Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-05-02

that purpose; but the volleys which were
coming through the windows made il evi-
dent he could not pass the length Of the
apartment without certainty Of being
knocked down.
There was one immediate cry for him
About this time it appears that some
persons entered the house andcarried away
the mace; and in all probability there would
have been no difficulty in passing through
as they retired, and of descending the grea.
stair case to the front door; but those in the
passage still continued to suppose the crowd
were without and would refuse 10 allow
them to pass. The only hope was that the
military would speedily arrive.
Then some persons opened the door of
the news room and raised the cry that the
building was on fire; on looking through
the glass doors which opens between md
the refreshment lobby, this was found to
be the case.
The whole awning was in flames, which
was fast coming to the wooden gallery; it
was now time 10 make some effort to es.
cape and save broken head rather than
incur the danger of remaining longer.
The writer accordingly descended the back
stairs to the large lobby below, where sey-
eral clerks had assembled and were de-
termined 10 make rush at any odds. The
truth was, however, that no d ficnliy ex-
listed, they had closed thetiower doors, which
separate The lower lobby of the house as
sembly from the main entrance hall and
great stair case, and thus, like the persons
in the passage above remained in ignorance
Of the men who carried off the Mace, and
Of The fact that they bad left the front door
1 open. This was of course discovered Oh
entering the hall, and all passed into. the
stairs the flames had already enveloped
the whole Of that end Of the building,
which is situated on McGull street and
crowd was drawn up on the foot path, view-
ing the conflagration, which lit up the en-
tire city TO the Unitarian Church, at the
top Of the Hay Market. Some of the en-
gines were standing ON the street drawn up
across the roadway al the end Of ST. Paul
stree I, but they were not playing, and it
was said that the crowd had forbidden them
to do so.
Mr. Murray Of the Montreal Office had
striven Intellectually TO get them TO work.
The wind was blowing a smart breeze, and
the whole ofthe extensive building in which
there was great deal OF woodwork, was
soon ir flames, from end to end, so that il
was impossible to approach the front; then
the wind carried the fire ocross the street,
which caught The opposite houses. Tho
house opposite the centre OF the Hall was
totally burned, and the whole range between
MEG III and ST. Peter streets were for some
time in danger. The stores occupied by
the Messrs. Fitzpatrick, Howell, Holmes,
Young and Knapp and other parties,
though al some distance from tho building,
were also for some time considered in dan
ger; even the Inspector of Po, Ashes en-
,ertained great fears for his stores, contain.
ing many thousand worth Of goods, in co.,
sequence OF the large quantity Of Burning
paper which was carried by the wind 10.
} ward that bu liing. From the same cause
some injury was done to the Grey Nun.
merry, which ho wever was Of lillle conse.
quence. --.... .---.
We understand that the insurance on the
public property destroyed ON ultcd To
10000, but slill worse loss. becau,e
irreparanbfe, is that sustained by the des-
truction Of the libraries of both Houses,
which contained books, of which only. D
limited number hive been printed, and
which Of course no money can restore IL
the world; with them it is 10 be leare have
perished large portion of the Records Of
the Provincas-another loss which will be
felt throughout the country. The Pilo,
Office wns visited in tine course oil the eve.
| ming and the windows smashed
The Parliament building was complete.,
:, ly Quilted and nothing bu, the walls stand.
ing. .... e-
so'clock, p. NJ.
There is still great excitement IN the
city, consequent upon yesterday nights
proceedings The sitting of Parliament
has been resumed at the Market Hall.