Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-31
THE BURNING OF THE THEATRE
A Rare Engraving Presented to- Vir-
xinta historical Society.

A meeting Of tue Executive Committee
OF tbe Virginia Historical Society was held
recently 10 the rooms Of the society in the
WestmoFeland- club house. Present; Messr'.
Curry Gn the chalr) Cotrell, Brock, aud
Barksdsic (recOTdiug secretary.
A large number Oi valuable giits were re-
ported. including books, newspapers, relies
&c. AmOnx The interesting objects the FOL
lowing may be noted: The rare engraving
(col0TedD Of The Burning OF the Iheltre
in Richmond, Na..' on the might OF Decem'
Der 2G, 1911, by which awful calamity up-
wards Of Que hundred Of ltichmOnds most
valuable citzcns suddenly lost their lives
ana many Otners were much injured, pub
Eshed February 2j, 1872, by B. Tanner,
No. a south Eighth street, Philadelphia.
TUs GREAT FIRE.
on the back o. the ingrlyIng IS pasted the
following: Extract from the Richmond
Enquirer OF December y, 1911" In the
Whole course OF our existence we have never
taken our pen under deeper gloom than we
feel AT this moment. II fails TO our lot TO
record one OF the most distressing scenes
which can happen In the whole course OF
human aifaiPs. The reader must excuse the
iucoherence of the narrative. There Is scarce
4 dry eye 10 this distracted city. Weep, my
fclloW-cltiZeus, for we have seen night Of
woe, which scarce anY eye had seen or ear
had heard, 10 tongue cln adequately tel. Let
rs cOllect our ideas rs well aS We can. On
Thursday night new play and new Alter
phce were pi9yed for the benefit OF DIT.
Pncide. Crowds sgarmed to tue Theatre
il was the fullest house this season. There
were not less thaa six hundred present Tho
Diay went Oh, the pantomine began. the first
fre4 "a kqfDrp
us, and oil around ~ was mlrth aud festiyiiy.
Oh God What q horrible revolution did one
minute prOducs! rne curtain was on the
second act OF the plutOmIne. The orchestra
was in fun chorus, and Mr. West came
on 10 open the scene-when sparks on tlre be-
gan 10 fall on the back part Of the stage and
! Nr. Robinson came out In unutter1ble dis
trcss. waved bis hand 10 tue ceiling, and "
tered these appalling words: 4" fhe house
/ j. on hrel" His hand was Immediately
stretched forth 10 the persons In the stage
/ box 20 help them on tie stage and
aid their retreat In that direction. TINS
I Is al that was caught OF The stage. The
I cry Of Fire FIre!" passed with electric ye-
/ locity through the house. Every one 1ow
/ from their seat 10 gain the l0bDies aud stairs
/ The fire dew with rapidity, almost beyond
example. within ten minutes aiter II csuVnt
B the whole house was wrapped IN lanes
I The colDred people 10 the galleries, most OF
} them escaped through the stairs cut oil from
/ the rest Of the house. Some have no doubt
/ fallen victims. The pit and boxes bad but
/ Que common avenue through which the
! whole crowd escaped, save those only who
| leaped through the windows. fe" who
/ had escaped plunged again In danes 10 save
/ sOme dear OBJECT OF their regard and they
perishej. The Governor, perhaps, shared
| tnis melancholy fate.
The dame must have caught n the scenery
/ from light behind. Robinson saw IL when
/ Il was no larger tnaD his arIn. Young saw
/ IL on tue roof when it burst through.
/ Every article Of the Theatre was consumed,
/ A. well a the d dweling-b0use next 20 IL But
, what Is wealth ia comparison 70 tue valuable
! lives which have gone iofcvery The whole
| town is shrouded 10 woe. Heads OF families
! exflnguished forever. Many and many u
/ the nouse ia which q chasm has been made
! that never can be filed up.-~From Charles
| w. Gaddese, Baltimore. Nd.
! [rhe engraving has been photographed IN
this city.l
! oTnER RRLIcs.
A copy OF the "viTgiBia Gazette aud Rieh-
mood and Manchester Advertiser, Rich
asond, printed Mondays and THURSDAYS by
! samuel Plsesants, January -, 1875; from
Hoo. j. /. Mcrear, Wytheyillc, Va, badge
OF the Clay and FreiiDghuysen presidential
canvass Of 1874 with -ubric, "Tsri1. Pso-
| tsetinn To American Labor portrait Of