Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-04-21
BURNING or THE RICHMOND
~ THEA TIRE.
a RARE HISTORICAL DOCUMENT


jor A. $. Woodbridge to Hon. james
| Pleasants, at Washington, d. O., il
given to the public for the first time
and is a rare contribution to the local
history of that city:
0DEAR SR-Thursday evening the
Richmond theatre was consumed by
fire, and from one to two hundred per.
sons consumed. Awfully fatal was the
event Of that disastrous night and not
one family in Richmond but mourns
the loss OF some dear connection or es-
teemed friend Among the dead arc
numbered the chief magistrate Of this
commonwealth, the president of the
bank, Mr.. Bolts and family, Mrs. Gal
lego, Mrs Patterson, and many others
of your acquaintance. The Governor
had effected his escape, but returned to
rescue his dau ghter and with her was
consumed Yesterday his body, out Of
sixty-ninc which were taken from the
ruins, was the only ono known; and
for that consolation his friends are
alone indebted to his stock-buckle,
which, uninjurcd bore testimony to the
identity of his person. mi
ain Mr. Bolts mtimely death and
much lamcnted exit is recorded a
course as amiablymagnanimous as rare
and unexampled. AS he could not re-
lease his wiio 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 pros
pect of escape had passed away, and
with composure and resolution truly
astonishing, consigning an infant he
had left at home to the care Of some
friend. After which, as the flames APP
preached, he tore the hair from his
head and fed the fire; and eventually
met death in the embrace of connubial
and parental enthusiasm. Had he lived
to the age of Mathuselah---nay,
even 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
nv
III Is said that AR: enable efeeted
MS escape several tmes, ana al last
,ion a mortv,. 10 tLc Amor fselings of
humanity
"a young man by the name OF Glib
bon has purchased renown on earth
and an asylum in heaven by having
snatched from the flames n beloved
mother, whom he bore to safety, and
returned to rescue her to whom his
future life was pledged. lie claspcd
her in his arms and cndeavored TO save
her, but the flames enveloped them,
aud they died as they would have
livod--tenderly dear to each other
Mrs. Patterson leaped from window
fronting the second row Of boxes and
luxated her neck. A Mr. Marshall,
from one of the Western counties,
saved number OF women by dropping
them through an upper window, ana
as he attempted TO save himself by
jumping from the window lady
clasped MN around the neck lie was
killed and she escaped IN safety: .hr'
Ea'cm Herrcy EDWIN j., son oil "eh'
John Hercey, colonel IN the cominissary
department OF virginia during tnc
revolution, NJ u ana register OF 'he
state iand registry once; 1eheral
John was the iather Oh uenerai Jacqn-
line hervey.-k. a. B'L whose heroic
exertions VIII long be rec.olleccted, II Is
supposed VIII expire To-Day from the
ELECTS oil the names; hopert Sunard,
esq, saved from the names q MISS
Oraig. TO whom nc Is 10 DC shortiy
united. The rescue was desperately
perilous' her sister, VINO was with
her, perished. ferhaps therc never
was 30 great change IN any city IN
the world as richmond experienced.
thursday morning was ushered INTO
existence with q respicndent calmness
unexampled before at thus season oil
the year Never ana the sun dawn on
so many smiling and cheerful iaccs IN
kichmond as on that day cheerful
gaiety dispensed ITS pieasuraoie IN
fluence over every part oil the city /;
deep interest was ielt IN the play ior
that evening. IL was new "ailic
play, translated by gentleman oil
Richmond. The aiter-plece was the
"Bleeding Nun Agnes,or the Bleeding
Nun.-R. A. Is. and thus the last
week OF performance. Tho house was
iull--nay, passing full. The play pass
cd on to the entire satisfaction OF inc
audience, and the aiter-piece had pro
grcsscd to the second act, Mr. vest,
whose comic powers have long amused
the people OF hlehmond' was on .he