Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-12-05
Humorous Incidents OF the Boston
Fire.

Humorous Incidents of the Boston
Fire.
Now that the first shock of the calamity
is somewhat dulled, it may not be con.
sidered amiss if we dwell upon the humor.
Gus features that attended the conhagra.
ton. 1t was prolific in amusing Incl,
dents, even during its moments of su-
premest horror, and the ludicrous went
cheek by iowl with the serious to far
greater extent than it is possible to con
ceiye by those who kept aloof from the
scene Not the least laughable of the in.
cidents was that in which middle-aged
| lady played important parts. She was
on the shady side Of forty, tall, thin and
| bony of aspect. Her sandy hair was
screwed up into numberless rigid curls on
either side of her face, and a crunched
bonnet fluttered detlantly down her back,
and was only prevented from falling off
by the ribbons about her neck. She
pushed her way through the excited
crowds while the fire was raging at its
highest, wringing her hands and shrek.
| ing frantcaliy for "Clara," implored,
wept, stormed and moaned for CLARA"
cnlisling everybody's sympathy. "Wil
nobody put out hand to save the poor
thing?' she implored in almost frantic ac-
cents. "Oh, dear; oh, dear My little
darling will be burned to death" Even
the most hardened felt for the agony that
seemed to be urging the poor woman 10
madness. Firemen stopped their work 80
ask her where her CLARA" was, sind
several crowded about her with proffers
of assistance if she would only be explicit
| But not a coherent explanation could be
gained from her. She continued to wiring
her hands and to moan, "Clara, Clara,
my poor Clara" A thrill of terror went
through the multitude ut the idea that
| some human creature was in deadly peril,
and no intelligence of her whereabouts
was TO be gained from the alf-demented
woman before them, who rocked to and
fro, sobbing and refusing to be comforted.
Presently, with a wild shrek Of Joy she
darted forward shouting, "Clara, Clara"
and stopped down. Crouching in cor
ner was large, white Cat, with singed
fur, who, with curved back and swollen
tail, stood kissing and splitting with fear.
full energy. AS the old lady stopped to
pick her darling up, the ungrateful cat
flew at her, leaving the marks Of her
claws on her face, and darted off in mad
terror amid the jeers, laughter and boot
ings of the crowd, her frantic mistress
darling after her with the bonnet flying
ensign downward like a signal ofdistress
Another amusing diversion was created
by tall, welLknit and rather rugged
specimen of humanity, who stood gazing
at the fire with the deepest interest.
Every now and then he would take Wig
orous bite at large hunk OF tobacco and
chew with an energy that knew no flag
ginE, but without taking his eyes from
the fire, which appeared to fascinate him
AS the flames made Roadway, he moved
uneasily, shifted his weight from one foot
to the other, and chewed with renewed
animation. Each new building that fell
prey to the FIRE seemed to cause him to
experience the most poignant despair
His glance was not so strongly marked by
sympathy as by anxiety His sallow
jaws seemed 10 elongate with every fresh
building that went down. Presently,
when the flames seemed as though they
would engulph the whole city, he turned
his pale face from the flames, and address
ing party by his side, exclaimed with
no less pride than disgust; "Psho! 1t
can't be donel The place amt big
enoughl The Chicago fire knocked this
all to splinters. Yes it did, tell YOU.
was born there, and ought to know. l
tell you, sir, Chicago is bound to be
ahead on this fire yet" and he walked
away his face glowing with patriotic
fervor, and an expression OF the most un-
bounded contempt for the miserable fail
ure that was certain to attend all envious
attempts of Boston to rival Chicago in
the matter of fires.
The number of tlpsy men who were to
he seen in the netghborhood OF the fire
battles computation. They sprung up
without warming in all directions; tumb-
ling into the mud, stepping into man
holes tripping over Instructions of every
description, and picking themselves up
again with that sodden Indifference to
pain and inconvenience that is so charac-
teriStiC of the enthusiastic devo-
votee at the shrine of BacChus.
One of these had large bundle, wrapped
in white sheet, which he was dragging
after him through the mud and mire, and
which had the effect of steadying him to
some extent, and prevented him from
falling. How many people he swept oil
their feet rs he pulled his load Hfter him,
will never now be known. His progress
was suddenly brought to q standstill by
policeman, VINO seized him and began
to question him regarding the right by
which he kept company with the bundle,
but the only reply elicited was STUPID
stare from pair OF lack lustre eyes, a
hlccough, and the exclamation; Alive
r. missurl Big fire down ere. Wha'N
Yer take ~ At length the policeman be.
Ean TO drag him away, bundle and all,
when the upsy idiot looscned hs hold on
the bundle. and said "LOok-a here, mis-.
sur policeman, If yer gcin to take me up,
yer maylwell carry me bunnel, too, I'm
willn' Mines whisky wass yourn 2'
And the last seen Of the pair was the po-
liccmsn dragging the bundle with one
band and with the other graspinC his
prisoners collar, causing that worthy 80
perform a series Of gvrauons in which BE
got over great deal of ground WItnou.
finding it necessary ID take maBy steps
One womar, frantic with terror, was
seen rushing down Neyonshire street with
a cheap bat largo looking glass In her
arms, wl.cE was cracked N all directions