The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-05-10


Grst Probably that was only the
preparation, for, thosgh The red light
widened and gioasa, the curtain.
strangely enough, did not rise. The
people stamped and shouted. All at
once the baiozzo (tbe clown,) in bis
white dress, ran forward, pale as
death, his eyes staring, bis hands
tossing about like those Of a madman.
We are on fife!" he shouted
Save yourselves, you who can"
Bravo, Ferranr cried the peas.
ants, with roars Of laughter. "Excel-
lent Viva Ferrari: Bravo, Fer
raril"
The clowa fled from the stage, as
Il seemed, in an aggFx of ieigned tear.
Tie laughter redoaLssl A man N
evening dress rushed forward, whis-
pcfed to the orchestra, and waved his
hand 70 some men who were not visi-
BE 10 the audience. Tie curtain
rose swiftly at that ominous signal,
and disclosed, to my horroB rolling
mass Of fire and crinsoned smoke
Already the flies had caught fire and
were hanging in blazing slreamers.-
Fire rose from below, fire cleaned
from above, fire daried its tongues
from either side. The theatre was on
i. fire. The bajozzo had not boen ieign-
ing, bui was terribly in earnest.
shall never forget the scream
that burst from iaose four thousand
people when the reality prcke upon
them. had on.y an instant to LOOK,
but in that instant saw row alter
row OF white faces Turn as by one i'm
pulse to the door. Then, came
stamping rush as of a herd Of mad
dened animals. Many tore forward
without a thought but OF their own
safety, others snatched up their child
ren, others dragged forward their old
mothers or fathers, or bore their wites
or sweethearts in their arms. Then
came the grapple for life, the tramp
ling sutfoeating battle for existence
that only served 10 hasten on death.
In many things J am coward enough,
but in sudden danger | have always
found myself cool and collected. Per-
haps a sailors frequent hazards, and
the constant thought Of the possibility
of death, is a sort Of training per-
haps it is a constitutional quality. j
know not how it is. only state the
fact. saw Immediately that though
for1he moment safe, and far from the
full torrent Of the struggle, my hopes
OF escape were quite AS desperate as
the hopes of those who were tramp
ling each other 10 death at the en-
trance below. Unfortunately, one Of
the great folding doors opened inward.
In The first rush il had been closed,
and now the pressure was so great il
could not be moved one way or the
other.
The flames were spreading rapidly,
the smoke rolled towards Us in blind
ing clouds, and from those clouds
darted and leaped serpent tongues Of
fire. The flames seemed with cruel
greediness TO spring from seat to seat.
The slips were blazing, the orch stra
was seething pit Of fire. The
screams and groans on all sides were
heart-breakirg. | hesitated for
moment whether to remain where |
was and meet death, or to breast the
human whirlpool below, AT that mo-
ment a surge Of fame ran along the
ledge Of the next box t. me, blacken-
ing and blistering as it went. The
heat grew intense. / determined to
make one struggle for my life. Iran
to the head Of the stairs and looked
down. There, the heard Of scream
ing, shouting people fought with their
hands and feet III horrible tangle OF
life and death.
| gave myself Up as lost, when a
hand seized my coat. 1t was the old
hjusekeeper, screaming her entreatles
to me to save her. | told her TO cling
to me and would do what could
Il gave me courage 10 think ! was
I struggling for some ono besides my
self. SHE kneeled and prayed to God
for US both. | had placed myself at
the edge Of the crowd in order TO hus-
band my strength for a last effort
One thing | determined, and that was
4 that | ould not save myself by tread
lug poor woaen and children under
foot. Rather than that, ! would let
I the FIRE burn ne slowly, or / would
recommend my soul 10 God, throw
myself into fhe crater behind me, and
( 50 die quickly. One agonizing thought
alone shot through my heart. and that
7 was a thought for the tender girl
had seen so innocent and happy halt
an hour before.
4 Suddenly, as ] stood there Ike a
diver hesitating before he planges, q
peasant, scorehed. and burnt, dashed
pest me from the crowd that had
tFampled upon him, aud, staggering
forward, lalf-stiaed With smoke. fell
face downward, dead at my feet
His AK, as usual with the peasants,
vas thrust 10 bis belt behind. A
thought Of self-preservation, surely
sent straight from Heaven, flashed
through my brain. | stooaed and
drew out the AK.
Make way there, or cut down
the first man who stops me = ! cried
out, IL brokea Russian.
LafE I r.