Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-04-27

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her in my possession, every nerve was
strained 70 bring her 10 the street in
safety. The room in which found
myself was black with smoke, and
through the door ! could zee the led
flames writhing, and running along like
tenthousan.: fiery serpents- IPaosed
here but a moment, and then rushed
with my precious burthen into the
midst Of what seemed inevitable des-
truction. gained the state case, aud
as l set my foot upon it, the whole
gave way with a laundering crash,
precipitating me, still elinging with
Acknowledgements to my lifeless charge,
down upon the second story, where
1 fell upon a pile Of smoalderiI,g
furniture. Recovering myself in .
moment, I rushed to the window, cal
led for assistance, and was immediate
ly by the aid Of ladders, rescued from
what seemed certain ruin. My dear
Caroline gave one or two heavy signs
as we cleared the sufiocating vapours,
and IN half an hour was restored to
consciousness. Her family were all
safe.
None will forget that awful night
who witnessed it. Proud mansions
and humble tenements alike fell before
the fury Of the devouring element.
Scarcely half an hour from the time
Of the breaking out Of the fire had e.
lapsed, when il was seen rushing with
fearful rapidity, north east and west.
and the feeble efforts Of the engines
made no impression upon the solid mass
of flame which was growing every mo
ment more appalling. The dwelling
Of my father escaped not the general
confiagration; and my eye rested upon
house after house falling into ruin,
with the sure knowledge that ! was
growingPoorerevcry moment. There
was one sight which l shall never for
get, were 1 to live a thousand years /;
and it fell upon my heart with blight
that thousand years Of the sunshine
Of prosperity will not heal When ]
saw that my hearts Idol Yves safe, !
FASTENED to the warehouse Of my faith
er, which, from its vicinity to the spot
where the fire commenced, ] felt al
most sure was in danger Of being con-
sumed, with goods to a very large "a
mount, upon which was no insurance.
1 soon arrived at the spot, and found
that it was developed in sure distruc-
ton. Many persons were engaged in
property from the first and
second stories in the latter Of which ]
observed that my father was busy a.
moDgst about ten others. The roof
had already fallen in, aad the third
floor was fast giving away, as l could
see the fakes Of fire, dropping
through upon the heads Of those below.
The crowd were crying loudly fnr
those in the building to hasten away
before it was too late, but from some
lause, probably the enthusiasm inspir-
ed by the situation, they fingered too
long! would fain draw veil over the
beart-rending scene which followed;
but my story would be imperfect. My
father had just disappeared from the
window, and was watching with pain
Iul anxiety his return, when part of
he third floor fell in. i sprang as
.hough had been wounded with ball,
md II l had not been restrained should
rave rushed into the building with the
rain hope Of rescuing him. Oh how
ny heart leaped with thankfulness
when saw him again at the window,
:alling for those below to relieve him.
4 ladder was just raised when a whole
'olume of flame rushed through the
and as saw his body wither-
d up like a leaf in the fire, and fall
into the glowing wilderness,
sunk senscless on the ground.
When ! recovered, which was many
,ours afterwards, ! found that ] had
,een removed to a distance from the
Gene Of condagratloD, and was lyingl
m a bed, attended by a respectable
ooking woman. j was bewildered for
moment: but a sense Of all the wretch
,dness Of my situation rushed upon my
mind with a vividness, which for a
again drowned all sense and
ceiling. l soon recovered, and IT.
eoPted to rise, but found myself
mech exhausted, that ] fell hack upon!'
he bed, while my attendant urged me
n the kindest manner to be quiet, as