The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-10-24

by the cdnfiagfati0n during Its various
stages. Viewed from the brow Of the
cliff, the entire valley beneath bore
4 the appearance of a seething cauIdr0n
from the surface of which rose dense
clouds Of binding smoke, with clouds
of flying debris floating away before
the wind toward the blue vault above,
where they hung over the doomed
district like a funeral pail, the SOM
brenees Of which was only relieved at
intervals by the occasional bursting
through of the glare of the famss,
shooting up their forked and Kissed
tongues toward the heavens, and fall
ing back as suddenly. IL was only
after nightfall, however, that the full
extent Of the desolating scene could
be properly taken in As far as the
eye could reach on all sides, the whola
valley beneath seemed perfectly lit
tered with fire, The remains of stores
and workshops, and thousands Of
happy, though lowly homes, while
some Of the larger buildings, such as
| the Church OF st. SauVeur, the Pres
bytery, the nunnery and Eriars' school,
stood out In holder relief, with the
lurid light of the Wondering flames
still glaring through their empty win.
dows, and giving them weird and
CHASTITY appearance.
ON THE GROUND.
During the day, and up to a late
hour last night, the scenes on the
theater OF the eonaagration actually
beggared description. The day
throughout the city partook very little
of the character Of the Sabbath, al
most one-half Of the citizens having
turned out 10 view the fire, or to lend
helping hand toward checking it.
Throughout st. Rneh's and ST, Sau-
venr, the streets were literally choked
with spectators, while thousands more
lined the brow of the cliff above the
fire. Debris from the burning houses,
broken furniture and other effects
covered the thorOughfares, rendering
it almost impossible TO move in them
or to those attempting to carry away
their goods TO make any great pro.
gress. Every available piece Of vacant
ground was taken advantage of to
place household effects upon. Then,
there was the usual amount of rioting,
plundering and drunkenness eonse-
quent upon the burning of numer.
Gus groceries and liquor stores,
and which seem TO be a neees-
sary accompaniment Of all great
fires. But TO turn to the sufferers
themselves, ii was really heartrending
to witness many of the scenes which |
they offered. Some endeavoring 10
save their little effects, others roam
ing about in a listless manner, the |
very picture of quiet suffering, and not |
knowing what 10 do with themselves; |
mothers searching for their children |
ia frantic MANNER through tie |
crowds, and all evidently impressed
with the fullness of their calamity. I
Strange TO say, throughout st, Roch's,
though there was considerable |
amount of eOmmotion, no panic pre-
vailed, although the fire moved along |
with the rapidity almost of a tornado. |
On the Jacksonville aud ST. Sauvenr
sides, the whole Of tho cliff. and the
BDon swamp, were covered with
household effects and fugitivea from
the burning district,
aaa CHAPTER or ACCIDENTS.
We regret to say that several lives
were lost in the eonflagrhtion, and
some six or seven persons were more
or less seriously injured Lieutenant
Baynes and Sergeant Hughes, of the
Royal Artillery, were badly burnt and
otherwise injured by the premature
explosion Of a charge Of powder
Lieutenant Baynes, ii was feared last
night, would not recover from his IN
jnries Sergeant Hughes was badly
burnt about the face and arms. Lieu
tenant Douglas, Of the Aurora, was
also somewhat injured, we under
stand, and three. men of the same YES
sci, one of whom had his arm broken.
About mid day the body of man,
name unknown, was found in one of
the streets, through which it ii sup-1
posed he must have been attempting
to flee, with the head, arms and legs
almost entirely burnt off, and in
house in ST. Sauveur, the body Of a.
girl was discovered almost burned TO
a cinder. A little boy was killed at
st. Sauyeur by falling back while att
tempting to ascend a cliff with some
pieces of furniture. A private of the
Rife Brigade was also badly hurt, we
undefstand by some falling debris