Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-11-14
F1RENIEN S BARRICADEs.

The fireman erected barbados and
.wo ked behind them, but they were
burned almost as soon as erected An
hour had hardy eapsed before it was
evident that Beebes Block, the finest
business structure in the city, built of
granite; five stories in height, with the
cursed Mansard roof over all must 90.
Within thirty minutes the flames were
coming out in fiery pillows from every
window and up, the stairway leading
to A. i. Stewards rooms was a perfect
column Of flame. This building serv-
ed as fuel for the fanres Pieces of
dry goods went whist ing across the
square, lodging on window-sils of
magnificent stores ON Devonshire
street. Beebe's Block stood solid
wall of granite several minutes after
the inside fell, but the heat warped it,
and two millions of dollars soon lay a
heap of stone, bricks and mortar
A hurricane now ragged, and owing
to the intense heat and perfect sleet
Of Goals, drove everything before it.
Every building was now heated Jas if
III furnace and caught like finder.
-Four story granite blocks seemed like
shayings. Deafening explosions were
constantly heard, New terror was now
added to the babel of confusion. Ten
ement houses at the upper end of Fed
eral street were fast being licked up by
flames, and women crazy and fainting
were rushing to and fro. carrying chill
dren, crockery, clocks and bedding in
their hands. One ran screaming
through High street with a stove fun
mel in her hands, while another was
tugging heavy chest which would have
been weight for a strong man.
Now and then few pieces of goods
might be- saved by volunteers, who ran
In spent five minutes, during which
time they could work, bringing out per
haps a. hundred pieces Of cloth. One
man Marshal Cottet got out twenty
fsen thousand dollars worth Of kid
gloves, and had them placed on the
sidewalk in a damaged condition
He offered a hackman five hundred
dollars in vain to take the goods to a
place of safety. In less than an hour
he had to flee for his life, and the
| flames were not again cheated of their
prey.
| am sorry to say that Boston is nc
better than our other cities, for in midst
of the terror and confusion that exists
in our streets, Thieves are busy a,
work, and frequent arrests are being
made. Indeed, it is difficult to tel
friend from foe, and many owners. are
compelled to see their valuables carried
off by Unknown desreradoes, without
venturing to demonstrate or stop the
lawless proceeding. The police do al
they can to protect property, but thu
multitude prevent their doing much, ant
so they content themselves with making
arrests whenever it is possible. Nearly
two hundred men and boys have ALREADY
been locked up, and also several wo
men. All Of these prisoners are Of tn
lowest class, and come from the pur
! liens of the city.
T. The fremen from Newburyport, Low
Tell, Woburn, Chelsea, Cambridge, Charl
estown, New Bedford and elsewhere al
promptly responded to the can. for ali
by the city authorities, and dispatche
ale constantly coming in annoincin.
their departure by special trains. Blu
before they can arrive the greater POI
]. tion Of the busiress section Of the cit,
4 viii be destroyed with immense store
valuable goods.
After repeated solicitations on tn