American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-11-23
BEHAVIOR OF THE CROWD.

The march of the flames was as
intiexible as fate. and a pitiless.-
There was no resisting them. Build
ing after building, square after
square, acre after acre was absorb
ed as steadily and as surely as the
seconds swell into minutes and the
minutes into hours Men seemed
stunned by the ruin that was so
suddenly sOwn broadcast. Some,
who a few hours before had enjoyed
a full sense of that security which
wealth bestOws, and who were now
beggared, stood gazing with a pain
full WEAKNESS aud listless apathy
that were touching to look upon.
Others shrugged their shoulders,
lighted cigar and went on their
way with the true " Vive la Baga-
telle " air; though their pale faces
and anxious brows told another
story of the anguish they tried hard
to stifie. In the midst of all the
hustle and confusion there sudden
ly started up without warning num-
berless men, women and children
bearing goods on their backs, in
arms, on their shoulders, and wag
ons filed with books and papers,
thrown prOmiscuOusly in, burdened
the roads. Here was to be seen a
man carrying a trunk, and casting
a look over his shoulder at the ruin
from which he was hurryiug away;
and there, a number of boys carry
ing bushel baskets containing a Gu
rious mixture of odds and ends,
hustled their way through the
crowds that impeded them. People
fought, struggled, cursed and storm
ed for the possession of wagons,
carriages, hacks and even wheel
barrOws. The sidewalks of the
streets adjacent to the fire were
heaped up with bedding, desks,
furniture, boxes and goods of every
description. The "birds of prey"
who fatten on the calamities of their
fellows, lowered about, eager to pill
fer upon any opportunity that offer
ed. They skulked in the shadows
Of the houses, watching with greedy
eyes for chance to crafty their
rapacity. Well dressed gentlemen
were hustled by them with a view
to watches and pOcketbOOks. They
crOuched in dark inches, ready to
dart forth and pounce upon any ne
elected trItle. They leered horrl-
bly, in the faces of timid women, and
uttered coarse jestS in their hearing.
Their brutal faces, low brOws, small,
snaky eyes, narrow lips and heavy
jaws, showed them to be the bOtch-
ings of natures handiwOrk, and
these distinctive and repulsive fea-
lures were seen in distressing num-
bers in every direction. They grew
so bold at last that the military
were called in to keep them in
check, and as the steady tramp of
the soldiers was heard through the
din, and their swords and bayonets
reflected back the fire i'll cold and
titful flashes, this scum crept away
to the dark holes from which they
emerged, aud gradually disappear
ed from the scene. All this time
the flames continued to enfold and
swallow up everything in their
way, rolling forward and dashing
against fresh food for their wrath,
as the surf beats up against the
stranded vessel until it engulfs her
in its NAV. The firemen seemed
composed. They worked necessarily
and with the most touching earnest
ness. but they were baffled COM
pletely, and were driven back step
by step by the fire they sought to
conquer. At length it was proposed
to try the effect OF powder in stay
ing the progress of the flames.