The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-10-27

Among the aaddast scenes of the GA.
lamity was the appearance Of hundreds
Of men aud boys In n state IL bcastly
intoxlcation, around the streets OF the
North Division. where the saloon keep
eru' stocks OF liquors were emptied into
the street, thus furnishing a convenient
opportunity for the qualification Of their
nlRyish propenAitiea, aud there can hard
ly be any doubt hut that many of these
poor wretches found their death in the
flames, from which they were too help
leaa 90 escape. One poor man had
crowded into the water main, near the
Water Works, but the fire found him
even there and he was burned 10 death.
The reports state with grave horror
the methods adopted 10 preserve order.
Thieves, pillagcrs. aud ineendiaries were
not arrested. More than fifty have been
shot down Ia the streets or swung 10 the
lamp posts al five minutes notice. For
mer reports with reference 10 the prOba.
BILE loss Of life seem 10 be confirmed.
Over one hundred blackened corphes
were removed from the ruins where a
small portion Of the burnt district has
been searched. Dsnbtless there are
many who win never be distinguished
from the heaps Of ashes into which they
fell. Meanwhile sad reports aro reach
ing us Of deaths in large Numbers from
exposure and oyeF-excitement
The end ot a human gh0nl is thus de-
scrlbed by an eve witness One among
the thousand rumors that were hying
thiekly about, and the widest il would
seem il must be, was Of the sudden ven
geanee that befeli bold thief Seeing
the cashier Of one of the banks rush into
his Office as the flames were bearing al-
most upon the building. he watched his
exit, Ii was not long before the official
appeared with some money packages and
bonds, and no sooner had he appeared
than the thief prostrated him with blow
upon the side Of the head, aud grabbed
portion of the treasure. A policeman
IN an instant saw what was done and
grabbed the william, who drew a pistol
and shot the faithful officer through the
heart, and then sprang through tlE eK-
cited crowd brandishing his pistol and
endeayoring 10 make good his escape.
But the sight, with all the surrounding
circumstances, had maddened the by
ISLANDERS 10 frenzy, and they fell upon
the wretch like 80 many tigers, tearing
him limb from limb, and literally dis
emboweling him.
That which is everywhere apparent in
spite of the horrors of the scene and its
sad hopelessness, was the indoInitahle
pluck which the Chicago men showed.
NH IL a
wretchedness subdne. Chicago viii
be hard up for time, said one, but
We must try and pull through. 1T
viii take long time tO build il up
again. said another. II thought 1
was pretty well of yesterday, sand a
young man, cheeTfully smoking a cigar /;
80 now all have in the world is the suit
of clothes / have on. p" 90 think / might
have saved my Lac library, said a rising
Young lawyer, but, by Joye il did
not seem the thing 10 do. when every
body else's property was burning up 30
i picked up Few papers in my Office,
took some volumes Of Kent given me by
a friend, took of my hnt 10 my old
books, and left them 10 burn.
The territory burned over comprises
about =, 900 acres, and upon this only
three buildings are standing Here and
there portion of a wall remains.
II has been Rseeriained from official
reports that 50OO0,0O0 feet Of lumber
were destroyed. leaving 24,0O0,000 feet
still on hand.
The loss Of life Rill probably reach ~
high az 600. but II will be impossible 30
ascertain the exact number. Eighty
dead bodhes lay in the Morgue at one
time. The Coroner held an inquest on
sixiy-four bodies.
In the private office Of Mr.. Cowlcs,
the business manager of the 7ribHss,
was n large krupp shell. a relic Of the
siege Of Paris. which exploded, making
a breach in the walls II feet wide from
the foundation 30 the roof.