The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-03
SORROWFUL NEW YEAR
WAS THAT OF 1872
Washington Was Discuss
inc Richmond Disaster.
THEATER HAD BEEN BURNED
And With 1t Seventy seven Persons
Among Whom Was the Governor
of Virginia.

of Virginia.
On New Year Day. 1872, Washington. \
which then consisted of a score or
more groups of large buildings. at in
tervals from Greenleafs Point to ,
Georgetown. was discussing the terrible |
incident Of the burning of the theater
in Richmond Va, on the day after
Christmas. by which the governor of
the State and many of the leading Of
ficers lost their lives
on the night OF December 20 the
Richmond theater, which stood where
the Monumental Church now stands,
was the scene of n play called The
Bleeding Nun" At the conclusion of
the play a pantomime was exhibited,
in which light and fire played a con-
-spicuous part While the crowded audi
tory was gazing on the mimic scene,
sparks began to fall. They were sup
posed to be part of the play but a
second later out came Mr.. Robinson. and
waving his hand toward the ceiling of
the stage. cried: The theater is on
FIRE"
Describes the Scene.
A letter written to Washington. dated
Richmond. December 30. 1911, thus de-
scribes the scene:
Flames few with rapidity almost be-
yond example Within ten minutes after
i: caught the whole house was wrapped
in flames, but the scene which ensued
# is impossible to paint Women with
disheveled hair, fathers and mothers
shrieking out for their children, hus-
bands for their wives, brothers for their
sisters. filled the whole area on the out
side OF the building. A few who had
escaped plunged again into the flames
TO save some dear object Of their re-
garland persisted.
Governor Among Dead.
THE governor shared in the melan-
choly fate Others were frantic and
would have rushed TO destruction but
for the hand of a friend. The bells
tolled. almost the whole town dashed
TO the fatal spot. Flames caught the
scenery from some light behind. The
theater is consumed. as was the dwelling
house next TO *. But what is wealth
in comparison TO the valuable lives
that have gone forever. The whole
town is shrouded in woe; heads of
families lost forever; many and many
is the house in which chasm has been
made. never to be filled The list of
dead. headed by George Smith, COVER
nor, sums up seventy-seven. among
whom were half a dozen negroes"
Washington, as well as Richmond.
mourned. and the whole country enter
ed the New Year with sorrow
In an old volume in the Treasury De-
partment library are preserved accounts
of the fire, taken from the Richmond
Enquirer of that day. 1t appears the
whole State was stirred up by the hor-
ror. and the city council was so aroused
that il decreed that for four months
thereafter no show Of any kind should
be held in Richmond
The descriptions OF the fire. written IN
the fiorid language of the time remind
one greatly Of the scenes in the Chicago
disaster. The crowd was evidently
panic-stricken. and in their madness
many were dashed under foot Under
the head of Overwhelming Calamity, "
a writer for the Enquirer. the day af-
ter the fire. presents some interesting
pictures of the event. He says:
In the whole course Of our existence
We have never taken our pen under q
IL
ment. 1t falls TO our lot 70 record one
of the most distressing scenes which car
happen in the whole circle OF human af
fairs. The reader must excuse the n.
conference OF the narrative; there /.
scarcely a dry eye in this distracted
city Weep. my fellOw-citizens. for W,
have seen a night OF woe which scare,
any eye hath seen or ear hath heard
and no tongue can adequately tell,
Let Us collect our ideas as well as W.
can. on Thursday night a new play ant
a new afterpiece were played for th'
benefit OF Mr. Placide Crowds swarm
ed To the theater. IL was the fuiles
house Of the season. There We're no
less than COO present The play went of
the pantomime began. the first act wa.
over The whole scene was before us
and all around US was mirth and fes
tivity. Oh. God, what a horrible revul-
sion did one minute produce. The cur
tain arose on the second act or Jh'
pantommc; the orchestra was In ful
chorus. ana Mr.. West came on 10 opeI
the scene, when sparks OF fire began Il
fall on the back part Of the stage. Mr.
Robinson came out in unutterable lis
tress. waved his hand 70 the ceiling
and uttered these appalling words: TIL,
house is on fire. His hand was imme
diately stretched forth TO the person,
I'm the stage box to help them on tn,
stage and aid their retreat in that direc
ton. This is all that we caught OF IN,
Stage The cry Of fire fire., passed
with electric velocity through the house
everyone flew from their seats 10 gair
the Hobbies and stairs.
''The scene battles all description. tn,
most heart-piercing cries pervaded tn,
house. Save me- Save me- Wive,
were asking for their husbands female.
and children shrieking where the gath
erlng element came rolling on with curl
ing flames. and columns OF smoke
threatening 10 devour every human be
ing IN the building. Many were trOC
under foot: several were thrown bacl
Ia. hin l..rr- A.