his
family, and was seen by some of his
friends standing on an eminence in the
house, when all prospect of escape
had passed away, and, with ii composure
and resolution truly astonishing, con-
signed an infant he had left home to the
care of some friend after which, as the
flames approached,
HE TORE HIS HAIR FROM HIS HEAD,
and fed the fire, and eventually met death
in the embrace of connubial and parent
al enthusiasm Had he lived to the age
of Meth thuselah-nay, to the end of time -
perhaps so glorious an opportunity might
never again have offered, in which he
could bear equal testimony to the triumph
of husband and father over the loss of
life.
1t is. said that Mr. Venable effected his
escape several times, and ut last was buried
amidst the general destruction, martyr
to the feelings of humanity.
A young man by the name of Gibbon
has purchased renown on earth and an asy
lum in heaven by having snatched from
the flames beloved mother, whom he
bore to safety and returned to rescue her
to whom his future life was pledged. He
nIaCnaH hor his on1 apIoo xrpraH
to save her, but the flames enveloped
them, and they died as they would have
lived -tenderly dear to each other. Mrs.
Patterson
LEAPED FROM WINDOW
fronting the second row of boxes and lux
ated her peck. A Mr.. Marshall, from
one of the Western counties, saved
number of women by dropping them
through an upper widow, and as he at
tempted to save himself by jumping from
the window lady clasped him round the
neck. He was killed, and she escaped in
safety. Mr.. Edwin Harvie, Edwin j.,
son Of Gen. John Harvie, colonel in the
commissary department of Virginia dur
ing the Revolution, NJ. c., and Register
of the State Land Registry office Gen.
John WAS the father of Gen. ,Jacquiline
B. Harvie-R. a. b. y whose heroic ex-
ertions will long be recollected, it is sup
posed will expire to-day from the effects
of the flames. Robert Stanard, Esq,
saved from the flames Miss Craig, to
whom he is to be shortly united. The
rescue was desperately perilous Her sis
ter, who was with her, perished. Perhaps
there never was
50 GREAT A CHANGE IN ANY CITY
in the world as Richmond experienced.
Thursday morning was ushered into exis-
tence with a resplendent calmness unex-
ampled before at this season Of the year.
Never did the sun dawn on so many smil-
ing and cheerful faces in Richmond as on
that day. Cheerful gayety dispensed its
pleasurable influence over every part of
the city; deep interest was felt in the play
for that evening. 1t was a new Gallo
mond The after piece was the BLEEDING
Nun" (''Agnes, OF the Bleeding Num-
r. A. B. } and this the last week of per-
formance. The house was full-nay, pass
ing full The play passed off to the entire
satisfaction Of the audience, and the after
piece had progressed to the second act
Mr.. Vest, whose comic powers have long
amused the people of Richmond, was on
the stage-general glee and hilarity
had thrown the house into wild estacy.
IN MINUTE THE SCENE WAS CHANGED.
Robertson bursts on the stage, and in a
horrible voice announces fire. The sad
sequel will not attempt to describe its
misery l can feel, but never can portray.
Sr,H1na fha-afara fn that wild npaUaJr
and precipitate alarm apparently trans
fixed hundreds to the floor. Some thus
situated met furious death unconscious of
his approach others were borne lifeless
and hurled lifeless from the windows.
Two minutes had not elapsed ere the the
atre was filled with smoke and flames, the
candles extinguished, and one-fourth of
the persons who had gone to the play were
on fire. Imagine to yourself the situation
of Sodom and Gomorrah when the ven
geance of heaven visited them in torrent
| of fire. Behold the Sicilian Isles blotted
from existence by terrific earthquakes
see the lava of Etna and Mount Vesu-
vius swallowing up whole cities, and then,
even then, you will have but
A FAINT IDEA OF THE WILD HORRORS
that rived in twain the hearts of those who
beheld this scene. Each individual who
beheld it felt as if every being was
snatched from existence save himself, who
was deprived of the pleasure of follow
ing his friends. The flames, as if sent
from the lower regions, reversed the order
of nature, aud instead of ascending, were
/ with violent velocity forced from the roof
into the pit and boxes, and appeared TO
creep on the earth in furious pursuit of