The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-04-11

Ihe night VI the ninth came, ana II
in Turner Hail." the band was playing
and it was the same air still, "The Bat
tie on the Rhine" The music cam
through the open window, and hoatec
out into the streets, and came to Gretch
en-, sitting with her hand upon her head
with the white satin lying in cleaning
folds, and the orange blossoms twined il
her sunny hair. The familiar aiT carried
her back to her old German home, anC
Louis
Old Nicol and Rommel had gene to
the hall, and little Gretchen was waiting
and watching the time, listening sadly
as the city bell to'led the hours for she
knew that when it counted off eleven
strokes, that the two would come in
again, bringing strange faces So she sat
and prayed, with white hands clasped
and eyes raised despariugly to Heaven,
sthat something might happen to avert
her fate
Suddenly loud stroke Of the be-. !
An alarm Of fre She cCuated one
tWo-and then the band playing in the
hall clashed out it's lOudcst notes, and the
sound Of t he striking Of the bell was
lost But she saw the mad flames leap
up, dancing against the western sky
STILL thu band played on, and lovers
walked by her window. And in the
German hall she knew how they were al
sitting grouped about little tables, ami
,he fancied old Nicol's and Rommel's
heads close together, good naturally
talking of their gold and drinking their
beer
"a fire on the West Side" said one.
And engine after engine, with a stream
OF fire flying behind them, dashed along
the street, so Gretchen watched and
waited. Old Ncol and Rommel and
their noisy friends came from the hail,
and they brought her down'to the parlor
All were waiting, for Rpmmel had the
license, and Nicol was happy and willing.
But the fire streaming up against the
western sky, had grown fearfully vivid
and mems faces were white, as they look
one to the other. Suddenly some one
in the street gave The cry,-"Its crossing
the river"
Crossing the river, do they say ?
shouted old Rommel "Nicol, Nicol, if
1t crosses the river / am undOne ~ And
he rushed from the house, with his gray
locks streaming behind.
H dew to the rivers bridge, but tpat
was burning Then he looked IF towards
his marble palaces, and great Goals and
cinderS, and streams Of living. glowing
fire were pouring down on their tar coated
roofs And he threw up his cid hand
and cried out frantically. And there
was mighty cry went up from the great
city and the fire came sweeping on, and
Just ahead oft went old Rommcl with
fly ng feet toward his treasure The
streets were full, men, women and chill
dren, crowding one over the other Some
fell down, and 80 falling lay, like men
lie on field of battle. And the living
rushed over them where they lay.
Old Romme rusnes in to his stately
palace where lies all of his gold. H.
o peas the vault and grovsls before it. H.
it's it in his arms he cannot carry it all
Again and again he tries. The roof is
burnt &! Men shout that all must leave
the guiding Old Rommel hears the
shout, but sudden wrapping around of
che fumes, and the palace is shrouded
The fierce wind, and the mighty roar
which so pen viii ever describe goes on,
and human souls die awful deaths-and
dying believe that the Last Day has come
And stones fall. ON them, and mountains
# BRICK, and forever they are buried
from living sight
Cd Mic II was crying along the street
Sor his friend R)mmel. And all the faces
were ghastly-even death having netting
81 terrible IN its expression the resi-
4ents of the avenue, and the denlzens of
the alley, we're toiling along, side by side.
And b y turned tn ir faces to the north
And the mighty fire swept northward af-
Ter them! Old Niccl thought him then
of his child Gretchen. He turned again
to the bridge spanning the river, and it
was q mass Of fame. Thsn a horrible
lear crept over him, for all around him
lay the burning city. Like wild animals
nefore forest on fire, the people were
fleeing. The d man joined the rout
Out of the gl&rlng light into the black
est darkness they rushed. And so :hey
went shouting, yelling, cursing and swear
ing, through Lasalle street tunnel. The
fierce heat swept through the tunnel-the
stone steps were glowing. Two men
came forcing their way out together. AnJ
the CHASTITY glare of the burning city fell
on their white faces. And they saw each
other.
Louis"
IN icol -
"You are young and strong, Louis" said
old Nlcol, teebly. "Run, Louis, run and
saVe Gretcheh. Save her, Louis--save
her for yourself And tell her Louis, Of
her old father-teIl her"
''Stsp, stop, Nicol !" cried the soldier,
taking the old man by the arm and pull
ing him along, "We'il hasten together"
They came to Gretchen's home, and the
girl sat quite still by the window-sat
there in her satin dress, and orange bios