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


dwellings and ships along jackson
street, and north of that street Oh tho
West side. The crowds in tie streets
in the eastern part of the city, weIo
every moment growing larger; the
noise was increasing. 1t WAS now full
~ evident That the fire engines could
do nothing to resist the onward march
of the flames. A feeling of uneasiness
began to pervade ti,s tirans;ng multi
tude in the streets.
TIE FIRE CROSSES THE RIVER.
1t was now Il. little after II o'clock.
Tho fire was raging diong tl.o West
side M to the river, extending from,
jackson 70 Adams street. Men forgot
the flight OF time-moments became
hours. Some buildings in the neigh
borllooa Of Jackson street, on the East
side, were proclaimed TO be OH fire.
The Jackson street bridge was all
ablaze. The hearts of the people on
the East side sunl, within them. They
now fully realized the magnitude of
the danger. The winds were blowing
great sheets of fire down into the heart
of the city. Strong men tremhIed,
women shrieked, and children became
frantic.
In an incredibly short space Of time
the fire had reached Wells street, and
with another leap the stately build
inSs, on LasalIc street were all ablaze.
FROM Jackson street northward the
fire column seemed to leap forward to
Adams, Monroe, and on toward Madi-
son street. One of the finest quar-
ters Of the city was now swallowed, as
it were, in u vortex of fire. No pen
can fully describe the condition of
things 1T this time.
STREET SCENES.
Truly it would be impossibly to find
language to describe the scenes which
followed the announcement that the
FIRE fend had crossed the river, ard
was rapidly making its way through
The very centre of the city.
1t WAS now midnight. The heavens
were lighted up with a lurid glare, tho
vast surging multitude swayed to and
fro, while above the roar Of The wind
and the cracking of the flames, rose
the confused noise ofshouting men aud
wailing women. Merchants were
gathering M their most valuable ar
ticles, such rs books and papers
landlords were arousiug their guests,
and advising hasty departures men
loaded with the most precious articles
of the household, followed by awe
stricken women and frantic children,
were rushing away from the fire.
demon as rapidly as the thronged con-
ditioE of the streets would admit; wo-
men, separated from their families,
gaze utterance to shricks that rang
ont clear and s.irill above the horrible
roar of the devouriug flames and the
wild moan of the winds as it swept tho
fiery deluge along in its march of ruin.
Vast smoke clouds lowered over all
the central aud northern part of the
city. The ire-iight, reflected back
! from the dense smoke, shown with Il
haletul red glare that was truly ave
inspiring. Strong men grew power
less, and became frantic in face of the
appalling calamity.
A little after IL o'clock the guests OF
the large boarding houses in the neigh
borhool of State and Adams streets,
were tnrned Mortified into the streets
to swell the vast multitude already
abroad.
PROGRESS OF TIE FLAMES.
By IL o'clock the fire had made con-
siderable progress on the South Side,
and in another hour the fire WAS rag
ing with great fury rs far east as Wells,
La Sale and Clark streets, and as far
north as Monroe and ADAMS streets.
The wind all the time was blowing q
perfect gale from the southwest
Great mass OF flaming boards, shingles,
etc., were carried by the wind to the
distance of halt block or more and
deposited on roofs, thus creating fires
in advance of the main column. The
first rush toward the North division
was stayed. The smoke in that quar-
ter was suifocating. People conld
scarcely breathe. The course taken
! by the alarmed multitude now set in
toward Michigan avenue and the lake
shore. The whole space between the
building and the lake was soon tlled
and as far south as Lake Park and
even further, were collected. perhaps
l0J 900 people by 2 o'clock on Mon
. day morning.
No pen can describe the scene pre-
: scented at 2 o'clock on Monday morn
ing. The whole central portion of tn,
city was involved IL The ruin. i
were a useless task TO essay to deal il
: particulars. individuals were 10 s
sight of in the vast surging multitude
turned into the streets. So particula
r localities last all notice amid the gen
er;,i ruin Of an entire city. And sill
! the multitude increased along the lax,