The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-10-14

trudsed along for several blocks, until the
burning rags fell upon her neck and caused
her TO look around. With d howl OF dis.
may and nm expression oil horror that can
never be reproduced, she dropped her bur.
den and fled for dear life.
One immense Dutehman truudled a
wheeloarrow along loaded With kag OF
lager beer, some sausages, and clothing.
His wife and children followed, all laden
with supdry articles, two dogs bringing IN
the rear. lie toiled and puiFed along until
the approach OF the flames rendered more
rapid flight necessary. The wheelbarrow
was then abandoned, but not until the beer
kcg was opened and parting drink taken
all around. One incident combined the
pathetic With the ridiculous. Two blocks
beyond where / lived, in Halstead street,
resided an old German, an almost helpless
cripple. whose sole support was his wife
and young son. The latter went away In
the morning, and did not return. The FIRE
rapidly approached with deadly omen. and
the old couple were not only distracted at
the absence OF the boy but fearful of their
possible fate. AT last the flames came so
near tina: they must fiy or die. In the
strength of her pfiiiction the old woman
seized the poor cripple, placed him upon
her back, and thus staggered along for D
distance of two blocks, when some men
placed him In q grocer's wagon and drew
him to place OF safety. But 1t seems
wicked to think OF such triftcs amidst sill
the narrowing scenes IN memory. I never
can tell Of the universal horror OF those
hours. They were years. ] don't wonder
that men seemed demented and women
hyste, ical. One Of the little girls that at
tended my school became lost. l found
her crying as though her heart would
break. she Is but seven years old, and she
could not tell what had become Of her pa
rents and family.
There were many such cases. AS we
went on further the thron. increased until
the streets snd sidewalks were black with
people. it was like freshet, and poured
in the ouc direction Of safety. Bv.and-by
we found the fire getting around us rs
though eacape would be cut OF. aud We
would be entombcd in ono grand pgre OF
flame. GO the other way we are headed
off," was now and then the cry /; aud the
multitude would turn back, struggling IN
new direction. l saw some women and
children and one man, exhausted, lay down
in the cutters to die in the hopelessnesS
of des peratIon. Others would seize and
urge them along. Smoke and cinders
and fame and scorching heat filed
begged for water. Some would catch up
water from puddles near hydrants aud
moisten the mouth. "Thts il hell fire ~
; g This is the day of Judgment " "this must
| be the end of the world !" were the eXcla-
m1tions heard. The degree Of sympathy
that prevailed was wonderful. There
seemed to be one instructive thro5 Of feel
! ing, and the strong helped the weak. ] be-
lieye ttat thieves bad CREST deal to do
with the fire. II they did not start it in the
first place they
KISDLHD FLAMES IN FRESH PLACES.
! saw houses that bad been Gcseit d enter
ed by Unlocking fellows. who ran sacked
bureaus and closets. There was no time
to speak to them. Once or twice when
they were spoken to they professed to have
been sent by the owners to save things.
Many people in the haste Of their e7cape
abandoned everything, even to jewclry and
m oney. saw one fellows pocket half full
| of jeweIry end watches. I spoke Of II, but
| in an Instant he lost himself from my view
/: in the crowd. / saw vil!ainous looking
negro with lady's chatelaine chain sus-
| pended uwkwardly at his vest. The little
girl had walked unttl the hot pavement
! hllstcred her little feet; then we carried
her. "Is papa and mamma burned upf Is
Seddy burnt UP dead?" she p!teou>ly ask
ed. Late at night we found them AL safe.
Ii WIS nearly morning before We obtained
shelter and food. ! never want TO set eyes
upon Chicago again.