The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-13
ance could be rendered. Two young men,
it is SAID, appealed from a two-story win
dow to the impotent bystanders for
RESCUE FROM THE FURNACE

RESCUE FROM THE FURNACE
of fierce heat that wrapped the building.
No relief was possible. In another mo-
ment the roof fell upon them, the walls
tottered i'll, and they found their death and
burial place amid the heaps Of ashes. just
how many persons met their fate in this
manner it is impossible to say. The
widest iumors were current, but amid
the unparalleled excitement everywhere
the scene but little heed was
given to these stories, and no effort made
to ascertain their truth. The uproar in
creased, the flames spread, the fremen be-
came despairing, the shouts and clamors of
the women and children and the roar of
the flames filled the air. Two fire engines
in the south division became surrounded by
the flames and were left to their fate, the
.jadcd firemen being unable to bring them
out. As the danger became imminent, and
hopes of saving the business portion of the
city lying between the river, the south
branch, and the lake were abandoned, the
propretors OF hotels aroused their guests
and warned them that the only prospect Of
escaping with their lives lay in immediate
flight. This was between the hours of II
and /. Now to add
FRESH TERRORS
to the scene were heard repeated explosions,
sounding like q continual cannonade. Drug
and liquor stores, and places where oil was
stored, burned and burst, and fear of pow
der-happily but fcar--took possession of
the multitude. AT the fremont House the
elevator became useless, and the sleeping
guests, large number being babies, hur-
II 10 ,etni frta o1a Of tho
moval Of trunks and the hurrying of do
mestcs impeded the passage-ways. Several
persons in their eagerness jumped down the
stairs and limped away. Others, in their
haste, left beneath their pillows watches
and money, only discovering their losses
when they had reached the Michigan Cen
tral depot-then supposed to be perfectly
safe place. A crowd of persons hastened
thither, some carrying beds, some sewing
machines, and one lady had six canary
birds in cage in one hand and an immense
family Bible in the other. She said: 81
was determined to bring these off if | lost
all the rest" Another young woman was
seen carrying two large paintings, evidently
those of her father and mother. She was
but partially clad, and amongst all her
household wealth sought to preserve these
filial mementoes as being to her most pre-
cious.
THE TUG BOATS
were busy towing vessels out into the lake
where they anchored off the burning city.
Many persons sought refuge on these ves-
sells, and the little pleasure boats kept
about the newly-made park between the
Michigan Central Railroad track and the
original lake shore, where many of them
were employed in transporting persons and
goods to the vessels anchored without.
One large bark being towed out was caught
by some flying cmders and went down the
river, her mast and cordage enveloped i'll
flames. She was drawn out into the lake
and there, it is supposed, scuttled, as in a
short time no vestigc Of her was seen.
The shower of cindcrs increased as the
wind grew in power after midnight, and
cinders as large as apples were hurled for
a distance Of half mile before striking the
earth. The air had the appearance of be-
ing full of
FIERY ROCKETS AND SHOOTING FLAMES
The fire at this time had acquired cir
cumlcrence of over two miles. 1t writhed
in and out in sinuosties like serpent. II
the crowd of safety-seeking wretches had
been large before, it now appeared to be
doubled. Women appealed to passengers
upon the walks for assistance to remove
their goods, and numerous hacks and ex-
press wagons carrying iainting women and
sick persons hurriedly drove by. The
horses were wild with alright, and leaped
and pranced and shyed as if conscious o.
the misery and devastation that the ele.
ments were hcaping on the city. The fire
worked towards the lake down Michigan
avenue, and from thence to the north side
of the river. AT 2 o'clock all the bridges
were consumed. The showers of partially
consumed sparks and dust and ashes fel
upon the multtudes until not face
but was blackened to an Ethiop's hue.
The Crosby Opera House, the fremont
the Sherman, Woods museum, Hooley''
Opera House, and everything nearly ON tn
north side of Lake street, was completely
licked up or gutted by the flames. Th'
courthouse, having an iron root, wa
thought to be fire-proof. Between sixt,
and seventy prisoners were confined in TIN
cells in the basement. AT this time it wa
known that the water supply had failed
the water-works being gone. The firemel
had ceased their labors, and
APATHY AND DESPAIR
had taken possession of the citizens. Tn
proprietor of large iewelrv store on LAX
street, crazed at the prospect of his neSita
bic losses, unlocked the doors of his build
4 ing and called ON the crowd to help hin
carry into the streets bis stock. The rush
ing throng hastened into the store and car
ried out rich silverware, costly clocks, ant
trays Of various kinds of jewels. Thes
were deposited in the centre of the street
but there is too much ground for belief tina
the coveted loot was moro the purpose q
the crowd than any desire to save the jew
elcr's stock. A large number Of peopl
had gathered about the courthouse an
clamored for the turnkey to appear and re
. lease the prisoners. lie showed himse
: and announced that the building was pei
f fectly fire-proof, no harm could result
t. those confined therein, and he should nc
, release the conyicts. An individual d'
nounced in shrill voice this barbarity
, the turnkey, and at once terrible roar {
| "Lynch the damned rascaP' outbellowe
; the bowling of the wind, the flames and Il
: momentary explosions that had grown {
> frequent so as to be regarded. The tur
z key in dismay fed and could not be foun,
l although pursuit was made. In answer
r the
!, TUMULTuous ROARING OF THE MOB