ANNUAL REGISTER, 1812. 



be worse, and the biig striking 

 so repeatedly, we cut the cable 

 and ran for tlie port in view : when 

 we approached the lugger, which 

 was by this time anchored, she 

 sent a pilot to us, who took us 

 into the Texel, where we surren- 

 dered to the Dutch squadron, 

 under the command of admiral 

 de Winter, who, I must in justice 

 say, has behaved to us in the most 

 humane and attentive manner. 

 They also used every means in their 

 power to save the crew of the un- 

 fortunate Hero; but the badness 

 of the weather rendered it totally 

 impossible. I now must conclude 

 my narrative with the most heart- 

 felt regret, at having to announce 

 to the public and the friends of 

 the poor sufferers, their severe 

 loss. 



P. S. We lost but one man, Mr. 

 King, the pilot, who was killed 

 by a capstern bar, which flew out 

 as we were heaving in cable to put 

 service in the hawse. 



America. — Richmond, Dec. 27. 

 —Last night the play house in this 

 city was crowded with an unusual 

 audience : there could not have 

 been less'than six hundred persons 

 in the house. Just before the con- 

 clusion of the pl.iy, the scenery 

 caught fire, and in a few minutes 

 the whole building was wrapt in 

 flames. It is already ascertained 

 that sixty-one persons were de- 

 voured by that terrific element. 

 We are informed that the scenery 

 took fire in the back part of the 

 house, by the raising of a chande- 

 lier ; — that the boy, who was 

 ordered by one of the players to 

 raise it, stated, that if he did so, 

 the scenery would take fire, when 

 he was commanded in a peremp- 

 tory manner to hoist it. The boy 



obeyed, and the fire was instantly 

 communicated to the scenery. He 

 gave the alarm in the rear of the 

 stage, and requested some of the 

 attendants to cut the cords by 

 which the combustible materials 

 were suspended. The person 

 whose duty it was to perform this 

 business became panic struck, and 

 sought his own safety. This un- 

 fortunately happened at a time 

 when one of the performers was 

 playing near tbe orchestra, and 

 the greatest part of the stage was 

 obscured from the audience by a 

 curtain. The fire falling from the 

 scenery upon the performer, was 

 the first notice which the people 

 had of their danger. Even then 

 many supposed it to be a part of 

 the play, and were, for a little 

 time, restrained from flight by a 

 cry feom the stage that there was 

 no danger. 



There was but one door for the 

 greatest part of the audience to 

 pass. Men, women, and children 

 were pressing upon each other, 

 while the flames were seizing upon 

 those behind ; who, urged by the 

 flames, pushed those out who were 

 nearest the windows ; and people 

 of every description began to fall, 

 one upon another, some with their 

 clothes on fire, some half roasted. 



All of those who were in the 

 pit escaped, and had cleared them- 

 selves from the house before those 

 who were in the boxes could get 

 down, and the door was for some 

 time empty. Those from above 

 were pushing each other down the 

 steps, when the hindermost might 

 have got out by leaping into the 

 pit. In addition to the list now 

 given, it is believed that at least 

 60 others j^erished, whose names 

 are not yet ascertained, 



[Here 



