The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-01-10
Gbe Qnion yonrnal
Moscow q Firo-Doomed City.

OF all cities Of the modern epoch. and
perhaps Of ancient times, Moscow has suffer-
cd the most fcarfully from fires. In 1886, 1t
was nearly consumed, and two thousand per-
sons persisted. But this calamity was trifling
to the dismal catastrophe Of 1871, when be-
leagurcd by the tartars. They fred the sub.
urbs and a furious wind carried the flames
into the heart of the capital, which the in
habitants could not quit except to die by the
sword. A Dutch merchant, who was pres
emit at the scene, and whose account is pre-
served in the Harleian MSS, speaks OF the
event as like storm OF FIRE, owing not only
10 the wind, but 70 the streets being "paycd
with great fir trees set close together, oily
and resinous, while the houses were OF the
same material. Thousands of the country
people had taken refuge in the city from the
public enemy. The poor creatures ran into
the market-place, and were all roasted there,
in such sort that the tallest man seemed but
a child, so much had the FIRE contracted their
limbs-a thing moro hideous and irightful
than any can imagine" "The persons, he
adds, "that were burnt IN this FIRE were above
two hundred thousand"-an exagcration,
doubtless, but an indication Of horrible in
cident.
A still more stupCndous conaagratiOn was
the burning of Moscow in 1872, owing to its
increased extent. II attended with fewer
horrors, they were sufficiently rife, for all
who could not ay-the sick, inhrm, and
wounded-inevitably persisted. Upon the
approach of the French invaders, aud the
loss Of the great battle Of BorOdino, it was
determined to abandon the old capital Of the
czars; and on Sunday, Sept. 18th, its three
hundred thousand inhabitants were suddenly
aroused from sense Of security by per-
emptory order to quit their houses, while the
Russian army in defense filed through the
midst of them in full retreat. On the NOR
row, the officers Of the government and the
police withdrew the prisons were thrown
omen; and none were left but the incapable,
and those who remained to execute the secret
orders of the authorities. Towards evening
the advanced guard Of the enemy arrived and
before midnight Napoleon was in the krem-
lin. The city, with its churches and palaces
of semi. Asiatic architecture, rising above an
immense mas Of private dwellings, must have
presented strange, solemn, and even awful
spectaclc to the newcomers. Nota Mosco-
yite was to be seen; not chimney smoked I;
not sound was heard. An unclouded moon
illuminated those deserted streets, vacant hO-
tells. and empty palaces. "liow doth the
city sit solitary that was full of people,"
Scarcely were the French established in
their new quarters, when smoke and flames
wero observed issuing from houses closely
shut up in different districts. by Tuesday
evening, the 18th, the fires had assumed u
menacing aspect. distractins by their mum
Der the efforts made to quench them, while q
high wind rapidly connected them with each
other, and wrapped Moscow in vast sheet
of fame. Midnight was rendered is bright
rs day, for at that hour, at the distance Of
nearly league, Dumas could read the dis
patches forwarded to him, by the light OF
the burning metropolis. Thirty thousand
houses. seven thousand principal edifces, and
fourteen thousand inferior structures, were
reduced to ashes. The private loss is sup
posed to have exceeded thirty millions ster-
ling. palaces and temples" writes Ka-
ramsin, the Russian historian, monuments
of art and miracles OF luxury the remain
ing of past ages, and those which had been
the creation of yesterday; the tombs of an
ccs,ors and the nu.ery-cradles Of the pres
emit generation, were indiscriminately de-
stroyed." Napoleon shuddered at the sight
as ominous Of series Of disasters, and was
compelled to decamp rrecipitately. Much
mystery Is affected with reference to this
transaction. But there can DO little doubt
that ms twas intended to dislodge the French,
ii was the work Of Rostophschin, the gov
ernOr, carefully prepared for, with the full
consent Of tho cabinet Of st. Petersburgh.
Ho was observed to bring along with him,
on joining the army, anumber Of ERE engines.
On being asked why no brought such things,
he replied that he chad good reasons for do
ing 50. Nevertheless" he added, "as TO
CARDS myself, have only brought the horse
ride and the clothes wear"
by their own hands their much loved home. uer,
nred.
nv their own hands their thousand hnes expIr,s =,
Nerce burn the flames. that wan 20 youder skiss
The incense Of the patriot sAerihee.
The wide bazaar, within Whose stately wall,
Akinrdoms ransom oiled the golden hAlls
Rich as the fAbled Phonix' funeral bed
IN one full blAse Of psrfamed flame has aed,
Tower kindos tower, and hres on fires arise
To Aid the dreadful death the tempest nies
speeds with tho sviftneSs of the mountain storm
To where the kremlin rears his iron f0rm,
with wrcathed hAmeshls regal towers are crowned