Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-12-28
BURNED THEATERS.
Some Incidents of the Richmond Tragedy

ottnc Autfutnts VI
7. 10 sixty-hve years since the Rich
mond Theater was burned, Dec. 26,
1911. From that time until the Brook
lyn disaster no calamity of equal horror
has occurred to any theater in this coun-
try. BY it it was supposed at least 12O
persons lost their lives.
In the Historical Collections of Vim
ginia," by Mr.. Henry Howe, now of
Cincinnati, published in 1845, is de-
tailed account of this disaster, together
with an engraved representation of the
scene. The building was a three story
structure, plain as "a Quaker meeting
house, standing on an open lot detached
from all other buildings.
An Episcopal church, called the Monu-
mental Church, was subsequently erected
on the spot, to commemorate the event.
The remains CT some of the unfortunate
victims were deposited in a marble urn,
which stands in the front portico of the
church.
Among those who perished in the
flames were George w. Smith, the Gov
ernor of Virginia; A. B. Venable, Presi-
dent of the Bank of Virgins; Lieut..
j. Gibbon, of the navy, I" in attempting
to save Miss Conyers," and many others
Of the very choicest citizens of Virginia.
The editor of the Richmond Standard
was in the theater at the time of the
disaster, and in his paper of the next
day he gave these details:
Last night the play house in this
city was crowded with an unusual audi
ence--not less than 600 persons. Just
before the conclusion of the play, the
scenery caught fire, and in few min
utes the entire building was in flames.
The editor of this paper was in the
house. He is informed that the scenery
took fire in the back part of the house
by the raising of chandelier; that the
boy who was ordered by some of the play
ers to raise it stated that if he did 80 the
scenery would take fire, when he was
commanded, in q peremptory manner,
to hoist it. He obeyed, and the fire at
once communicated to the scenery.
"The boy gave the alarm in the rear
of the stage, and asked some of the at
terdants to cut the cords by which the
combustible materials were suspended.
The person whose duty it was to do this
fled panic stricken. This unfortunately
happened when one of the actors was
playing near the orchestra, and the
greatest part of the stage with Ats horrid
danger was obscured from the audience
by curtain.
"The flames spread with almost light
ming like rapidity, and the fire falling
from the ceiling upon the performer was
the first notice the audience had of their
danger. Even then many supposed it
a part of the play, and were a little
time restrained from fight by cry from
the stage that there was no danger. The
performers aud their attendants in vain
endeavored to tear down the scenery.
The editor OF this paper was among
the first to escape. No words can ex-
press his horror when, on turning
around. he discovered the whole build
ing to be in flames. There was but one
door for the greatest part of the audi
ence to pass. Men, women and children
were pressing upon each otner, while
the flames were pouring upon those be-
hind.
"The editor went to the different
windows, which were very high, and i'm
plored his fellow creatures to save their
lives by jumping out of them. Ignorant
of their danger, they we're afraid to leap
down, while those behind were seen
catching on fire and writhing in agony.
At length, pursued by the pressing
flames, they pushed those nearest the win
dow, and the people began falling upon
each other with their clothes on fire,
some half roasted.
"The people outside were seen wiring
ing their hands, beating their heads and
breasts and those that had escaped
seemed TO suffer greater torments than
those enveloped in flames. All of those
in the pit escaped and had cleared them
selves from the house before those in
the boxes could get down, and the door
was for some time empty. Those from
above were pushing each other down the
steps, when the hindmost might have
got out by leaping into the pit.
"The loss o. q hundred thousand
friends ON the field of battle could not
touch the heart like this. The most
savage barbarians will mourn our un-
happy lot"