The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-08
THE GREAT CONFEDERATION.

Portland lay asleep. All over the
city the Peace Angel hoyered, and the
dreams Of thousands as they slumbered
in fancied security, were unbroken by
premonitions Of danger. But the in
cendiary did not sleep. With his fiend-
ish appetite for destruction whetted be-
yond its ordinary wont, he prowled
among the sun-dried buildings wherein
yet greater combustibles were stored,
and at the silent hour of four, the hour
when sleep is soundest and danger and
suspicion Of danger is supposed to be at
rest, lac applied the torch that laid a
city low. Well did he lay his plans for
his foul purpose. Firemen, watchmen
and policemen were alike lost in the
sweet luxury of a morning nap. The
prolonged whistles of steamers at the
docks for many minutes seemed to only
WOO the dream god. But at last a soli-
tary fire bell rang out its sharp alarm
Portland awoke-awoke and fiOcked Il
open windows, with drowsy eyes and
disheveled hair, with blanched cheek
and fiuttering heart and gazed out upor
great mountains Of smoke, surmounteC
by slender spires of lurid flame. An
other, and yet another fire bell rang
Men hurried on their clothes and darteC
pell nell down the erewhile deserted
streets. Women, scarcely taking tim'
to clothe themselves, followed at a littl'
distance. Thousands gathered at tn,
scene of disaster and gazed and strug
gled, till lot after lot and block afte
block fell before the devouring element
driving back, with the fierce tongues o
fire that possessed them, or the grea
billows of smoke that they sent forth
the frantic owners who fought for longe
mastery in vain.
Women, with little children clinginl
to their clothes, struggled along tn
streets under all sorts of burdens. Men
, divested of all thought of self, Tough
the arch fiend face to face, saving prop
erty wherever they could. Brothel
, emptied the low, vile, horrid life will
which they TEEN into the open streets
and filled the air with curses. Minis
ters stood upon the steps of costl,
churches within stones throw of thes
awful dens, and lifting up their hand
and voices, besought the God of ele
ments to stay His hand. Men, NOR
practical, enshrouded buildings in we
blankets and prayed with hose an
buckets, and, we trust, silently as well
Other men, by dozens, became brutal,
intoxicated, helplessly leaving thei
wives and children to bear the burden
of the day. Our noble firemen did thei
duty grandly. Assistance came fron
Salem, Oregon City and Vancouver
and chiefly by the aid Of these reinforce
ments was the eonflagration headed o.
before it could destroy the st. Charlie
Hotel, the only brick building tha
stood between the conflagration and tn
} almost entire remaining front. Tn
loss is computed at 81, Is5, ,S25; insuranc
. S25s,0OO. 1t is q greater calamity to til
} Northwest than the Chicago fire was {
, the central portion of the Union, for
} is far greater loss in proportion to tn
/ age of the country, its wealth and popu
: lation. But our people are again g
( work. Nothing daunted, they will nc
E say die. Already preparations are bein
made to rebuild many business houses
e Relief committees will see that th
i destitute do not suffer, and though yeal
i will pass away before Portland recover
), from her shock, she will arise from h,
!, ashes, better built than before.