Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-10-19
A DREADFUL STORY.

>n DREADFUL STORY.
When the second fire broke out in the
South Division nearly all of the people
b4came insane with terror. Very few o.
the men even had any presence of mind.
If they had much could have been done
10 have either stayed or at least diverted
the flames. There was water, and reso-
lutte, careful organization of men land
women toct iu-f1ne couft frsve sawed much
property. When the Fra. Department
gave up in despair. the people seemed like
20 many scared sheeY. They rushed pell-
nell aw4v. Some of them carried what
hey could in their hands. L saw an
lrishwoman carrying a half grown pig,
which kicked and squealed with all its
might, until the flames overlook the pant
ing woman. when she abandoned the ami
mal to it's fate. A colored weman shout
dered her weeks washing ina huge wick
er basket and grabbed with tho other
hand frying pan and some muffin rings
Huge cir ders fell upon the dry, clear
-tarched clothes and set them smoking
In this way the poor wretch, already half
beside herself with terror, trudged along
for several blocks until the burning rags
fell upon her neck spd caused her to look
Around. With a howl of dismay and an
expression of horror that can never be re-
produced, she dropped her burden and
fled for dear life. One immense Dutch
man trundled a wheelbarrow along, load
ed with a keg of lager beer, some sHuseg-
es and some clothing, His wife and child
rem followed, all lNd6n with sundry arti-
cles-twO dogs bringing mp the rear. He
toiled and trudged along, uutil the APP
proach of the flames rendered more rapid
flight necessary. The wheelharrow was
then Abandoned. but not until the keg
was opened aud parting drink was taken
all around. One incident combined the
pathetic withthe ridiculous. Two blocks
beyond where | lived, in H4lstesd street, |
resided an old German, an almost helpless
cripple, whose sole support was his wife
and young son. The latter went away in
rhe morning and did not return. The
fire rapidly approached with deadly omen
and the old couple were not only distract |
ID at the absence O. the boy, tut fearful
If their own possible fate. At last the
fl smes came 40 nigh that they must fly or
die. la the strength of her ffection II e
old woman seized the oor cripple, placed
him upon her b lek, and thna A. g ared
along for distar ce OF two blocks, where
~cme men pla ced him in grocer's wagon
2pd drew him to place of safety,
But it seems wicked to think of snch
trifes amidst all the narrowing seer Is 10
l never can tell of the uaiver-
sal horror OF those hours. They were
years. l don't wonder that men seemed
iemented, and womrn hysteric-l. One
If the little girls that attended my school
became lost; I found her crying rs
hough her heart would break. She is
1ut seven years ola, and she could not
ell what had become of her parents and
amily. There were many such cases
As we went oa further the throug iu-
creased until the streets and sidewalks
we're black with people. By-andty we
ound the fire getting around u, md we
cared that escape would be cut off, and l
We would be entombei 10 one grand pyre t
f fame. "Go the Other way. We are !,
leaded of" was now aud then h cry, {
nd the multitude wouli turn back I
truggling in new = sctisn saw d
ONE women and children and one man a
Exhausted, lay down in the cutters to die il
n the hopelessness of desperation, others q
,ould seize and urge them along Smoke u
nd cinders and fame aud searching heat t.
lied the air. Children screamed in ter. d
Or and begged for water. Some would n
atch up water from puddles near hyd-
anita and moisten the mouth. "This is
HE'LL FIRE .,
bis is the day of judgment This must p
. the end Of the world !" exclaimed more &
ian one. The degree of sympathy that lie
revsiled was wonderful. There seemed q
be one instructive throb of feeling and
10 strong helped the weak. l believe ia
at thieves had great deal to do with fc
e Are. If they did not start it, they
ndled flames in fresh places. saw vi