White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-11-02
TIE suRNING OF ROWE.

As everything connected with great fires
has peculiar interest at the present time, we re-
| produce the narrative of the historian, Tacitus,
concerning the cOnfagration which occurred at
Rome, A. ID. GA.
There followed a dreadful disaster; whether
fortuitOusly, OF by the wicked Continuance of the
Prince (Nero), is not determined, for both are as
serted by historians; but, of all the calamities
which ever befell city from the rage of fire, this
was the most terrible and severe. 1t broke out in
| that part of the Circus which is contiguous to
| Mounts Palatine and CGlius, where, by reason of
| shops in which were kept such goods as minister
! aliment to fire, the moment it commenced it ac-
quired 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 temples envirOned with
walls; nor was there any other obstacle to inter-
cept its progress; but the flames spread every way
impetuously, invaded first the lower regions of
the city, then mounted to the higher; then again
ravaging the lower, it bafed every effort to ex-
tngush it, by the rapidity of itsdestructve course
and from the liability Of the city to confagation
in consequence of the narrow and intricate alleys
and the irregularity ofthe streets in ancient Rome
Add to this the wailing of terrified women the in
firm condition of the aged, and the helpessness of
childhood; such as strove to provide for them
selves, and those who labored to assist others
these dragging thefeeble, those waiting for them;
some hurrying, others lingering; altogether ere
ated scene of universal confusion and embarrass-
ment; and while they looked back upon the dan
ger in their rear, they often found themselves be-
set before and on their sides; or if they had
escaped into the quarters adjoining, these, too,
were already seized by the devOuring flames; even
the parts which they believed remote and exempt
were found to he in the same distress. At last,
not knowing what to shun or where to seek sanct-
nary, they crowded the streets and lay along the
open fields Some from the loss of their whole
substance even the means of their daily susten-
ance; Others from affection for their relations,
whom they had not been able to snatch from the
flames, suffered themselves to perish in them,
though they had opportunity for escape. Neither
dared any man attempt to check the fire, so re-
peated were the menaces of many who forbade to
extingiiish it, and because others openly threw
fire-brands with lond declarations that they had
one who authorized them" whether they did it
that they might plumber with less restraint, in
consequence of orders given.
Nero, who was at the juncture soiOuning at
Antium; did not return to the city till the fire ap
preached that quarter of his hOnse which connect
ell the palace with the gardens of Macenas; nor
could it, however, be prevented from devouring
the house and palace. and everything around. But
for the relief Of the people thus destitute and driv
en- from their dwellings, he opened the field of
Mars and the monumental edifices erected by
Agrippa, and even his own gardens. He likewise
reared temporary houses for the reception of the
forlorn multitude, and from Ostia and the neigh
boring cities were brought mp the river household
necessaries and the price of grain was reduced to
three sesterces the measure. All of which pro-
ceedings, though of popular character, we're
versally current that at the very time when the
city was in flames, Nero, going on the stage of his
private theater, sang the "DestructiOn of Troy"
assmilating the present disaster to that catastro
phe of ancient times.
At length, on the sixth day, the confagration
was stayed at the foot of Esquila by pulling down
an immense quantity Of buildings 80 that an open
space and, as it were void air, might check the
raging element by breaking the continuity. But
ere the CONSERVATION had subsitled the fire broke
ont afresh, with little violence but in regions
more spacious and therefore with less destruction
of human life, bnt more extensive havoc was made
of the temples and pOrticos dedicated to amuse- |
ment. Nero seemed to aim at the glory of |
building new city, and calling it by his own |
name for of the fourteen sections into which |
Rome is divided, four were still standing entire
three were leveled with the ground and in the |
seven others there remained only here and there |
few remnants of houses, shattered and half con-
sumed.
1t was no very easy task to recount the number |
of tenements and temples which were lost, but |
the following, most venerable for antiquity and |
sancity, were eonsumed-that dedicated by Ser
wins Tullius to the moon; the temple and great |
altar consecrated by Evander, the Arcadian, to
Hercules while present; the chapel vowed by
Romulus to Jupiter Stator; the Palace of Numa,
with the temple of Vesta and in it the tutelar
gods of Rome, moreover the treasures accumula-
ted by No many victories the beautiful production
nf Greek artists ancient writings of authors cele-
DRAFTED for genius, and till then preserved entire,
were consumed and though great was the beauty
IF the city inits renovated FORM the older inhai-
itants remembered many decorations of the an
cient which could not he replaced in the modern.