New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-18
A WOMAN'S STORY OF THE FIRE.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO TIIB TRIBUNB

these dreadful daysi It's dream nightmare only go
real that tremble as write, though the whole thing
might be brought to again by merely telling Of It,
We lived the North sde six blocks from the river
the newyregenerated river, which used TO be at once
the riches and the despair Of city, but which had
Just been turned back by the splendid energy of the
people, TO carry the sweet waters OF Lake Michigan
through all its nOsomc We were quiet people,
Like most Of the NOrthSders, Hatterng ourselves that
our comfortable wooden houses and sober CHEEKY New
EngandlOokng streets far preferable TO the more
rapid, blatant life Of the South Side.
Well on Sunday morning, Oct. g. Robert Collycr gave
his people what all felt to be wonderful Sermon on
the "Think ye that those upon whom the tower OF
Sloan fell, sinners above all those who dwelt at
jerusalem and illustrated by picture of tho present
fe and great Cities their grandeur. their wicked
ness, and the awful though strictly natural conse-
Quences of Unsuitable pursuit Of worldly prosperity
too often unchecked by principle; and instanced the
many recent dreadful catasrophes as signs that not
the spectators alone not the contractors alone nor
the recognized sinners alone but every man and
Of the United States, were responsible for these
horrors, nasmuch did not work 6sht bleed, and
die, II necessary, to establish such public opinion as
should make them impossible.
out gazing about on one beautiful church, and
hoping that not stone Of the dear church at home
had been set paid for by the rascality which our
preacher eoquenty depicted certain to bring ruin
material as well spiritual, and we passed the
pleasant bright day; Of going down to the scene
the West Side fire Of Saturday night and espyng as
from good distance, the unhappy losers OF SO much
property. About 81 in the evening our ncghborng fire
telegraph sent forth some little ADMINISTRATIONS, and
we lsziy wondered, as D. played the piano. and I
watered my ivy, what they were burning up
now. At 10 O'Clock the fire bells ringing con-
stantly, and we went to bed rcgrettng that there
must he property burning up on the West Side
Eleven O'Clock, O'clock and wake my sister, saying,
Its very singular; heard anything like the fires
Tt he vhO IN
ahe Poor people, wonder whose csreessness set this
agongI" One Oclock-two o'clock we get mp and look
out Great God the fire has crossed the river from the
SOUTH Can there be danger herei" And we looked
anxiously out to men hurTyng by. screaming ana
swearing and the whole city to the southland west OF US
one vivid garo. "Where the enginesf Why don't we
hear them as usuall" asked each other thoroughly
puzzled but yet hardly personally frightened by
the strange aspect of the brilliant and smgng streets
below Then came loud knocking at the backdoor, on
Eriest" Ladies' ladies' get up! Pack your trunks and
prepare to leave your house, it may not be necessary
but it's we'll to be prepared 1t friend who had
fought his way through the Lasale tunnel to warn us
that the city fire. We looked at each other with
white faces. Well we might In an inner room slept an
invalid relative the object of our ceaseess care and love-
the victim Of terrible and recurring mental maady,
which had already sapped much OF his strength and life,
and rendered quiet and absence Of excitement the first
prescription Of his physicians Must call the invalid
and we did in the midst Of this fearful glare and tur
mol, what would be the RESULT We determined to wait
till the last minute, and threw some vauables into
trunk while we anXiously watched the everapproachmg
| fame and tumult.
Then there came a strange sound In the air, which
stiled or seemed to still, for moment, the surgng
crowd "was 1t thunderp asked. No, the sky was
clear and full of stars and shuddered as we felt but
did not say, 1t was o tremendous explosion OF gun
powder. By this time the blazing sparks and bits OF
burning wood, which we had been feaIfuly watching,
az hoe N underwriting
hail and another shower Of blows the doors warned
us that there was not moment to be lost "Call E"
rhe invad) do not let him stay minute, and will
try TO save our poor little birds" My sister
few TO wake up our precious charge, and l ran
down stairs repeating myself to make me remember
Birds Deeds silver iewery silk dresses as the order
in which would try to save our property 1t came to
the worst.
AS passed through pretty parors how my heart
ached Herr the remnant Of my fathers library copy
of Bible printed In 1887 on one table, on another, my
dear Mrs Browning, in Ave volumes, the Gift OF lost
| friend. What should take I What should leavei
alternately loaded mysef with gift after gift and dashed
them down in despair Lovely pictures and statuetes,
left by kind friend for the establishment OF our little
rooms, aud which had turned them into bower OF
beauty-must they be left At last stopped before our
darling, sweet and tender picture OF Beatrice Cenci
going to execution, which looked down at me through
the dismal red glare which already filling the rooms
with sanity and weird sweetness that seemed TO have
something wistfu in It, thought II will save this,
If l die for it, but my poor parrot called my
name and asked for o peanut, and I could
no more have left him than II he had been baby But,
could carry that huge cage No, indeed; 90 reuc-
family took my poor little canary who was painfully hut
tering about and wondering at the disturbance, and
kissing him. opened door and him free-ony
10 smother, fear. But the best could do for
him II wished to save my parrot, who
had a prior right to he considered. one Of
| the family, II sixteen years Of incessant chatter
may be supposed TO establish such right.
what sight our usually pretty quiet street presented
A far az could zee, horrible walla surgng, strug
Cling encroaching wallke vast surface Of grmacing
demonscsme pressing up the street. wall Of fire.
nearer and nearer steadily advancing upon midnight
heplessnes Was there no wagon no carriage, In which
we could coax poor E., and take him away from
these maddentng sights Truck after truck indeed,
Da,scd by. but Aed with loads Of people and goods
Carriages rushed past drawn by struggling and foaming
horses and lined with white, scared fRees. truck
| loaded with goods dashed up the street, and ss
| looked. flames burst out from the sides, and It
hurned 70 sahes in front Of our door.
No hone no help for property what We could not carry
IN our hands We must 30, forcing reluctant
into the canary birds cage took the cage under
ome arm and little bag huntedly prepared uader tho
other lust 40 my sister appeared with E, who thank
cfn was calm and self-posSeSsed At LAST the good
tnA Who had warned Us appeared and leaving all his
own thIuRs insisted On helping my sister 70
.sv. ours. and lie and she started on, drag
g4n1 a saratoga trunk They were Obliged 70
"honhou Il NJ the second corner however, ana Walk on
leaving me 10 follow with F.. "Cofne E, let Us
90 - .a,d T. 900 wheret ! am not goiDg. Rhrrs 10
Tie uset" he answered. and he stool Shh "'e erAs