Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-11-18
The Burning Of Rome.

AS everything connected with great fires
has peculiar interest at this time, we pro-
duce an account of the great confagration
which occurred in Rome, A. D. "a.
There followed great disaster
whether fortuitously, or by the wicked
contrivance of the prince (Nero) is not
determined, but both are asserted by
hlstories-but of all the calamities which
ever betel This city from the rage of fire,
this was the most terrible and severe. 1t
broke out in that part of the circus
which is contagious to Mounts Palatinc
and Cplius, where by reason Of shops in
which were kept such goods as admins
ter aliment to fire, the moment it COM
mtnced it acquired strength: and being
accelerated by the wind, it spread at once
through the whole extent of the Circus
for neither were the houses secured by
enclosures nor the temple environed
with walls; nor was there any other OBJ
stace TO intercept its progress; but the
flames spreading every way impetuously,
invaded first the lower portions of the
city, then mounted to the higher, then
again ravaging the lower, it 5affled ev-
cry effort to extinguish it, by the rapid
ty of its destructive course, and from
the liability of the city to confagartion
in consequence. of the narrow and intri-
cate alleys and the irregularities of the
streets in ancient Rome. Add TO this
the wallings cf terrified women, the in
firmed condition of the aged, and the
helplessness of childhood such as strove
to provide for themselves, and those who
labored TO assist others; these dragging
the feeble, those waiting for them some
hurrying, others lingering; altogether
created scene of universal confusion
and embarrassment and while they look
ed back upon the danger in the rear they
often found themselves beset before and
on their sides or, if they had escaped
into the quarters adjoining, these, too,
were already seized by the devouring
flames; even in parts which they believ-
ed the most remote and exempt were
found to be in the same distress. AT
last, not knowing what to shun, or
where to seek sanctuary, they crowded
the streets and lay along the open fields.
some from the loss OF their whole sub
stance, even the means of their daily
sustenance; others from affiiction for
their relations, whom they had not been
able to snatch from the flames. suffered
themselves to perish in them, though
they had opportunity to escape. Meth
er dared any man attempt to check the
fire, so repeated were the menaces OF
many who forbade to extinguish it, and
because Others who openly threw fire.
brands with lcud declarations ''that they
had one who authorized them;' - wheth-
er they did it that they might plumber
with less restraint or in consequence of
orders given. Nero, who was at this
juncture sojourning at Antiam, did not
return to the city till the fire approach
ed that quarter OF his house which con-
nected the palace with the garden of
M@cenas nor could it, however, be pre-
vented from destroying the house and
palace and everything around. But for
the relief of the people thus destitute
and driven from their dwellings,, he
opened the field of Mars and the inonu-
mental edifices erected by Agrippa, and
even his own gardens He likewise rear
ed temporary houses for the reception of
the forlorn multitude, and from Ostia
and the neighboringr cities were brought
up the river household necessaries, and
the price of grain was reduced to three
sesterces the measure. All of which
proceedings, though of popular char
actcr, were thrown away, because a ru-
NOR had become universally current
that ~ the very time when the city was
in flames, Nero, going on the stage of
his private theatre, sang the "Destruc-
tion of Troy" assimilating the present
disaster to that catastrophe of modern
times. At length, on the sixth day the
conAagration was stayed at the foot OF
Esquil@, by pulling down an immense
quantity OF buildings, so that an open