Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1859 — Resublican Meeting Burnt Out. [ARTICLE]

Resublican Meeting Burnt Out.

We stop the press to announce that while Mr. Colfax was speaking, near the close ot his remarks, the theater was discovered to ] he on fire.underneath the stage on which he was speaking, apparently in the extreme back part of -the building. The alarm was given at once, and Mr. Colfax immediately closed his masterly speech. The audience retired in good order, however, and in a moment the building was cleared. It was fortunate, too, for barely had the last person crossed the thrshold ere the angry flames, impelled by the wind, which was blowing briskly at the time, filled the whole building, and in a few moments only it was erftirely destroyed. The building was a light “balloon frame,” with canvass top, and the flames licked it up like shavings. r > The fire department was on the ground as soon as possible, and directed their efforts to saving the adjoining frame buildings. The old Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company Truck House, belonging to R. C. Knox, was destroyed, but the next frame carpenter and paint shop was saved. she Theater was built in 1857, and was the property of V. Guerin, Esq. Value probably $1,500. Several hundred dollars’ worth of scenery belonging to Ex-Manager Van Lievv was also destroyed. R. C. Knox’s loss is about .SSOO. The fire was the work of an incendiary, as all who saw it first agree. When first seen a bucket of water would have qunched it. It was kindled in the unfrequented recess under the stage. We cheerfully acquit the Democracy as a party of this vile act. But is it not deplorable that any party should be disgraced by such fiends in human shape, as these partisan incendarios unquestionably are? That lives were not lost is a wonder—and most assurddly there would have been such loss had the fire occurred in the middle ot the meeting, when the greatest crowd was present. £ When the alarm was first given, the fact of there being a fire at all was disputed by some of the audience, and only a portion, therefore, immediately left; so that there was no impetuous rush out to trample the weaker under foot. As it was all got out safely, but not a moment too soon. The Republicans of St. Paul having had their principal place of meeting thus burnt, must now resort to the open air—hut there is one satisfaction —they can still fill the house.! So our democratic friends will make nothing by this action of some of their “fellows of the baser sort.” —Daily IMinnesolian.