Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-30

Z
human agony In every shape--tnis u the
heart-rendIng scene that we are caiiea
upon 10 describe. ! sink under the enors'
Excuse my feelings. for they are the fee'-
ings OF the whole city.
A HORRIBLE REVOLUTION.
Let me collect my ideas as well ~
can. On Thursday night new play ano
a new after-pIece were played TOT us
bensfit Of Mr.. PIacide. Crowds swarmed
TO the theatre; It was the fullest houss
this season; there were not less than w
present. The play went OF. the panso-
mime began--the first act was over. Inc
whole scene around them, and before them
was mirth and festlvity. Oh, God-wna'
a horrible revolution did one minute pro.
duce. The curtain rose on the secona
act OF the pantom.me. the orchestra IN
full chorus. And Mr.. West carie out 10
omen the scene, when sparks OF IRE began
to fall on the back part OF the stage. anu
Mr.. Robertson came out In unutteraoie
distress. waved his hand to the ceiling.
and uttered these appalling words: fne
house Is on fire." The cry OF Fire:
Fire!' passed with velocity through tne
Eouse.
The most heart-piercing cries peryaded
the touse-"Save me! Save me-" wives
ASKING IOT lQelT nucDdHiSs AShA@a-S S@'~-
children shrieking, while the gathering
element came rolling on Its curling flames.
Many were trod to death; several were
thrown back from the windows from
which they werc struggling TO leap. Many
leaped from the first story and were
saved. Men women. and children OF all
descriptions were seen to precpifate them
selves on the ground below. Most OF
these escaped, though several OF them
with broken legs and thighs. and hideous
contusions.
WRAPPED IN FLAMES.
The fire few with a rapldity almost be-
yond example. Within ten minutes after
Il caught the whole house was wrapped
in flames. But the scene which ensued
II is impossible to paint. Women. with
dlshevelled hair, fathers and mothers
shrieking out for their children, husbands
for their wives, brothers for their sisters.
filled the whole area on the outside OF
the building. A few who had escaped
plunged again into the flames to save
some dear object of their regarc-and
they perished The Governor, perhaps,
shared in the melancholy fate. Others
were frantic, and would have rushed to
destruction, but for the hand OF a friend.
The bells tolIed. Almost the whole town
rushed to the fatal spot. The flame
caught to the scenery from some light be-
hind. Robertson saw II when II was no
longer than his arm. Young saw II on
the roof when 1t first burst through.
Every article OF the theatre Is con-
sumed. as we'll as the dwelling-house
next to II. But what is wealth In COM
parison OF those valuable lives which are
gone forever? The whole town Is
shrouded In woe; heads of families ex-
tinguished forever. Many and many Is
the house In which a chasm has been
made that can never be filled up.
Look at the following catalogue Of the
victims, and then conceive the calamity
which has befallen US I must drop
my pen, when / have time to collect q
more particular account Of It.
A LIST OF DEAD AND MISSING.
George Smith, Governor; Sophia Trouin
Cecilia Trouin. Joseph Jacobs, Elizabeth
Jacobs, Cyprian Marks. Charlotte Raphel
Adellne Bausman. Ann Craig, INITIAL. a
carpenter; Pleasant. a mulatto: Abraham
r. venable, William Southgate. Ben
jamin Boots and wife. Arianna Hunter
Mary Whitlock. Juliana Halves. Mrs
Heron, Mrs. Giradn and child. Mrs
Robert Greenhow. Mrs. Moos, Judah'i
child, Mrs. Leslie. Edward Wanton. O
youth: George Dixon, a youth; William
Brown, Mrs. Patterson, John Welch, Mar
garet Copeland. Margaret Anderson
Sally Gatewood. Louisa Mayo. Mrs. Ge
rard, Mrs. Gibson. Miss Green, Mary
Davis, Thomas Frazier. a youth; Jan'
Wade. Mrs. William Coock and daughter
Elizabeth Stevenson. Mrs. Corven ant
| child, Patsy Griffin. Fanny Goof. a blacl
woman; Betsy Johnson, black; Phila
| delphia Johnson. black; Mrs. Taylol
| Braxton, Mrs. Elizabeth Page, Mrs
| Jerrod, James Waldon. Miss Elliott
| from New Kent: Mrs. Gallego. Miss Con
yers, Lieutenant James Gibbon. Mrs
Thomas Wilson, MIS- Maria Nelson, ais
| Mary Page. and Mrs. Laforest.
The remains of the deceased are IN
| TERED where they perished; the old wall,
| OF the theatre are TO be pulled down an,
wall of five feet high to occupy th'
| ground where the theatre formerly stood
| also a monument is to be erected over tn
| deceased.
i can't say. my friend. with sorrow, tha
| / inform you of the death of my poo
| Grandmother Winston, for II IL had no
have been so a number of my connection
| would have perished in the flames
| amongst them your friend,
JOHN SHORE.