Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-05-20
TUESDAY; slZay 20, 1928.

again. The distant sound Of the city in her con-
vulslon went to the soul. The air was filled with
the steady Of the advancing fame, the crash of
falling houses, and the hideous cutlery Of the myrads
flying through the streets, surrOundeded and per-
ishing in the cOnhagratioe,
All clamor, violent struggle. and pless DEATH
Men and women OF the highest rank were on foot,
tramped by the rabble that had then lost all respect
OF conditions. One dense mass OF miserable life,
irresistible from its weight, crushed by the narrow
Streets and scorched by the flames their heads
rolled through the gates like an endless stream OF
black lava.
:. The fire hac originally broken out upon the
Palatne, and hot smokes that wrapped and hall
blinded US, hung thick as night upon the wrecks of
pavillons and palaces but the dexterity and know
ledge of my inexplicab,e guide carried US on. 1t
in vain that insisted upon knowing the purpose
of this terrible traverse. He pressed his hand on
his heart IN assurance of his fidelity, and stilled
spurred on. We now passed under the shade of
an immense range of lofty buildings, whose gloomy
and solid strength seemed to bid defiance to-
chance and time. A sudden yell appalled, me.
ring Of fire swept round its summit burning cor
dage, sheets of canvass and shower OF all things
combustibe, flew into the air above our heads. An
uproar followed, unlike all that had ever heard,
hldeous mixture Of bowls, shreks and groans. The
flames rolled down the narrow streets before US
and made the passage next to impossible. While
we hesitated, huge fragment Of the building heav-
ed, as if i'll an earthquake, and fortunately for US
fell inwards. The whole scene of terror was then
open. The great stage, with its intanabe furn-
ture, was intensely blazing below. The flames were
wheeling up, circle above circle, through the seven
ty thousand seats that from the ground to the
roof stood in unspeakable awe and wonder on
the side of this colossal cavern this mighty temple
of the city Of fire. At length descending blast
cleared away the smoke that covered the arena.
The cause of those horrid cries was now visible. The
wild beasts kept for the games had broken from their
dens. Maddened by affiigh and pain, lions, tigers
painters, wolves whole herds of the monsters Of In
dia and Africa were enclosed in impossible bar
screamed, they tore they ran bowling round and
wards through the blaze they were flung back, ant
fell only to fasten their fangs in each other and
y with their parchng jaws bathed in blood, die rag
= ing. | looked anxiously to whether any human
l. being WAS involved in this fearful catastrophe. II
: my great relief, could The keepers ant
}. attendants had obviously escaped. AS expressed
my gladness, | was startled by loud cry from m.
guide, the first sound that heard him utter. Ill
pointed to the opposite side Of the amphitheatre
There indeed sat an object of melancholy interest
y man who mad either been unable to escape, or ha
IS determined to die. Escape was now impossible
He sat in desperate calmness on his funeral pile
Or He was a gigantic Ethiopian slave, entirely naked
c. He had chosen his place as if in mockery, on tn
IN imperial throne the fire was above HIM and aroun
er him and under the tremendous canopy he gaZet
ID without the movement of muscle, on the combi
re of the wild beasts below; solitary sovereign, wit
Ill the whole tremendous game played for himself, an
inaccessible to the power Of man."