Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21
A CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY.


which almost every DAD Virginia family
.fta3as 10 this day some traction or me-
.upral When tho news of the disastc.
reached Washington, December S0th, bot,
..e1scS OF Congress passed u resolution,
10 wear 4 badge Of mourning FOR thirty
days probably the only instance on re-
cord al such action on such an occa-
sion, by the legislative branch OF the
Federal Government
the capital OF the Old Dominion was
celebrating the Christmas season in 1911
with the usual festivities OF ballroom.
xua playhouse. But an especial interest
was fo,t in the play running at the thea
.rvc-ths one theatre Of the town. AND
.a.s was the last week of the company S
appearance. and Thursday the benefit
atpat OF one OF the prominent actors.
no play. The Father, or Family
Fguds had been TRANSLATED from the
French % p!derot by one OF Richmond 8
most accomplished scholars Louis II.
llrardia French political refugee. his
toniau OF Virginia, and principal OF the
iamoiGs Richmond Academy.
The play passed OFT to the entire salts
faction Of the audience wrote one VINO
Has present. and the afterpiece had pro-
dressed 10 the second acI Mr. vpsy
whose comic powers have long amused
ais people Of Richmond. was on the
stage: general glee and hiiarity had
1.r0wu The house into wild ecstacy. In =,
minute the scene is changed; Robertson
bassts on the stage and IN q horrible
voice announces fire.
"lae sad sequel / viii not attempt TO
desaE4be. its misery can feel but never
can portray. Suffice therefore to say that
T;ld despair and Precipitatc alarm APP
parerily tlanstixed hundreds to The floor.
Salna thus situated met furious death
Unconscious OF his approach: others were
horne lifeiess ard hurled lifelesS from
me windows. Two minutes had not
eiapsod ere the theatre was filled with
smoke and flames the candles eXtir-
Fgshed and one fourth Of the persons
who had gone 10 the play were on fire
Tie house WAS crowded that DecempcS
uf2ht with the fashion, the beauty, the
talents q . the town. I'm the distinguished
auGiaGcc might have been found all than
was eminent in the official and social
lie If T2icburJnd. besides visitors from,
other parts OF the State. statesmen, schor-
airs ard brilliant women. And amongst
hosa who lost their lives on that fatal
night were the wife, daughter, aud
7sanlGeT OF the pupils OF Monsieur GiTar-
din tho translator OF the play. The hero
inc 81 the afteTpioce The Bleeding
Nun" was the beautiful Mrs. Green. and
q touching account is given OF her dis
sTsSs. when ON escaping through i Goor
G@hiud the scenes. she discovered THAI
her only daughter. a young girl. who vas
with some friends in ono OF the boxes,
could not he found
III her stage attire the mother rar
CIstraCtedly from house to house seek
auE her child. Cliaging 10 the hope THAI
Hh might have been rescued and calrieu
home 10y some OF ller acquaintances. Two
actors who Were in this company
Virginia Comedians We're the parents
" Tire great poet, Edgar Allen Poe
These were David Poe and the fascinat-
ing Elizabeth Arnold, whom he had mar
Iicd six months after the death of her
Mrst husband. They both died in Rich
laund. very nearly at the same tlm-.
about two weeks bafore the night of The
fire.
The Governor OF Virginia, George Will
liam Smith, the president Of the Bank Of
Virginia; Abraham Il. Ncnahle, Benjamin
F3otts. one OF The eminent counsel engaged
IN tha trial in Richmond Of AARON Burr.
in 1897. were among those who lost their
lives 1t this time,
With Mr. Bolts perished his wife and
Others OF his family. lie WAS last seen
standing near them, calmly consigning TO
a friend the care Of an infant child that
had been left at home. Mr.. Nenable. it
vas said, had escaped more than once.
hut in his repeated efforts to save others
was al length lost himself. Governor
Smith had with him his wife and son, the
= -, ,-,,.-,.-,n, la I,fs
,,i,,l,, .r,,7 ~, ~.
- to,. ~ so,, w., h, rsaci',7 tha
IEr,i,,. Nv via, ,,f. cI,;Id his vic vas
49,, tI.,c 1,,.f,7t, 1,.a,, ir77na1la5 On
,,.s,,5 IA. ne rrn,-,i 3ratr,st nor will. Her
husband. after putting his. son in . place
80. H.. ,,,I.-,,+f,,,a l,,,.i,,,r reached a
Z,t,,,,1,s z,,rt Vas ,rolIsn oI5en iun3nsj
crrr 5fs.gnl.. ~ fiftner or twenfv feet.
osr5,in.- win no serfn1Js injury. But the
devoted husband unknoyving Of he, res
-ra MAJ his o,,.r death in the generous al
,s,n,3f IN mud her. some Of the agony and
tho pain Of This loog-past tragedy seems
10 .jfroer vst i, inc old yellow manuscripts
~ ,5aI,ia ,f,a etr,,,- ono NJ t},ess is .
istrs- -,-,,it,s, ~, Rol,er,t C;rnanboD .
I5.5l,,o,,il r,.,,.-l,.,,,t "a - f,ie,,J in the
- r. - 6afsll Tral,r,,,1, 7S1. and
49, 49, ,,i,,,,,a at NJ S,raa,,hoyy,s
l5,rc-,,s ~ 40 bic viz ,r,7 ehil1 and az
mic ,.+,5ii,ll, ,r,ia, al ma loss of his
,irc-co,,,,,a,,jo,, IA. writes: 20 Yes.