The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-08-17

| "a VIZ y Adie3 was Ocut Ol uUt ylcIufuS
that conquest even TO the confagration,
when all at once the shout of the
kremlin is on fire % passed from mouth
to mouth. and reused us from the con-
temPlative stupor with which we lad
been seized. The emperor went out
to reconnoi.re the danger. Twice had
the fire communicated TO the building
10 which he was, and twice had il been
ex;lnguished but the tower of the ar
senal was still burning. A soldier of the
police had been found in it. He was
brought, and Napoleon caused him TO be
Interrogated in his presence. This man
was the ihcendiary; he had executed
his commission at the signal given by
bis chief. IL was evident that every
thing was devoted 10 destruction, the
ancient and sacred Kremlin itself not
excepted.
The gestures of the Emperor betok-
ened disdain and vexation; the wretch
was hurried INTO the first court, where
The enraged grenadiers dispatched him
with their bayonets.
This incident decided Napoleon.
He hastily descended the northern stair
case, famous for the massacre of the
StrelItzes, and desired 10 be guided out
of the city, TO The distance of a league
on the road from the city to Peters
burgh, toward the imperial palace of
Petrowsky.
But we were encircled by a sea of fire,
which blocked up all the gates of the
citadel, and frustrated the first attempts
that were made TO depart. After some
search we discovered pestern gate
leading between the rocks TO the Mosk-
wa. 1t was by this narrow passage that
Napoleon, his officers and guard escap-
ed from the Kremlin. But what had
they gained by this movement? They
had approached nearer TO the fire, and
could neither retreat nor remain where
they were; and how were they to ad-
vance? how force passage through
the waves of this ocean of flame Those
who had traversed the city, stunned by
the tempest, and blinded by the ashes,
could not find their way, since the streets
themselves were no longer distinguish
able amidst smoke and ruins.
There was no time TO be lost. The
roaring of the flames around US became
every moment more violent. A single
narrow winding street, all on fire, APP
peared 10 be rather the entrance than
the outlet to this hell. The Emperor
rushed on foot and without hesitation in
to this narrow passage. He advanced
amid the cracking of the flames, the
crash of floors, and the fall of burning
timbers, and of the red-hot iron roofs
which tumbled around him. These ru-
| ms impeded his progress. The flames
which, with impetuous roar, consumed
the edifices between which we were
proceeding, spreading beyond the walls,
were blown about by the wind, and for
med an arch over our heads. We walk
ed on a ground of fire, beneath fiery
sky, and between two walls of fire. The
intense heat burnt our eyes, which we
were nevertheless obliged TO keep open
! and fixed on the danger. A consuming
atmosphere, glowing ashes, detached
flames, parched our threats, and render
ed our respiration short and dry and
we were already almost suffocated by
the smoke. Our hands were burnt, Ell
Their in endeavouring TO protect our
faces from the insu1portable heat, or in
brushing off the sparks which every mo-
ment covered and penetrated our gar
ments.
In this inexpressible distress, and
when rapid advance seemed to be our
only mean of safety, our guide stopped
in uncertainty and agitation. Here
would probably have terminated out
adventurous career, bad not some pilla-
gers of the first corps recognized the
Emperor amidst the whirling flames
they ran up and guided him towards the
smoking ruins of a quarter which had
been reduced TO ashes in the morning.
1t was then that we met The Prince OF
Eckmuhl. This marshal, who had been
wounded at the Moskwa, had desired to
be carried back among the flames to res
cue Napoleon, or to perish with him,
He threw himself into his arms with
transport; the Emperor received him
kindly, but with that composure which
in danger he never lost for moment
To escape from this vast region oil
calamities, it was further necessary to
pass long convoy of powder, which
was defiling amidst the fire. This was
not the least Of his dangers, but it wa;
the last, and by nightiall he arrived al
Petrowsky.
Next morning, the 18th Of Septem.
Der, Napoleon cast his first looks at Mos
COW, hoping to see that The con1agratio1
had subsidized. He beheld it again rag
ing with the utmost violence THE
whole city appeared like a vast spout o.
fire rising in whirling eddies to the sky
which it deeply coloured. Absorbed by