Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-16

1
nv nrotector. but the next moment a
hand selzed me and dragged me forciblJ
out through the blocked doorway INTO tn'
oror air Here there was another frantic
ga surying crowd--people looking foi
their friends and relatives and shriekine
| their names. Up to this moment had
not lost my presence Of mind. but with
every nerve and sense strained mad
fought for my life. But the moment
found myself safe this unnatural strength
suddenly failed me, and / remembered no
more until found myself lying on the
ground with mother and Bessie beside
me. we were crushed. bruised. and bleed
ing even. but safe-thank God-safe!
What a fearful scene was that on
which we gazed The whole Theatre was
on fire, the flames rising in huge pyra-
mid from the roof and beginning TO burst
out 1T the. windows. We could see the
| forms or burning men and women crowd
| ing al the windows. tossing their arms,
struggling and shreIing-and oh, such
shrieks, Some, afraid 20 leap out were
keeping back the rest, who were already
on fire At one window stood a tall and
| powerfully man, who was seiZing
the frantic women and forcing them out
| Of the window. dropping them down 10
| the people below. At another window a
| negro man. mounted on a ladder. was as
sistiDg down all who had sufficient pres
ence OF mind left to venture. He was a
slave named Gilbert, and was risking mis-
| life In the hope OF saving his master.
| These two heroic men-Dr. James McCaw
! and Gilbert-never left their posts until
| the flames were actually upon them,
| when DR.. McCaw leaped to the ground,
| breaking his thigh in the fall, and was
dragged out of reach of the flames.
Maapuhffa outside the burning hlfld-
ing frenzied crowd was collected.
shrieking the names Of parents, wives,
and children, some OF whom could be
recognized writing in the flames. Oh,
it was too horrible for memory 10 dwell
upon.
It was in the midst Of this that / was
suddenly clasped in my fathers arms,
and saw his white head bending over me
with eyes streaming with tears.
Thank God; oh. thank God!' he re-
peated over and over again, as he held
US all three olasped together in his arms.
And then, looking about him, he IN
quired: where is James,
Safe" my mother answered, amid her
sobs. He left before the fire broke
out"
And saly?"
"she must be safe also. Colonel Hamil-
ton and his friend were with her. They
must have saved her"
All around US were laid the bodies of
those rescued from the hames-some
already dead, some dying. and others
writhing in agony; some had swooned or
were suffocated. and we heard a voice
cry aloud: "Will nobody help? He will
die for want of bleeding"
Then my mother aroused herself She
remembered that her maid had fastened
her dress with a large darning-needle. as
being safer than pin, and this she now
produced. going from one 10 another OF
the sufferers, pricklng a vein, and letting
the blood flow. while other ladies assist |
ed l remember especially a lovely old |
lady. Mrs Rose, who tore 10 pieces all |
her clothing for bandages, and prayed |
with and comforted the wretched people |
There were not physicians enough on the |
ground 70 attend all those in need OF their |
My father, mean time, had gone in |
search Of James. In an hour he returned. |
and with a white, set face said quietly: /
The carriage is waiting at the corner.
II will be best for you all TO get home as
quickly as possible
Ny mother inquired if he had seen
James.
Not vet" he answered. "Mr. Broken
brough saw him in the crowd outside after
the alarm was given"
That was all he said-my poor, brave
father, whose heart was breaking. It was
not until next day that we were allowed
10 know the terrible truth.
LOVERS IN DEATHS EMBRACE.
James had remained at home with my
father and some friends. who had drop
ped in; but appeared restless and uneasy,
and after awhile stole quietly out and
srf ff. g ta
rs | have described, it seems he walked
awhile on the Capitol Square. not far of
until he heard the alarm of fire. Next ne
lad been recognized by many persons |
lighting his way like a mailman through !
he crowd surrounding the burning build |
ng Some had tried TO keep him back, |
rat he flung them off and forced his way
o the DOOR Inside he was again recog-
lied, and it seems that he must have
nade his way to the pit, and thence sail
'r-like climbed one Of the pillars 10 the
gallery floor where he found her OF
whom he was in search.
What followed IS known only 20 God,
or none who witnessed IL lived 10 tell. :
But when on the following day the ruins 4
we're searched, among the slXty-nine who
erished in that fearful conhagratiOn were
0und two cnarred bodies locked IN each ?
theirs arms. only by the navy buttons L
nd the gold-and-jet beads were they re-
ognized--the beads which my own hands 2
ad clasped on the fair neck Of my \
rother's betrothed bride, unknowlng
hat couple of hours would bring forth. =,
The old lady wiped away the mist from ~
er dimmed eyes. and We sat in silence, Il
)r l was too much affected 10 speak
fter awhile she resumed: "
what terrible gloom for months after b.
rooded over our former gay city. and
ldeed over the whole Statei Scarcely Il
family ia Richmond but was mourning >.
friend on relative lost Some OF those
HON / have mentioned persisted I'm the
re. Mrs. GdllegO and Miss Louisa Mayo. a
no accompanied us to the play that I II
light, never returned. Governor Smith | d
erished, and our dear friend. Mr.. Ven
BILE. Colonel Bo,ts his wife, and one C.
iece; Mrs Girardin and her lovely chill n
-en, Mrs and Miss Nelson, and the young m
rl Miss Gatewood whose bright face
ad attracted us-all were lost Abel |
pshur who had been OF our party, es- VI
lped to meet mis- death afterward on re
Jard the Princeton and Tom Marshall. -
be killed by the falling Of a brick
ON a chimney as he was on his way II
the death-bed Of his father. His te
,usin, Mr.. Marshall, OF Wythe. leaped NJ
ON window and had his neck broken
the fall Most OF the remains were az
elected and buried with most impress %,
We ceremonies I'm the open Vestibuie of IA
4 Episcopal church, which was erected &c
4 the site OF the theatre, and which,
cOmmemoratlon of the tragedy. was
.lled the Monumental church. On the CT
.destal supporting the marble urn you III
IN still read the names Of those whose &C