Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-14
Another Thrilling Account of the Con
observation-disclosures and Incidents.

From the New York SUM-
Yesterday a number of additional refugees
frf m the grand theater of desolatiOn at Chicago
arrived in this city. Among them were Timothy
lockwood, of SScO. Maine; Henry p. Wallace,
OF fremont, New York, and Miss Laura Z. Rol-
Inns, Of Bridgeport. Connecticut. All bore evil
dence of the great excitement and horror through
which they passed; and their narrative of what
occurred under their observation is thrilling in
the extreme. As they generally related their
med TO absorb all their feelings util they were
spel-bound with horror. 1t seemed like an over
wrought tale of fiction rather than the grim and
terrible reality that all knew il to be. As they
spoke one could observe that their nervous sys-
TENS were stimulated to the highest pitch, and
their very countenances and voices were like
those who had come from the jaws of destruc
ton. Miss Rollins was the only one who had
saved anything but the garments on their per-
sons. They would not have been able to have
come home had it not been for the generosity of
the railroad employees, who passed them free
The dining saloons on the route manifested the
same generosity, and everywhere they were the
YOUNG LADY's STORY.
Miss Rollins had a most narrow escape from a
| fiery death. She was surrounded by the flames,
and dashed through space where the wooden
| pavements had kindled into blaze. She tells
| the following story:
When the second fire broke out in the South
| Division nearly all the people became insane
with terror / never can tell of the universal
| horror of those hours. They were years.
| don't wonder that men seemed demented and
| attended my school became lost. 1 found her
| crying as though her heart would break. She
| was 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 throng 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 IS though escape would be cut OFF,
| and we would be entOmbed in one grand pyre of
| fame. s'Go the other way; we are headed off,
xN1g mn md m ha rnu1t IA
| would turn back struggling in new direction.
| / saw some women and children and one man,
exhausted, lie down in the gutter to die in the
| hopelessness of desperation. Others would seize
| and urge them along. Smoke and cinders and
fame and scorching heat filled the air.
CHILDREN SCREAMED IN TERROR
| and begged for water. Some would catch up
water from puddles near hydrants and moisten
| the mouth. 80 This is the day of Judgment this
must be the end of the world ~ exclaimed more
than one. The degree of sympathy that pre-
| vailed was wonderful. There seemed to be one
instructive throb of feeling andthe strong helped
| the weak. believe that thieves had a great deal
TO do with the fire. Ifthey did not start it in the
first place, they kindled 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.
pIofessed to have been sent by the owners to
Of their escape Abandoned everything, 1 eTeD
lows pocket half fnil of Jew jewei Gye a an,i
watches. spoke of it, but in an instant he lost
| himself in the crowd. saw a colored man with
/ a lady's chatelaine chain suspended awk-
wardly at his vest. The little girl had walked
until the hot pavements blistered her little feet
| Then we carried her. ''Is papa and mamma
| burnt up? is Neddie burnt up dead?" she pitt
ously asked. Late at night we found them ali
| safe. 1t was nearly morning before we obtained
| h liter and food. / never want to set eyes upon
Chicago again.
| Mr.. LocKwooD's STORY
Miss Rollins story is not 80 thrilling as that of
the gentlemen, especially Mr.. Lockwood who,
in company with Mr.. Wallace, escaped across
\ Thence they crossed the lumber district which
| had commenced 10 blaze. In one instance thew
had TO leap over the burning timber. Upon q
roof they clambered to get breath, and rest, and
1--WE had an awful sight from here. -Four
dray horses were penned UP in a great yard, on
cracking and swapping fercely. The air was
intensely hot and the smoke sitting. The moor
| animals had got loose and ran TO and FRO their
Dostrils expanded, their eyes aglare with terror,
| and uttering all the time wild, desparinQ
cries, paving the ground, rolling In the dus
and rearing IN fury. We sickened at the sigh
and fastened away, for our own salvation was
| none too certain. Arriving at the court-house
| We pushed through the multitude and finally
obtained place in the tower. Here we had an
extended vision Of the devastation. The night
| was hideous with scenes and sounds more In
| fernal than human. Below us in the SQUARE
! among the crowd we recognized
! A MAN WHO breaches INPIDKL SERMONS,
/ or rather TRADES from the step, and frequently
was stopped by the police on account Of the
great disturbance he melted. Now he was
/ wriDging his hands as II in agony, and wailinR
| and shouting: "Where Is God nowi Where &
God nowF Show us the angelsl" sc.
| This he continued until an officer coIlared
/ and thrust him into the basement. where his
/ rawlings were less audible.
The crowds could be seen in the streets
/ huddled together, stupefied with fear, gazing
/ like demented ones upon the awful piano.
/ rama. The lurid glare gave everything
/ a crimson hue, and the moving figures in the
/ avenues seemed like imps of birthstone. Horses
/ were terrified, and snorted and neighed as they
/ were tremblingly forced to go. The cries OF
/ children and parents seeking each other in vain