The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-10-20

| PAPERS. 20
Correspondence st. Louis Times.
4 THE PREAONITIONs OF RUIN.
II 1t was between and 10 O'Clock
when the alarm was given. One
statement places the time as late as
I'D O'Clock, while others assert that the
fire was first discovered about 8
Io'clock. 1t was probably few min
utes after that time. The weather
had been exceedingly dry; the wind
was Blowing almost gale from the
| south-eouthwest. The fire, starting
in neighbOrhOod where there were
numerous lumber yards, planning
mills, and other structures, fed upon
these light combustibles, and the
flames spread with incredible rapidi-
| ty. The whole heavens were lighted
up with lurid glare. Vast volumes
OF fame seemed at times to have been
detached by the fury of the gale and
precipitated forward over entire
squares, kindling new fires to feed
| other flames columns to he hurried
forward on their mission of devasta-
ton.
or ttAH No->r i-ho' MA 'o>'
1t was now a little after 10 o'clock.
The fire had already made fearful
havoc. A vast tract, perhans thirty
or forty blocks, on the West side,
north and south of Jackson street,
was one great field of fire. As yet
the people on the East Side felt them
selves comparatively safe. They had
little apprehension that the fire would
cross the river. The light from the
burning city Illuminated the heavens
with a fearful glare. The streets
were filled by an excited multitude
People from the West Side were flee
ing from their burning homes. The
noise of the roaring tornado of flames
as ii swept onward in its career of
devastation rose above the tumult and
din of the great houseless multitude
that fed before its devouring fury.
Up to this time the inhabitants on
the East side had been hopeful.
They relied largely on the character
Of their iron and stone front buildings
The track of the fire fiend was al
ready nearly mile i'm length, and
half mile wide. 4 vast multitude
hurried from their burning homes,
and We're crossing the river before the
advancingcolumns ofllame. The wind
whistled and hOwled through the
streets, and the bright light of the
fire every moment grew brighter. The |
heat in the vicinity of the fire became
intense, as the winds famed the
glowing tinlbers to a whittier heat.
Still i'm the lower part of the city, |
in the vicinity of the great hotels and |
business, the feeling among the peo-
pie was more that of commiseratiOn
for the sufferers on the West Side |
than apprehension for their own
safety. They did not as yet fully |
believe that it would cross the river. |
Still the wind roared through the |
streets, and still the flames blazed and |
cracked among the timbers of fast |
consuming dwellings and shops |
along Jackson street, and north IF /
that street on the West Side. The |
crowds in the streets in the eastern !
part of tho city were every moment |
growing larger; the noise was in /
creasing. 1t was now fully evident !
that the fire engines could do nothing
to resist the onward march of the !
flames. "A feeling of uneasiuess be- |
tude in the streets.
THE FIRE CROSSES THE RIVER.
1t was now little after II o'clock.
The fire was raging along the West I,
Side up to the river, extending from
Jackson to Adams street. Men for
got the flight of time-momcnts be-
came hours. Some buildings in the
neighborhOod of Jackson street, on
the East Side, were proclaimed to be
on fire. The Jackson street bridge
was all ablaze. The hearts of the
people OH the East Side sunk within
them. They now fully realized the
of the danger. The winds
were blowing great sheete of fire
down into the heart of the city.
Strong men trembled, women shrek
ed, and children became frantic.
In an incredibly short space of time
the fire had reached Wells street, and
with another leap the stately build
ings on Lassalle street were all ablaze.
From Jackson street nOrthward the
fire column seemed to leap forward
to Adams, Monroe, and on toward
Madison street. One of the finest
quarters of the city was now swal-
lowed, as it were, in vortex of fire.
No pen can fully describe the condi-
ton of things at this time.
STREET SCENES.
Truly it would he impossible to
find language to describe the scenes 1
which followed the announcement
that the fire fiend had crossed the
river, and was rapidly making its
way through the very centre of the
city.
1t was now midnight. The heav-
ems were lighted up with lurid |
glare, the Yast surging multitude |
swaycd to and fro, while above the
roar of the wind, and the cracking of !
the flames, rose the confused noise of
shouting men and wajling women. |
Merchants were gathering up their |
most valuable articles, such as books !
aud papers; landlords were arOusing |
their guests, and advising hasty de-
parturcs; men. loaded with the most |
precious articles of the household,
followed by awc-strickcn women aud |
frantic children, were rushing away |
from the fire demon as rapidly as the
tltr0nged condition of the streets |
would admit; women, separated from
their families, gave utterance 10
shrieks that rang out clear and shrill |
above the horrible roar of the devOur-
ing flames and the wild moan of the |
wind as it swept the fiery deluge |
along I'm its march of ruin.
= x
Before daylight the whole district |
between the river and Wabash avenue
and from Jackson street TO Lake |
street, WAS one great fiery furnace. |
Several blocks of magnificent str,ic-
lures on Wabash avenue, extending |
east to Michigan avenue, which it |
was thought for time would resist |
the fury of the fiery tornado, at last |
succumbed, and was speedily made |
into shapeless heap Of ruins
ALONG THE LAKE SHORE.
The intense heat of the fire in the |
city had forced the vast multitude |
collected along Michigan avenue back !
to the furtlerest verge of the beach. |
even down to Cottage Grove. The |
day dawn found not fewer than 75,- |
OO0 pe0pio exposed to the wind and !
mist of the lake, who had been hut q
few short hours before surrounded by
the comforts of home
1t is impossible to describe the scene
presented by these now houseless, |
homeless, and in many cases penni-
less people. Hither had been brought !
the old, the infirm, and the sick, res I
cued from burning homes. 1t was !
indeed pitiable sight to see the pale,
emaciated. and suffering men. wO- |