Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-10-19

whole of the region designated was con-
sidered saved, no fire being visible except
a smouldering fire in the BARRIERS shop
under the Tribune Office, which, being
oonfinsd in brick walls, was not consider
ed dangerous. Every effort was made to
quench it, but the water works had gone
up, and the absence of water, while it an
nounced how far north the flames had
reached, forbade any hope of quenching
the fire below.
SCENES ON WABASH AVENUE.
The scene presented on Wabash avenue
on Monday for a period extending from
4 o'clock a. m, till late in the day, was a
most extraordinary one, calling to mind
more wildly the retreat of routed army.
The lower part of the avenue had, at an
early hour, been occupied by residents of
burning quarters, who sought safety for
themselves and their chattels by deposit
ing them On the grass Plats skirtiDg the
sidewalks. For long distance these
plate were occupied by families, mostly
of the lower classes, with their household
goods. They supposed that they had dis
covered a place of security, but their con-
fdence in this regard proved unfounded.
As the fire commenced spreading up the
avenue 3 wild scene Of confusion ensued.
The street was crowded with vehicles of all
descriptions, many drawn by men who
found it impossible to procure draught OF
animals. The sidewalks were filed with
a hurryiug crowd, bearing in their arms
and upon their backs and heads clothing,
furniture, etc. Ladies s3ed in elegant
- Of
ing them, AMI with costly apparel Of all
kinds thrown over their arms and shout
derz, staggered along under the unwonted
burden. Poor women, with mattresses
upon their heads, or weighed down with
furniture, C0ttorad with weary steps up
the crowded street. Nearly every one
wore % stern expression, and moved on
without word, az if they had braced up
their minds TO endure the wort without
manife~ting any emotion. Occasionally,
however, the wall of women and children
rem the air, bringing tears to those who
witnessed the manifestations. Poor little
children -hivercd in the cold night air,
and looked with wjldiy-opened eyes upon
the scenes they could not mprehend.
Ludicrous incidents were Of occasional
occurrence, lighting up with sort Of hor-
rible hum0r the terrible realities OF the
-itu4ti0n. Women would 90 by with
dogs III their arms-their pets being all
they had saved from the ruins Of their
homes. An octogensrian ran in yard
with a large cat embodied in his feeble en-
brace. Men dragging wagons wore green
wells over their faces to protect their eyes
from the binding dust. Drunken men
staggered among the crowds, apparently
p0s1c-zed of the idea that the whole affair
was a grand municipal spree, in which
they were t~kjng part IS duty that
-h.u1d be discharged ~ all good citizens.
Trucks pa~sed up street loaded with
trunks. on which sat ladies' in costly garb.
aud with diamonds in their ears and on
th-ir fingers. But one day before they
would have scorned the idea Of riding in
ANYTHING less imposing than a luxurious
hndau or conpa; hut their pride was lev
elrd in TIE presence Of the universal i'm
mjnaut NIGER, and they were thoroughly
Gid n yet the humblest cart in which to
pIac, tba mse]ves and their valusble'
Tho great portion Of the people knew
not whittier they were going All they
knew vraz that the horrible fire was be-
stream poured south w+rd for h0ur--the
broad -esuu- being filled from house 70
house with men, women, children, horses,
mules. vehicles. wheelharrows-every-
thing chat coIli move, or could be- moved
T~uckmcn and express drivers were hailed
from the -t,p, Of houses, or eagerly pur-
sued hv the occupants, with the view Of
~eourjng their ii in removing household
goods to places Of safety. In many in
zt7uoes the a9Totls were unsuccessful,
their s.ryic $ having been previously en-
Eacod hv other parties; but when they
were di.engsged they charged the most
rx0rbitant prices, ranging from - 10 500
for p load, and turning up their noses at
rff.rs Of amounts less than they asked.
This cla-s Of people made great profit ont
0f the clsmi'irs Of their fe)low-citizans
Their pockets may be heavy to day, bnt
their conscience, if they have any. should
he still heavier The instances of gener-
o-ity were, however, far in excess of those
IF greed and self-bness. People from
Districts which had not already been
burned. or who had secured their own
goods. turned ia with a will and worked
to assist their friends, and frequently rem
" 3
even know Good angels In the shape Of
women, distributed f1od among the fuf-
tcrers: and sp ka kindly to those who
.eemed to labor under the severest attiic-
ton. Human nature, God be thanked,
has its bright az well as its dark sides.
In addition to the crowds pressing
outward, thronqs moved nOrthward to
lee what they could sec. And these coun-
rer currents frequently caused a Jam that
vas almost iuextricab'e. But after great
.ffa-t. interpreted with considerable loud
talk.n2 and no small degree of profanity,
he dead lock would be removed. and the
oppo,iag surgcs would again make slow
Drogreas
When the church on the corner Of Wa
bash avenue and Harrison street took fire
it seemed a. if no limit could be placed
to the south ward march Of the monster.
An immense throng was collected in The
vicinity Of II arris0n street aud Hubbard
court. and word WIS passed among them
that Laird's C0lli~r'5 church was about
being blown up. The intelligence spread
with the rapidity of lightning and thar
o0suad terrible race for life. The mass
a- 4 i pracipitatrly for the avenue, bel
t.r--ke)tcr, p-'-mcll. j. was every on
f,r lins.li, ard the devil take the hiuder
most Lite consideration was had f.
either age orsex. Fortunately, however,
no one WAS seriously injured in the fear
full racc. erd the people poured in dir
'oirted m i--as towards the various side
7tre -, many of them ming tbemselvf-
1ns ,fe till they hid placed several street.
between themselves and the point from
which danger w 3 expected to proceed.
Aud so the day wore on, the living ka-
Ieidoscope making constant changes, but
yer presenting the some sad aspect Elk
'jtpment, sorrow, grief, terror, panic, mad
ness co}or4d everything. relieved simply
~ few touches Of lu1icrousness that
were ~ S lutely grotssque in their rel ,tion
% the all pervading horror.
ESCAPE OF TIE PEOPLE INTO TIE
WEST DIVISION.
=, loon Bot. the people weA. of Cl.rk
.tr--t began ~ sec that there was no hope
and n + the fire was really bound to 90
T.