The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-18
A CALAMITY RECALLED.
THE BURNING or THE SPOTSwO0D
HOTEL IN 1870.
The Richmond journal OF That Date Gives
sDetaiied Description " the Terri
bic Disaster The Killed.

nal of Sunday. December IS. 1870. recalls
one OF the most fearful disasters that
ever occurred in this ciiy--the burning OF
the Spotswood Hotel. The Journal gives
the following graphic description u the
affair:
Another terrible calamity has visited
our doomed city, end the thousands Of
oar citizens who retired last evening wiz.
hearts buoyant with the prospective hap
piness OF awakening to a bright ana hap
by Christmas morn. have had their hearts
chilled and their faces bianched by the
awful t.uines conveyed To them OF tee
death and destruction which has Occurred
in their midst In one short hour.
one of those fearful calamities, which
have fallen with such terrible frequency
upon our city, visited us last night. About
. o'clock ire was discovered In the VINE
room of the Spotswood Hotel by the
night Waterman, Patrick Boyd, whose az
count is, that at Twelve minutes past
o clock he was sent by the night CLERK 10
call the women whose duty IL wac 10
scour the halls. NhCn he arrived at the
foot of the stairs near the ladies' parlor
door. he discovered the presence or
smt ke.
The alarm was Immediately given 10 The
inmates, and a scene OF terror ensued
which appalled, the stoutest hearts OF
those who Witnessed II. Men, women.
and children rushed franucally into the
pitiless winter air with Whatever gar
ments they could snatch 10 shield thein
Many OF the boarders renamed uni's-
turDed for some time after the IRE had
progressed 10 a fearful extern, despite
the commOtion and noise when preVaH'i
around them, and many OF these, IL Is
feared. became victims OF the ueNourihs
ell sment.
The flames. fed by the more than usual
ly combustible material In the kitcheh
ana its vicinity. made fearfuily rapii pro-
gress, and the occupants OF the puhdils
mad barely time TO make their egress De-
fore the roof and walls began 10 ran III;
The fire department were on the ground
with their usual promptness, ana tne un-
ceaslng labOrs performed by the depait-
ment, contending with fast-devouring nre
ana rapldly-freezing water, deserves the
lovdest praise.
Despite their heroic efforts. combined
with that of hundreds OF citizens VINO re-
paired with all haste 10 the scene, the en-
tire building was speedily enveloped IN
fire. which, borne by an easterly wind'
soon communicated to the adjacent build
ings i'm that direction.
In less than half an hour from the mo.
ment al which the fire was discovered
the hotel was one liyid mass OF flames. B
LIST or THE KILLED.
The following is a complete list or those
known TO have been burned In the build
certain
Erasmus Ross. nephew OF Mr.. Frank.
lin Stearns. and formerly OF the rrm or
Peasants & Ross
Samuel Hines, a salesman In the store
of Moses Nllhiser 9ll Main street.
Mrs. Cornclia. the housekeeper or the
hotel.
Mr. Robinson, clerk to the cigar stand
at Mr.. William Euker's, No. $40 Main
street.
Mr.. Thomas, agent OF the Panorama OK
Bunyans Pilgrims Progress.
FEARFUL AND FATAL LEAP.
4 man was seen to leap from third
story window IN the rear Of the building.
and falling upon a mass of rubbish below.
was literally dashed TO pieces. The rear
wall. falling soon afterward. covered the
manglcd remains IN grave or ire.
Mr.. Clarke, one OF the stewards or inc
hotel leaped from one OF the third-sfory
windows. and was painfully injured, his
thigh and ankle being fractured.
Mr.. G. X. Luck, one OF the propr'etors'
was painfully, though not seriously, burn
ed about the face and hands In his ne
roic endeayors TO save his guests.
r. NJ. Green, a clerk In the onlce or
Supervisor Presbrey. was injured In the
foot by failing on broken glass.
MARROW ESCAPES.
Mr.. Edward Alfriend. one OF our we'll
known young townsmen, made narrow
escape He had but lately retired TO his
ROOM when the alarm WAS given, which
awoke him, and had barely time TO Sc
cure his clothes and watch ana escape,
finding great difficulty I'm getting down
stairs. lie lost a valuable library and all
else i'm his room. After he had gotten out
he again entered the burning buiistng and
succeeded In rescuing a young giri.
Two young men, who were In the fourtn
story. succeeded in escaping by two
sheets tied together 20 the second story.
where they reached the ladder Of the
fire department. one came down IN ms
night clothes; the other was fully dressed.
even 10 his oyercoat, but minus his boots.
CAPTAIN Huffman. "A conductor on the
Richmond and Petersburg train, escaped
from the burning building by jumping out
of a window. No injuries.
Captain McPhal. wife and child. es-
capped without injury, and took refuge
with Colonel Peyton Wise.
Leslie Jennings, salesman In the store
OF Wooddn & Co.; James NJ. Wise, John
Ferris. Mr.. Marvin. keeper OF billiard
room: Captain Rohanon, and G. Schan-
ter are among those who made narrow
escaT IS. -,
They all lost their entire stock Of cloth
Ing and valuabies, and Captain Bohanon
loses a most valuable collection of books.
During the height OF the conraeration.
with sheets OF fame rolling and Kissing
like a demon OF wrath, a gentleman WAS
seen sitting at the window OF one or tne
upper stories, perfectly siolid with fear,
the window pieces OF paper.
II is supposed that, sealing 40 way M
escape. ne quietly and calmly awaited his
s,vfi,l doom, with what feeling can be-
better imagined than described
NOBLE ACTION.
The list OF those who persisted. az stated
above. is OF interest to great many
peop.e In virginia, and more especially
10 those OF Richmond. While II Is rot
stated I'm the Journal. II Is d feet that
the death OF Samuel Holder Hines was
one OF the most noted sacrifices or HE
to save "A friend.
When the fire was raging. Erasmus
Ross. a guest OF the hotel, appeared al
one of the upper windows. There was no
noesible exit from the house by the stait-
way He was member OF the order
OF Knights OF Pythias. Realizing his
periIous position. ne gave the distress SIX
nal. OF all the vast assemblase sur,
rounding the burning stru>ture, Samuel
Holder Hines, member Of the order,
recognized the signs. and with strong
devotion 10 the principles OF the order,
he broke through the line Of officers sur
rounding the place and entered the build
ing. a.. x..
entered the house there was a fall OF
burning timbers which caught him and
bore him down TO death. He was never
seen after entering the building. Mr..
Ross. the brother whom Mr.. Hines at
tempted to rescue, was also burned 10
death.
The pythians were not slow TO reccg-
nize the act of heroism displayed by their
brother, and soine years ago move
Was mt on foot by the Grand Lodge Of
yirstnia 10 erect in the city OF Richmond
a monument In tue shape OF castle
hall 10 be known rs the Hines Memorial