The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-10-28
CHICAGO.
Thrilling Incidents Of the Great
Disaster.

We copy from the New York
Sun the following thrilling Incl
dents
\ YOUNG LADH'S STORY.
Miss Rollins had IL most mar
row escape from Il fiery death.
She was surrounded by the flames
and dashed through a space
where the wooden pavement had
kindled into Il blaze. She tells
the following story:
When the second fire broke out
in the South division, nearly all
the people became insane with
terror. I never can tell of the
universal horror Of those hours.
They were years. | don't Won
der that men seemed aementcd
and women hysterical. One of
the little girls that attended my
school became lost. [ found her
crying as though her heart would
break. She is but seven years
old, and she could not tell what
had become of her parents and
family. There were many such
cases. AS we went on further the
thronS increased, until the streets
and sidewalks were black with
people. 1t was like freshet,
and poured in the one direction
of safety. BY and by we found
the fire getting around us as
though escape would be cut OIL.
and we would be cntombed in one
grand pyre of flames. "Go the
other way we are headed OFF,.
was now and then the cry, and
the multitude would turn back
struggling in new direction. l
saw some women and children
and one man, exhausted, lie
down in the cutters to die in the
hopelesSnesS of desperation.
Others would seize and urge
them along. Smoke and cinders
and flames and Scorchin9 heat
filled the air.
CHILDREN SCREAMED IN TERROR
and begged for water. Some
would catch up water from pud-
dies near hydrants and moisten
the mouth. s'This is the day of
Judgment! this must he the end
of the world" exclaimed more
than one. The degree of SYM
pathy that prevailed was wonder
full. There seemed to be one in
stinctive throb of feeling, and
the strong helped the weak. 1
believe that thieves had 4 great
deal to do with the fire. If they
did not start it in the first place
they lindled flames in fresh
places. l saw houses that had
been deserted entered by ill
looking fellows, who ransacked
bureaus and closets. There was
no time to speak to them. Once
or twice when they were spoken
to they profcssed to have been
sent by the owners to save things.
Many people in the haste of their
escape abandoned everything,
even to jewelry and money. l
saw one fellows pocket half full
of jcwelry and watches. I spoke
Of it, but in an instant he lost
himself in the crowd. ] saw a
colored man with a lady's chata-
laine chain suspended awkward
ly at his vest. The little girl I
had walked until the hot pave
ments blistercd her little feet.
Then we carried her. ''1s papa
and mamma burnt up? is Neddie
burnt up dead?' she piteously
asked. Late at night we found
them all safe. 1t was nearly
morning before we obtained shell
ter and food. I never want TO
set eyes upon Chicago again.
MIR. LOCKwOOD'S STORY.
Miss Rollins's story is not so
thrilling as that Of the gentlemen,
especially Mr.. Lockwood, who,
in company with Mr.. Wallace,
eScaDed across the river in q
boat, the bridges being useless.
Thence they crossed the lumber
district, which had commenced to
blaze. In one instance they had
to leap over the burning timber.
Upon a roof they clambered to
get a breath, and rest and view.
They said:
eve had an awful sight from
here. -Four dray horses were
penned up in 4 great yard, on
either side Of which were walls
of lumber blazing, cracking and
swapping fiercely. The air was
intensely hot and the smoke
sitting. The poor animals had
cot loose and ran to and fro,
their nostrils expanded, their
eyes aglare with terror, and ut
tering all the time wild, despair
ing cries, paving the ground.
rolling in the dust and rearing i'll