The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-10-26
Rurninr OF Rome.

As connected with great fires has pc
cuhar interest at the present time, we re-
produce the narrative of the historian
Taeitus concerning the confagration
which occurred at Rome, A D. "a:
There followed a dreadful disaster;
whether fOrtuitously, or by the wicked
contrivance of the prince, (Nero,) is not
determined, for both are asserted by his
torians-but of all the calamities which
ever befel this city from the rage of fire,
this was the most terrible and severe. 1t
broke out In that part of The Circus which
is contiguous to Mounts Palatine and
Coelins; where by reason of shops IN
which were kept such goods as minister
ahment to fire, the moment 1t commenced
it acquired strength, and being accelerated
by the wind, it spread at once through
the whole extent of the Circus; for mel
ther were the houses secured by enclosures
nor the temples enVironed with walls; nor
was there any other obstacles to intercept
its progress but the flames spreading ev-
cry way impetuously, invaded first the
lower regions of the city, then mounted
to the higher; then again, ravaglng the
lower, it baffled every effort to extinguish
it, by the rapidity of its destructive course,
and from the liability of the city 10 con-
hagration IN consequence of the narrow
and intricate alley, and the irregularity OF
the streets In ancient Rome. Add to this
the wailings of terrified women, the lnhrm
condition of the aged, and the helplessness
of childhood, such as strove to provide
for themselves, and those who labored to
assist others these dragging the feeble,
those waiting for them, some hurrylng,
others lingering altogether created
scene of universal confusion and embar-
rassment; and while they looked back upon
the danger in the rear, they often found
themselves beset before and on their sides;
or if they had escaped into the quarters
adjoining, these, too, were already seized
| by the devouring flames; even the parts
which they believed remote and exempt,
were found to be IN the same distress. At
last, not knowing what to shun or where
to seek sanctuary they crowded the streets
and lay along the open fields. Some from
! the loss of their whole substance, even the
means of their daily sustenancS, others
from affiiction for their relations, whom
| they had not been able to snatch from the
| flames, suffered themselves to perish IN
them, though they had opportunity for
escape. Neither dared any man attempt
to check the fire, so repeated were the
meEaees of many who forbade to extln-
guish it, and because others openly threw
/ fire. brands, with loud declarations "that
they had one who authorized them;"
whether they did it that they might plum
/ der with the less restraint, or in conse-
quence of orders given.
| Nero, who was at the juncture sojourn-
/ ing at Autumn, did not return to the city
till the fire approached that quarter of his
house which connected the palace with
the gardens of M@cenas; nor could it,
however, be prevented from devouring the
house and palace; and everything around.
But for the relief of the people thus des-
| titute and driven from their dwellings, he
opened the field of Mars and the monu-
mental edifees erected Ly Agrippa, and
even his own gardens. He likewise rear
ed temporary houses for the reception of
the forlorn multitude, and from Ostia and
| the neighboring cities were brought up
the river household necessaries. and the
price of grain was reduced to three sester-
ces the measure. All of which proceedings,
though of popular character, were
thrown away because rumOr had become
universally current, that at the very time
when the city was in flames, Nero, going
on the stage of his private theatre, sang
the Destruction of Troy" assimilating
the present disaster to that catastrophe of
ancient times.
At length, on the sixth day the conha-
| grafton was stayed at the foot of Esquila,
| by pulling down an immense quantity of
buildings, so that an open space, and as it
were, void air, might check the raging
element by breaking the continuity. But
ere the CONSERVATION had subsidized the
fire broke out afresh, with no little vIo-
lence, but in regions more spacious, and
| therefore with lese destruction of human
life, but more extensive havoc was made
of the temples and porticos dedicated to
! amusement. = Nero seemed to
aim at the glory of building a new city,
and calling it by his own name; for Of the