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


tent of the fre-front bewildertd and
confused persons fleeing for safety.
and often they found themselves cir
cumvented by Il roaring hell all of a
sudden, and persisted i'll ii moment.
THE CONFUSION.
But while the eye dwelt on the hor
rifying scenes, what Il mingled tumnlt
smote the ear! The voices of excited
multitudes near and in distance blend
ed dull rushing sound, while the pro-
gress of fire gave up noise like the
roar of burning forest, and the heav-
ems glOwed as if transmitted into brass.
1t Was il spectacle, time words can
not portray. The unutterable patLos
of the ruin was forgotten in the spell of
its appalling grandeur and il dumb
wonder at the triumph of fire over all
that was great III Il splendid city.
HOW THE FIRE ORIGINATED.
1t ia now pretty we'll sett ed in the
minds of the people that the fire urigi-
mated in one OF two ways. The first
"t the theories is based upon the STATE
ment of IL little girl who resided on the
West Side, some blocks south of Jack
son street. She states that some boys
were playing with matches in a build
ing where there was collection 81
light combn>tlble materials, that the
flames of the matches coming in con-
tact with these slIavings. they were ig-
mittd, and in an incredibly short space
Of time the building was one vast pyra-
mid Of fire. The wind at the time WAS
blowing Il perfect gale. The alarm was
given, but before the fire department
could get in position to effectively work
against further progress of the fire II
number of buildings were in flames,
and the wind was sweeping the drvour-
ing element northward with wonder
full rapidlty.
The other theory is based upon the
statement Oft gentlemen who posi-
lively asserts that the fire was caused
in the first instance by the explosion
of IL coal oil lamp, instead of by the
careless use of matches by boys. Both
statements locate tie origin of the fire
in the same house at the corner of Cam
abort avenue and Halstead street, in
the Southwestern part of the city, be-
tween Que and two miles from the
courthouse, known AS the pork pack
ing and lumber district.
THE PREMONiTIoNs OF RUIN.
1t was between . and 10 o'clock when
the alarm was given. One statement
places the time as late as 10 n'clock.
while others assert that the FIRE was
first discovered about . o'cl"ck. 1t was
probably few minutes after that time
The weather had been exceedingly dry;
the wind was blowing almost gale
from the sOntll-sOutl,west. The fire,
starting in nel:hbOrhOod where there
were numerous lumber yards, planning
mills and other wooden structures, fed
upon these light cnmbusiibles, and the
flames spread with Incredible rapility.
The whole Heavens we've lighted up
with lnrid glare. Vast volumes OF
flame seemed at times to have been de
taclled 10y the fury OF the gale and pre-
cipitated forward over entire squares,
kindling new fires to feed other flame
columns to be hurried forward on their
mission of devastation.
PROGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATION.
1t was now a little after 10 o'clock.
The fire had already made fearful hav-
&C. A vast tract. perhaps 30 or 46
blocks on the West Side, north and
and south of Jackson street, WAS one
great field Of fire. AS yet, the people
ON the East side felt themselves COM
para'ively safe. They had little ap-
prellcnsion that the fire would cross
the river. The light from the burning
city illuminated the heavens with Il
fearful glare. The streets were filed
by an excited multitude. People from
the West Side were fleeing from tIieil
burning homes. The noises of the
roaring tornado of flames as it swept
onward in it's career of devastation rOs,
above the tnmHlt aud din of the grea
li0nseless multitude that fled before it.
devouring fury.
! Up to this time the inhabitants OF
the East side had been hopeful. They
relied largely ON the character of ihei
great iron and stone front buildings
The track of the fire fiend was alread,
nearly mile in length and half Il mil,
wide. A vast multitude, hurried from
their burning homes, were crossing til,
river before the advancing columns u
fame. The wind whistled and Iowke,
through the streets, and the bri.li
light Of the fire every moment grew
brighter. The heat in the vicinity %
the fire became intense, as the wind
famed the glowing tinbers to white
heat.
/ Still in the lower part of the city il
the vicinity OF the great hotels and hus
mess the feeling among the peOpl
was more than that of commiseralioi
for the sufferers on the West side an,