The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-13

was gwen VIII Ill pOSSlOIe uSsPatSu'
, But it came slowly-at such times
f every minute is an age-and before
engines could arrive from Milwaukee
triple work was to be done, and, to add
to the horrors of the time, it was feared
that the water would give out. In
, three hours over twenty blocks OF
houses had been burned to the ground
and lay smouldering in ruins. The fire
had spread more than mile from the
place at which it had started, and was
making directly for the heart Of the
city. 1t had made clean swathe from
Dekoven street 10 Van Buren; and from
the river to Jefferson street, a mile in
length and nearly a mile in breadth.
The riRE-BELLs GLANCED
and clamored. AMI from the steeples
the church bells beloved in the drowsy
ear OF night, waking the citizens far
down town who had slumhered through
the early hours Of the night, while in
another section the fire had been drv-
ing he pless women and children from
their homes into houselessness and
despair. And still the bells rang on as
if a legion of devils had taken posses
sion OF the belfries. The whole city
awoke in terror and rushed into the
streets, only TO find them filed with
people running 10 and fro, with women
sitting on curbs and s,oops crying with
grief, and sobbing over their children
who lay in their arms asleep and al
unconscious Of the dread disaster which
had befallen them, or looked up with
wondering eyes at their mothers faces.
What was it all about? What made
the sky so red? Why were the street,
so full OF people ? They couldn't make
it on, at all, and then they went to sleep
again while their mothers wept and
prayed and wondered what had become
OF the chllds father.
At some places the FIRE did not 90 in
a direct line, but left some houses--as
fires will do-almost unharmed in the
midst OF the flames. A gentleman now
in this city was in house on Mar ket
street, and describes the scene as lie saw
it from his housetop Up towards the
| burning district and far beyond the sky
seemed to be on fire the clouds drive n
past by the gale seemed masses OF angry
flame rushing towards him and bearing
destruction TO the whole city. Below
the fire roared and ran along from
house TO house like snake grasping all
things in it's hungry jaws. The air was
filled with sparks and firebrands, which
whirled and danced when driven before
the wind or shot up suddenly towards
the heavens like rockets. The noise
was almost deafening the rattle Of carts
and engines as they drove madly |
through the streets, men and women
emerging from the smoke, which rolled
in heavy volumes down the way, and
bearing with them whatever they could |
lay their hands on; their heads and
faces as they cleaned in the luril |
light, he described as a scene never 10
he forgotten. 1t was grand but an
awful picture In its passage the fire
had burned down many lumber yards,
q. the freight depots OF the Chicago
;.uu St. Louis, and the Pittsburgh, Fort
Wayne and Chicago railroads.
AS 1T APPROACHED THE RIVER
it became evident that it would cross
it, and soon that fear was realized, for
the wind carried brands across the mar
row stream to the northeast eide, and
there, falling on the wooden bull ling
adjoining the gas works, set it on fire,
and then the flames, having secured a
foothold, rushed forward to their work
OF further destruction. The gas house
was destroyed, and the city was lighted
only bv the fires which were consuming
itself. Then came panic snch as
city has rarely seen. Vague rumors
OF pilIage filled the air. and deeds Of
violence and horror were more than
dreaded. The people rushed pell-U1ell
from their houses rather than remain in
darkness-the most hated and detested
thing in times OF disaster and ca,astro-
phe. They ran in crowds about the
streets, meeting crowds rushing from
opposite directions, aud in their fright
trying to push their way through the
dense masses which encountered them,
were trampled down and many OF them
crushed to death in the desperation OF
of the moment.
The vessels in the river then took |
FIRE, and as the flames ran up their
masts, seized the rigging, and danced
like fends upon the splrs, IeapIng aboat
from one ward to another, the scene was
beautiful and terrible beyond descrip- !
ton. But there was little thought Of the
picturesque among those Who witnessed
it-all was horror and dismay.
AN AWFUL SPECTACLE
was presented when the fire, having
swept down from the river, reached
Lake street. An eyewitness of the
scene SAYS that the body OF the flame
presented front Of halt q semi circle,
and behind it was raging roaring hell
OF fire half mile deep. Nothing ma
terisl could Withstand the surge OF tbs
tremendous sea OF fame. On Its al.
vance northward it had driven the in-
habitants into Lake and South Water
streets and on to the bridges, much as
a prairie fire stampedes afrlghted AMI
mails. The streets were filled with a
distracted people, panic stricken and
hudiled in q mob almost as terrible to
behold as the roaring conhsgration.
Until now some instinct seemed to have
pointed out this section as beyond the
reach OF the FIRE. Bu: when it was
seen that the ocean OF flame was ire.
slstibly whelmjng everything all de-
pendence on human means OF succor
was lost. Looking down On this awful
assemblage, 1T as it was by the flaming
crimson light, and hearing the horrible
human tumult above the cracking OF
the oncoming fire, it seemed like the