Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-11-17

The Burning Of MOSCOW.

1nc htufnlnS Oh moscow.
It was the 10th of September, 1912. At
midnight Napoleon, in utter exhaustion Of
body aud mind, retired to rest Suddenly
the cry of "fro' rcsoundcd through the
streets. Far off in the east immense vol.
umes Of billowy smoke, pierced with flames,
were rolling Into the stormy sky. Loud cx,
plosions Of bursting shells and uphcaving
mines scattered death and dismay around
Suddenly tho thundcrs Of an earthquake were
heard in another direction. n score of bull.
dings were thrown into the air. Flaming
projcctilcs Of the most combustiblc and un-
quenchabc material we're scattered in all
directions, I'd new Volcano of smoke and
flame commenced ,its ravagcs. Earthquake
succeeded earthquake, and volcano succeed,
cd volcano. The demon of the storm seemed
to cxult in his high carnival of destruction.
The flames were swept in all directions. The
shower Of fire descended upon all tho dwell.
]ings and all the streets. Mines were sprung,
shells burst. Cannon vas discharged, wag-
ons of powder and magazines blew up, and
in few hours of indcscribablc confusion and
dismay the whole vast city was wrapped in
one wild ocean of fame. The French sol.
diers shot the inccndiarics, bayonetcd them,
tossed thcm into the flames, but still like de-
mons they piled their work. Napoleon awokc
in the morning and looked out upon the
flames, which were sweeping through all
parts Of the city. For the first time in his
life he appeared excessively agitatcd His
farreaching mind apprchcnded at glance
the measurelcss calamity which was inpcnd.
ing. lIo hurriedy paced his apartment !;
dictated hasty orders, and from his window
anxiously watched the progress of the fire.
The Kremlin was surrounded with gardens
and shrubbcry, and seemed for time to af-
ford shelter from the flames but mines of
powder were in its vaults, with various com.
bustibles arranged to communicate the fire
AS Napoleon gazcd upon the conhagratiou he
exclaimed "What frightful spectacle !!
Such number of palaces The people are
genuine Scythians." "Not even the fiction
Of burning Troy" said Napoleon afterwards !;
<'though heightened by all the powers of po
etry, could have cqualed the reality of the
destruction Of Moscow"
During the whole of the 18th and of the
ensuing night the gale increased in severity
and the fire ragged with undated violence
Tho city now seemed but tho almost bound
less crater Of an almost distinguishablc volca-
no. Various colorcd flames shot up to all i'm
mense height into the air inccssant cxplo
sions of gunpowder, satpctrc and brandy
deafened the car projcctiles of iron and
stone, and burning raftcrs, were hurled far
off into the surroundiug plain, crushing ma
ny in their fall. Multtudcs, cncirclcd by
the flames in tho narrow streets were mscra-
bly, burned to death. The scene Of confusion
and dismny has probably never been cquel!cd
The soldiers, stihed with smoke, singed with
flames, and lost in the streets Of the burning
city, fed hithcr and thithcr before foe
whom they were unable even to attack. They
were often-s seen staggering beneath immense
packages of treasure, which thoy were frc
quentIy compelled to abandon to effect their
escape. Miserable women wcro seen carry.
ing one or two children on their shoulders,
and dragging others by the hand Attempting
often in vain, to flee from those accnmnlatine
horrors. Old men, with boards singcd by the
fire, crcpt slowly and fceby along, aud in
many cases were ovcrtaken and destroyed BY
the coils Of flame that pursued them. Napo.
leon was indefatigable his excrtions for the
rescue of his soldiers and tho remaining in.
habitants,
At length ~ was announced that the Krcm-
lin was on fire. The flames so cncirclcd it
that escape seemed almost impossible. The
fire was already consuming the gates Of the
citadel It was not until after long search
that postcrn could be found through which
the imperial escort could pass. Blinded by
cinders and smothcred with heat and smoke
they pressed eiong on foot until they came to
roaring sea of fire, which presented appa.
rently.an impossible barrier. At last mar
row, crooked, diverging street was found ba
zibg in various parts, and often ovcrapched
with flame. 1t was an outlet which despair
alone could enter. Yet into this formidable
pass Napoleon and his companions were nee.
essarily impclled. With burning fragments
falling around, and blazing cinders shower.
ing upon them, they toiled along, almost
blinded and suffocated with heat and smoke
At longth tho guide lost his way, and
stopped in utter bewildermcnb. All now
gave themselves up for lost. Fl was remark
cd that in this terrible hour Napoleon was
perfectly calm and solfpossessed. Just thcn
they caught glimpse Of Marshal Davoust,
who, with company Of soldiers, was in
search Of the Emperor.
Tho Marshal had signifcd his determine.
aion to rescue the hopo Of france or perish
in The. attempt Napoleon affeotionatcly en-
braoda the devoted Prince. They soon en-.
aountered 10 the blazing streets q convoy Of