Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-11-07
THE GREAT FIRE.
Tacitus' Account of the Burning ofROme-strik.
ing similarity between IL and
the Chicago Fire

ing address at the Columbus, Ohio,
grand concert for the relief of suf,
ferng Chicago, on Saturday even>
ing last. In the course of his remarks
he observed
When we reflect upon this subject,
we naturally recur to what history
tells us of similar calamities. Aud i'm
considering them we are struck with
the fact that in no instance, perhaps,
was the destruction of values "a
great, or the amount of suffering
greater, than at Chicago. The mem
CRADLE fire at Rome, in the reign
Nero, destroyed nearly five-sevenths
of the city, and included within the
ruins were there most stately tenn
Piles and public buildings, and her
rarest and most valuable collections
of literature, science and the arts.
But it is not probable that the PEI
cuniary loss was as great az that of
Chicago. And the individual suf-
fering, dreadful as it was, was miti-
gated by the warmth Of n summer
sun, for the fire occurred in July.
Yet it was horrible and, in order
to recall the scene to your memories,
and because in many points it resem-
bles that at Chicago, l cannot refrain
from reading the vivid description Of
it by Tacitus:
"A dreadful calamity" says he
followed in "a short time after, bv
some ascribed to chance, and by
others to the eXecrable wickedncss
of Nero. The authority of histO>
rians is on both sides, and which pre-
dominates is not easy to determine.
Ii is, however, certain that of ali the
disasters that ever befeIl the city Of
Rome from the rage Of fire, this was
the worst, the most violent and dee
structive. The flames broke out in
that part of the city which adioins
on one side to Mount Palatine, and
on the other to Mount Celius 1t
caught number Of shops stored with
combustibe goods, and gathering
great force from the wind, spread
with rapidity from one end of the
circus to the other. Neither the
thick walls of houses nor the incos-
ure of temples, nor any other build
ing could check the rapid progress
of the flames. A dreadful conhagra-
ton followed. The level parts Of
the city were destroyed. The fire
communicated to the higher build
ings, and, again, laying hold OF the
interior places, spread with de-
gree Of velocity that nothing could
resist. The form of the streets, long
and narrow, with frequent wiudings,
and no regular openings, according
to the plan OF ancient Rome, contri-
buted to increase the mischief The
screams and lamentations Of women,
the infirmaties of Old age, and the
weakness of the young and tender,
added misery to the dreadful scene.
Some endeavored to provide for
themselves, others to save their
friends, in one part dragging along
the lame and impotont, in another
waiting TO receive the tardy or un
expecting relief themselves they
fingered, they INSTRUCTED one anoth-
er they looked behind, and the fire
broke out in front they escaped
from the flames, and in their place Of
refuge found no safety the fire rag
ed in every quarter all were involv-
ed in one general confiAgratioD.-
The unhappy wretches fed to places
remote, and thought themselves Sc,
cure, but soon perceived the flames
raging round them. Which way TO
turn, what to avoid, or what to seek
no one could tell They crowded
the streets they fell PROSTATE on
the ground they lay stretched in
the fields, in CONSERVATION and dis
may resigned to their fate. Num-
Der lost their substance, even the
tools and implements by which they
gained their livelihood, and, in that
distress, did not wish to survive.
Others, will with aflliction for their
friends and relations whom they
could not save, embraced a volunta-
ry, death, and perishing in the flames.
During the whole of this dismal
scene no man dared to attempt any
thing that might check the violence
of the dreadful calamity. A crew OF
incendlaries stogd near at hand de-
nouncing vengeance on all who of
fered to interfere. Some were so
abandoned as to heap fuel on the
flames. They threw in fire brands
and flaming torches, proclaiming
aloud that they had authority for
what they did. Whether; in fact,
they had received such horrible or
ders, or, under that defauce, meant to
plumber with greater Righteousness
cannot now be shown"
| make no apology for reading to
you this lengthy extract, written
nearly 1900 years ago, to prescribe
what befell Rome in the sixty -fourth
year of The Christian era. 1t pre-
sents to your imagination a more
lively picture of what happened tC
an American city, within the present
month, than anything | could say
When it was written the America
continent was unknown. More than
IL centuries after it was written, The
city of Chicago sprung into existence
and yet, so similar are mankind il
all ages, and so invaiable at all time,
are the laws Of nature, that thC
words of the Roman historian de
scribe with almost equal fideli
ty, the destruction of the ancient
mistress of the world and Of the com.
mercial mistress of an Americar
state.
The great fire at London in 1864
destroyed ive.sixths OF the city
within the walls, and is said to hav,
consumed about 1900 houses.
happened early in September, ant
the individual suffering was. TO som,
extent, alleviated by very fair an,
mild whether. lt was, nevertheless
very great, and the destruction 0
property immense. And the calami
| ty was marked nv tho same inceD