The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-10-25

mont. There were ruins all around,
and still it reared its lofty walls, seem
inn scathless. But, like its neighbors,
II too. was doomed, and very soon
came down with a laundering crash,
leaving only portion Of the walls near
4he corner Of Madison and Dearborn
s.reets, broken monuments of the ter
,ible calamity. 1Ien went about as if
der,ented. Nor is it wonder. Who
could remain calm
TIVE GHOULS AMONG THE RUINS.
No sooner was tie extent Of the dis
oster known abroad, than the Ghou!s OF
fine race, who ever haunt scenes OF dis
oster and misfortune, began to gather.
Thieves mingled with the great strick-
en multitude and busily piled TIER Vo-
cation. even in that dire hour or ca
lomity. Villains seized upon the IN
Iabitants, as they came from their
blazing homes, and endeavored to take
what little remained to them, saved
from the general wreck. Hackmen and
ovnress drivers, and car men seemed to
have lost all conscience. and charged
f,hulous sums for conveying load
from the scene Of destruction to safe
distance, Men who had large sums OF
money. endeavoring to convey it away
to places Of safety, were beset by
thieves. even in the street, in the gar
ish light of their consuming houses,
and robbed of their remaining all.
One instance is known of a lackman
exacting from a distracted husband
$3.50 to convey his invalid wife from
his burning home to a place Of safety.
Twenty-Five dollars was regarded as Il
very moderate charge for an express
WAGON to take load ten squares; $50
and 500 were frequently demanded
and paid for the use Of a wagon and
team of two horses for half an hour
It seemed that half the people of this
class had turned ont to be thieves and
robbers of the most dangerous clarac-
fer, Instances are known in which
laclsmen agreed to convey ladies from
the region of disaster TO a place Oh
safety, and when little way from the
crowds. deliberately robbed them OF
their iewelry and whatever va!uables
they might have about them, and then
turning them out of their cabs to take
care of themselves.
When the fire was raging along La
sale, Clark and State streets, and was
sweeping onward toward Washington
and Randolph, toward the north, the
great commercial houses were thrown
open and an effort made to save the
most valuable goods. The harvest of
the thieves began at this time. The
police had lost control. Those intent
Oh profting by the fire now went in
with great zest. They loaded them
selves with the richest goods, and
sought place ofconcealment. A ban
ker had cash box in his hand con-
tanning $4,000, which he was endeav-
oring to convey away. Three desper-
ADDE'S seized upon him with the inteu-
ton of robbing him. To prevent it he
threw the box with its valuable con-
tents into the fire, rather than yield it
to these ghouls of disastrous fate.
THE STARVING MULTITUDE.
Monday morning broke with the fire
fieud still sweeping onward in its de-
vastating course through the north di-
vision. The great buildings, such as
Tarwelrs, Field, Letter 81 Co.'s store,
Crosby's Opera House, the Court
House, the fremont House, Sherman
House, Post Office, Exchange, McVick-
er's, Tribune building, and the great
blocks around Custom House place,
Gu the South side, still blazcd up fierce
ly, when kindled into fury by the ft'ul
gusts of wind. The smoke cloud still
hung over the devastated district.
All night the houseless and homeless
people, filled with anxiety, and fire.
quently startled by fresh alarms, had
watched the sublime and awful confla-
grafton as it hurried forward to fresh
conquests over the proudest works of
man.
Many in the vast thropg of anxious
spectators of the awful scene had been
startled by the first alarm, and left
their homes supperlcss; but the night
passed and the day came again, bring
ing no prospects of breakfast. The
sun mounted towards the zenith, and
yet the cravings of hunger were not
appeased. The scene became pitiable
in the extreme. Thousands Of chill
dren, who had never known what it
was to want even for the Injuries of
life, now pitionsly cried for bread they
could not get. Men with haggard looks
and blood-shot eyes, wearied by exer-
ton and anxious care, unrefreshed by
slumber or food, moved about with a
listless air, and if spoken to, frequently
returned for an answer, a vacant and
meaningless stare, as if reason and the
power of utterance had vanished to-