Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-06-03


gene, and Beuhor rushed into his pro.
sence, aud on their knees besought him
to flee; but he still chung to that naughty
palace, as if it were has empire.
But at length the shout "tte krcmlia
is on fire" was heard above the roar Of
the connagration, and Napoleon reluctant
ly consented 10 leave. He descended in
to the streets with his staff, and looked
about for way Of passage, but the flames
blocked every passage. A length they
discovered a postorn gate, leading 10 the
Moskwa, and entered il, but they had only
entered still farther into the danger. As
Napoleon cast his eye around the open
space, girdlod and archod with fire, smoke
and cindors, he saw one single street yet
open, but all on fire. Into this he rushed,
and amid the crash Of falling houses, aud
raging OF tho ilames-over burning ruins,
through clouds Of rolling smoke and be-
tween walls of fire, he pressed on and at
length, half sndocated, emerged in safety
from the blazing city, and took up his
quarters in the imperial palace of Pc
trow5ky, nearly three miles distant Nor.
tier, relieved from his anxiety for the En-
peror redoubIod his efforts 10 arrest the
conlhgratIon. His men cheerlIlly rush.
ed into every danger. Breathing nothing
but smoke and cinders-surrOund by
walls Of fire that rocked 10 and fro and
fell with a crash amid the blazing ruins,
carrying down with them red hot roofs Of
iron; he struggled against an enemy that
no boIdncss could awe, or courage over.
come. Those brave troops had heard the
tramp Of thousands Of cavalry sweeping
to battle without fear; but now they stood
in still terror before the march of the con.
| Migration, under whose burning footsteps
was hoard the iucessant crash Of falling
houses, and palaces, and churches. The
continuous r00r Of the raging hurricane,
mingled with that Of the flames, was more
terrible than the thunder Of artillery; and
before this new foe, in the midst Of this
battle Of the elements, the awe-struck ar
my stood powoross and allrighted.
When night again descended on the ci-
| tY 1t presented u spectacle the like Of
which was never seen before, aud which
battles all description. The streets we're
streets Of fre-tho heavens canopy Of
fire, and the entire body of the city
mass Of fire, fed by hurricane that whirl-
ed the blazing fragments in constant
stream throughout the air, lncessaut OK
plosions from the blowing mp Of stores Of
oil, and tar and spirits, shook the very
] II1uUIatt "A ia, nd
Tunes Of smoke rolling furiou.ly towards
the sky. Huge sheets of canvass on fire
came floating like messengers Of death
through the fllmes-the towers and dOmes
OF the churches and palaces gIowod with
red-hot heat over the wild sea below, then
lettering a moment on their basis, were
hurled by the tempest into the common
rum. Thousands OF wretches before un.
seen, were driven by The heat from the
cellars and novels, and streamed in an in.
cossant throng through the streets. Chill
dren were seen arrying their parents
the strong the weak; while thousands
mole were staggering under the loads OF
plumber they had snalched from the flames.
This, too, would frequently take fire in the
falling shower, aud the miserable creatures
would DO compelled TO drop it, and fee
for their lives. Oh, it was a scene Of woe
and fear indescibable! A mighty and
close packed city Of houses, and churches
and palaces, wrapped from limit to limit in
ilimes which are fed by a whjrling hurrl-
cane, is a sight this world win seldom see.
But this was all within the city. To
Napoleon without, the spectacle was still
more sublime ard terrific. When the
/ flames had overcome all obstacles, and had
wrapped every thing in their red mantle,
that great city looked like sea Of rolling
lire, swept by a tempest that drove 1t into
vast pillows. Huge domcs and towers,
throwing of sparks like blazing firebrands
now lowered above these waves and now
disappeared IN thoir ma1dening flow, az
they rushed and broke high over their tops,
scattering their spray Of fire against the
clouds. The heavens themselves seemed
to have caught the conAagration, aud the
angry masses that swept il, rolled over a
bysom Of fire. Columns of flame would
rise and sink along the surface Of this sea,
and huge volumes Of black smoke sudden.
ly shoot into the air, as if volcanoes we're
working below. The black form Of the
kremin alone, lowered above the chaos,
now wrapped in fame and smoke, and
again emerging into yiew-stanJlng amid
the scene Of desolation and terror, like
virtue IN the midst Of burning world, !
enycIoped but unscathed by the deyouring
olemen,s. Napoleon stood and gazod On
this scene in silent awe. Though nearly
three miles distant, the windows and walls
OF his apartment were 50 hot that he could
scarcely bear bis hand against them said
he, years afterwards;
IN Das the spectacle Of a sea aHd bill
! lCrs of fire, q ski and clouds of flame