Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-11-21
From the Interior.
An Incident Of the Chicago
Fire.
BY ELIZABETH HILLOCK.

On Monday, the 9th Of October-that
terrible Monday that burned itself into
so many memories-in the gray dawn
of the morning, little group of ladies,
gentlemen and children, apparently
friends and acquaintances, stood to-
gether in the waiting-roOm of the
North Side street railway station. 1t
was strange scene they looked out up
on; the very elements seemed on fire
above and around them. They had fled
empty-handed from their homes, yield
ing up everything to the pitiless fire
and no less pitiless band of desperadoes
that followed close upon it, and now
stood, speechless, fearless, stunned, ga
zing through the arched doorway upon
display, frighttul in its magnifcence,
painful and bewildering in its wild
grandeur. A strange, motley multi
tude pressed the street before them
each individual of it silent, as if sud
denly struck dumb. Friends looked at
each other, but no sign of recognition
or word of greeting passed between
them. Women, with pale faces, gazed
into faces wan and pale as their own
each catching in the cOuntenance of her
neighbor reflection of the terror
stamped upon her own features. Chill
dren, with upturned faces and strange
awe in their young eyes, searched the
blazing skies, as if expecting now the
realization of that Sabbath school les
son, which, in its singular majesty and
grandeur, impresses itself upon the
childish mind as no other lesson ever
has done, or ever can do. ''In that day
they shall see the Son Man coming
in the clouds of heaven, with power and
great glory" No cry, not an excla-
nation Of fright, no word of question
or complaint came from any of the pale
lips of the great homeless multitude,
pressing OIL toward the northern limits
of the blazing city. The little group in
the waiting-room stood, as if SPELL
bound, looking out upon the moving
stream of life, watching, but hardly
noting, the weird play Of the red fire
light upon the terrified features, and,
in many instances, outre garb of the
silent procession filing past them. A
light hand fell upon the arm of one of
the ladies composing the group, and as
voice, pathetic in its weariness, begged
the privilege of resting in the room.
The strangeness of the request, at such
Il time, tohen no one owned anything,
and everything belonged to everybody,
drew all eyes of the little company up
OH the timid Petitioner. A lady she
was, without doubt, shrinking, deli
cate looking girl--or woman rather
alone, and evidently exhausted. The
lady whom she addressed pointed 81
lently to the sofa at the back of the
room, but then catching a glimpse of
the pleading, frightened eyes looking
wistfully from one face to another, she
disengaged her arm from that of her
husband, and accompanied the stranger
to the couch. A moment she stood be-
fore the reclining form, noting the ex-
treme delicacy and refinement of the
features, the sweep of the long eye
lashes up the slightly pinked cheeks,
the shapeliness of the small, neatly
gloved hand, and the lady-like simpli-
city of the dress. A long-drawn sigh
that spoke heart full of pity for the
lonely wanderer, moved her lips, and
she Joined her friends in the doorway
again. -ItO4 t+
The hungry fire sped on its way, lap
ping up with red tongues the choice
homes of the wealthy, and the no less
dear, but homely hearths of the lowly.
1t was strange, the Frequency with
which the eyes of the little group at the
door Withdrew from the terrible fascin-
alton of the red contiagration without,
and rested upon the weary sleeper in
the back part of the room. Who was
she? Her plain alpaca suit and spot
less linen collar and cuffs, although
such as any lady might wear, were
quite within the reach Of modern means,
and a certain indescribable something
told the experienced eyes passing over
them that their purchaser had known
the full worth Of money; that service
ableness and durability, as well as good
taste had been considered in their Sc
lection. Was she II teacher, an artist,
saleswoman, a seamstress? Certainly,
from no dear home could this delicate
girl-woman have wandered out alone
into the burning night. The whole of
the great city could hold for her no ia
ther, 10 mother, no brother, nor yet one
| who bore nearer name. What strange
chance had so separated her from all
companionship, that, among the many
thousands here, not the most common
friend or acouaintancc bore her COM