Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-22
"Ever in a new place
Lifting It's dery face


A. about 8 o'clock, the conasgration, viewed
from al elevated position, fearfullY reminded the
spectator OF the ancient paintings representing hell
Whole acres were billowed over by flames and
smoke and great cloud, the smoke Of its torment,
hung over the city. Verify had the day for which
all other days were made been actually come, the
CONSERVATION, terror and agony of the scene could
hardly have been enhanced. The devil wls loosed
for his little season God see med TO have removed
his providence, and all was whirling to chaos aud
ruin together. Thieves, black and white, were
abroad by hundreds. Retreating in advance of the
frst, they broke open stores, robbed and plumber
ed, a.d slen aided in the spread Of the flames BY
firing the stores plundered Few saved a tenth
part Of their plunder; and that pundered by one
set OF thieves often fell into the hands Of another
gang Of pillsgers. The cutters and sidewalks OF
MAIN street we're strewed With silks, satlns bon
nets boots hats, clothing. fancy goods, cosmetics
Men drunk with the liquor that was TO be had al
I5i,.r. flowing in the streets aad decorating the
side walks in bottles and casks, staggered under the
burden Of gres. loa of stolen goods. Men, women,
bows and girls, half stiaed with TIE smoke that rolled
along the st rect, "ugged pulled hauled, ana russell
ed with one another, all to save as much
aspossble from the . ersl wreck aud ruiz n1oeuG
ipr-not for the owners, but for themselves Weak
children tugged at boxes Of tobacco rolling them
when too heavy, end over eud, to places of safety
Women grabbed with barrels of -four, screecbed
and yelled to each other for assistance, but rarely
got it unless copartnerahip of spoli was agreed
upon. Carts, drays and wheelbarrows we're running
in q continuous train up town, carrying away the
NJ, l..
was no one 20 stop the wholesale pluudering and
transfer of goods. Rights in property were wiped
out; no man owned anything. And it was wonder
full. 70 witness the apathy Of owners. Men who
were threatened with the greatest loss, seemed the
least concerned and the least disposed 70 save their
stock. They STOOD like blocks and saw their wealth
scattered 70 the tour winds parted among thieves
scattered and trsmpled in the street Some few
had a real ziug sense of he s'tustion and exerted
themselves to save what they could.
When the red demon, Of FIRE had grazsd I'd to
Main street, and leapsd upon one of the fine large
buildings near 18th street, the owner and occupant
who vas stadirg in he crowd Of pllagers and sp c..
tAsors, wlubg his hands and exclaimed, '0h, Just
look there rs going burn up my house, and
everything I'VE got ia the world. l have worked
I'm going to be robbed OF it all in a moment Oh
God, it is too hard.n Then as the flames enveloped
the roof, and glared out OF the windows, it seemed
to- much for the poor man, and be cried out, ele-
waiting his arms, "Therc goes five hundred thousand
dollars to hill; and hav'pt got one dollar in my
pocket" TDeaturn ng to tie croWdlec d in o. his
teas and the smoke combined, st ng his utt' rance,
ace bows, gois. IlI give you gOd dollar for every
piece Of goods you save The pilisgers went in,
bat at that moment the roof fell in and store and
O. ock was rum: 1859 Aes' t"''
The conlagratqn was about q. its height VIII \
che van OF the Union army Of occupation entered
she city at full galOp by way OF Main street. Their
Blue uniforms and the cavalry markers they carr ed
were deserted for some disisree do~A Main street.,
n d. So they cane- opat rail- speed, the crowds Of
a. q ne hat led tiesttttte'u' 2 Fesn swavin
l-ce .dSrih2ike io're { Boz ia.1..aS pa 4
"a u.