Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-10-20

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ing in huge wicker basket, and grab
bed with the other hand a frying-pan,
and some muffin rings Huge cinders
fell on the clean starched clothes and set
them smoking. In this way the poor
wench, already half beside herself with
terror, trudged along for several blocks,
until the burning rags fell upon her neck
and caused her to look around. With
howl of dismay and an expression of hor-
ror that can never be reproduced, she
dropped her burden and fled for dear life.
One immense Dutchman trundled
wheelbarrow along, loaded with keg of
lager beer, some sausages, and clothing.
His wife and children followed, all laden
with sundry articles, two dogs bringing
up the rear. He toiled and pulled along
until the approach of the flames render
ed more rapid fight necessary. The
wheelbarrow was then abandoned, but not
until the beer keg was opened and part
ing drink was taken all around. One of
the little girls that attended my school
becamelost. found her crying as though
her heart would break. She is but sew
en- years old, and she could not tell what
had become of her parents and family.
There were many such cases. As we
went on further the throng increased, un-
til the streets and sidewalk were black
with people. 1t was like freshet, and
poured in the one direction of safety.
By-and-by we found the fire getting
around US as though escape would be cut
off, and we would be entombed in one
grand pyre of flames. go the other
way; we are headed off, was now and
then the cry, and the multitude would
turn back struggling in new direction
| saw some women and children and one
man, exhausted, lie down in the gutter;
to die in the hopelessness of desperation
Others would seize and urge them along
Smoke and cinders and fame and scorch
ing heat filed the air. Children scream
ed in terror, and begged for water. Some
would catch up water from puddles neal
hydrants and moisten the mouth. "Thi
is the day Of judgement this is the enc
of the world p exclaimed more than one
| The degree ofsympathy that prevailed wa
wonderful. There seemed to be one in
stinctive throb of feeling, and the strong
helped the weak. | believe that the
thieves had a good deal to do with the
fire. If they did not start it in the frs
place, they kindled flames in fresh places
saw houses that had been deserted en-
tered by Unlocking fellows, who ransack
ed bureaus and closets. There was n,
time to speak to them. Once or twict
when they were spoken to they professet
to have been sent there by the owners tt
save things. Many people in the haste
of their escape abandoned everything
even to iewelry and money. saw on
fellows pocket half full of jewelry ant
watches. l spoke of it but in an in
slant he lost himself in the crowd.
saw colored man with lady's chale
lame chain suspended awkardly at hi
vest. The little girl l had walked unit
the hot pavements blistered her littl
feet. Then we carried her. '1s pap
and mamma burnt up? Is Neddie burn
up dead 2" she piteously asked. Lat
at night we found them all safe. 1t wa
nearly morning before we obtained shel
ter and food | never want to set eye
upon Chicago again.
TERRIBLE SCENES DURING THE CoNFLA
GRAFTON.
William Miller of Peoria, ILL.,, VIII
was in Chicago during the fire, says tha
the most pitiable sights were the sicl
children, half dead, lying crouched O
the sidewalks, in many cases with barrel
any covering on them. In Clark stree
one instance occurred where two littl
girls were lying terror.stricken cheek-by
iowl with their dead sister, whose re
mains presented narrowing spectacle
She had been too late to escape from ur
: der falling building, and had just bee
t extricated and laid by the little lacera
f ted forms of her almost dead sisters. Th
, whole of the population seemed to hav
been suffering from sore eyes, the dus
hot, binding dust, having rendered man
temporarily blind. Men, women an
children were to be seen running abor
J for any gauze-like material that woul
act as a protection to their eyes. Littl
children were crying piteously, rubbin
their eyes which were swelling under th
!. scorcbing influence of the flying sparl
and cinders Men were seen carryin
their families out of what they conside
ed danger and depositing their loads b
. the wayside. A hurry and rush woul