Year: 1871

Prof Maillefert. theengineer having incharge
the removal Of the Instructions in the James
river. boarded at the Spotswool Hotel On The
day after the fire. in the following letter to his
wife in Brooklyn he gave graphic account OF
the terrible scenes, all the more interesting from
the fact that it was not intended publication:


RICHMOND. VA, Dec. %, 1870:


DEAR W1FE-I tclcgraphed to you to-day
for fear you might see i'll the payers an eXagge-
rated account of the sad calamltlcs we met
with at the Spotswood House-now no more
and it has pleased the Almighty to spare me
once more most dreadful death. could
write a whole book of what passed through
this awful Christmas night; but | feel so
prostrated that [ will, as briefly as possible,
relate what took place Last night Saturday,
| went to bed at 10 o'clock, slept until about
- when I woke up by hearing two
men rushing down stairs very fast; then
/ smelt the smoke of burning wood got up,
locked into the hall and found it full Of smoke.
Then | knew the hotel to be on fire. Without
losing either my presence OF mind or minute
of time, Islipped on my pants, my big coat, my
mother pocket handkerchief, which she gave
me when | left put it round my neck. then
spread sheet Oh the carpet and took up all |
could find loose and most valuable. and all IN





the hallway. by this time full OF smoke, so
that had to drag myselfon AL iours to avoid
breathing the heated smoke dragging the
hurdle after me, and thus after going about
$50 yards got TO the top of the stairs: down
them and into the street BY that time all
were astir, men and women eli dlsllabllle. so
left my bundle on the sidewalk and went back
to my room at the turthest end Of the second
floor, got my leather trunk, opened it and piled
up my boots, papers. books &c. and this time
the smoke was nearly gone but in its place
were found flames licking with their torked
tongues through the windows, which were
cracking in every direction. lranthis time and
saved my trunk, but found my bundle gone
left my trunk there at the same place and Ian
back up stairs, which, by this time were all in
flames, but perseyerlng, got in my room, took
my black trunk with my big pipe and cane, put
INV old gray coat on my head to save it from
burning, and succeeded in saving that, but to
find my leather trunk and bundle gone. Lost
my pipe in the passage but could not pick 1t up
tormy life, my cane, too went--wel, left my trunk
at the same place and went back once more to the
head of the stairs where had seen Il lady and
gentleman trying to get out of their room found
the room bclching flames; went to the next,
burst the door, found two men asleep, tried to
wake them up, found they were both drunk !;
reused one of them who began to curse Inc for
disturbing him got him up by force he fought
hard, scratched me all over but got the best Of
him dragged him to the head Of the stairs and
bundled him head foremost in the arms of some
darkeys who happened to be there; went back
to ret the other man. but too late, that room
was belching flames. which drove me away.
When reached the head ofthc narrow, crook
ed stairs; wrapped up with my coat | had to
Jump down through the blaze got my whiskers,
noustache and head burnt, but got through
safely to find my coat on fire; flung 1t away.
and was once more breathing that pure atmos-
phere which We wicked people do notapprcclate
at its real value except in such Il dreadful cner-
gency Finding could be Of no mortal help
to any poor wretch, | went in search Of my
things, no small task among such mas, ol,
trunks, clothing bedding. furniture. Ne. but
to say, [ found the three lots in different places
put them for safe Keeping in different houses,
and stopped there to see the demon OF dcstruc-
ton do its best. The wind was intensely cold.
I was running with perspiration all around;
this was the reason | stopped so near TO dry my
clothes and my skin Well to cut the matter
short, that poor woman, the housckccpcr, was
lost together with five gentlemen certain, but
doubtless there are more as it was sudden and
so many had indulged Christmas according to
their taste with whisky. At daylight [ went
to the Ballard House, went to bed and was just
going to sleep when who should burst into my
room but Joe, Henry and Brown. They had
heard that all were lost at the SpotSwoOd and
they went in search ofmc. Poor fellows, they
were so glad to find me alive that they cried
like babies and think did ihc same. but
could not pitt is 50 good to feel that one
might be regretted for his worth ! did not
hang my stockings up last night, yet the great
Giver of all gave me the greatest gift man can
desirc-ny life-which [ hope to devote, rs I
have always tried to do, to Christian duties
After my men left, Il carriage came with Com
mandcr Minor, who had heard | was one of the
sufferers. to take me to his house and take care
ofme Many other anxious friends came = 4


Yours as ever. B. MAILLEFERT


FRANKIlNS LEGACY TO PHILADELPHIA