The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-07-19
THE CHICAGO FIRE.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
from the Chicago Tribune. I


The second great Chicago fire. as regards
scenes and incidents, was very fair reproduc-
ton OF the first. There was the same general
alarm and general helplessness. Everybody
appeared to agree that our Fire Department
was not alone lamentable, but also
DIsGRAcEFUL FAILURE.
How much Of justice there was in this uni
versal accusation, time alone can tell A great
fire is like great battle. Everything is glare,
confusion, and excited recrimination. The
engines represent the defensive artillery, play
ing carelessly but vainly against the blood-red
columns of fire, as, house by house and street
by street, the fatal flames advance upon what
once was so beautiful in its stately architec-
ture.
THE POLICEMEN
represent the infantry of the line, or. perhaps,
voltigeurs, for the greatness of the catas-
trophe compels them to scatter far apart, and
so they present no very imposing aspect.
The express wagons, carts, trucks and other
wheeled conveyances represent the baggage
trains moving to the rear, as, loaded down
with household furniture, they trundle gloom
lily over the respective bridges, and through
the crowded streets, which are thronged with
fugitives half astonished and half frightened
These represent
THE ROUTED ARMY;
while the blazing pieces of wood, falling
thickly through the bewildering smoke, repre-
sent the bombshells
Anybody who remembered the hot at
mosphere, fierce wind and general destruc-
ton Of our first grand disaster, telt moral
certainty last night that we were again visited
by the dreadful enemy in a form utterly be-
yond our control. People cast their eyes
along the magnificent facades Of our business
section, glowing in the sinister light of the
conflagration, and wondered whether all those
splendid structures were toredoomed to in
glorious ashes. The common expression
was, 8. 1t is too bad" but some ground their
teeth and blasphemously exclaimed, "God
must have
A SPITE AGAINST US.
Such was the expression of one venerable
gentleman, as he viewed the cruel flames lap
ping up the Adelphi Theatre with remorse-
less greediness. 4 prosaic man beside him
said, ''Shame, George It's the lumber and
the damned prairie wind ~ But the chief ex-
preston on the popular countenances was one
Of
UTTER DETECTION.
This disaster could not be comprehended
1t looked like a lash from Heaven, or from
the place which may by called its antithesis.
What is the use of fire department at
asked, but very rarely answered. At each gap
in the wall Of buildings, people would excl i'm,
!. There is the place to stop it Y and, when
the flames swept past, the cry was 'All is lost!'
Many people kept
INQUIRING FOR GEN. SHERIDAN
" Where was he !? and why did he not blow
down half-a-dozen streets in the path of
the fire." And some then answered, $ He is
afraid Of getting the Times after him again"
There were gatherud together, on the west
side Of Fourth Avenue,
HUNDREDS OF WICKED WOMEN,
all grades in the profession,
from the mistress Of the most fashionable
place in the West to the poor inmates Of the
low brothels and the pretty waiter-girl
saloons. These women saw in their misfor-
tunes fair provocation for big time and
many Of them were taking it in the highest
Kind of style. From the open win
dows of some houses strains of music
could be heard rising above the rafting and
OF the steam eng ines; and now and
hen there would be an uprorious burst OF
neriment, that indicated nothing so surely as
unlimited champagne and fine cigars. This
vas not the sound mind in sound body, meet |
ng disaster with courageous front; it was
he vile revelings Of abandoned men and
women on the very borders Of their fellow
Features misery. On the steps of these |
Houses, and within the parlors, though easily |
isible from the street, were some of the young
men about town who have never before pro-
laimed their bad associations in public
manner. The contagion of the hour in this
ase was too much for them, and all joined
a the disgraceful merry making with hearth
ess and energy of manner worthy Of better
pursuits.
LUDICROUS INCIDENT
f the fire was the plucky and successful at
empt of a woman to save from a burning
uilding what she apparently held dearer to
er than life itself. While the roof Of her
uilding was aglow with flame, she rushed
lto it, and, after disappearance Of about ten
minutes duration, reappeared, bearing in her
rms four cats, all Of them bowling and claw
lg in a most energetic style. Bearing her
recious burden in her arms, she fought her
ay through the crowd on Fourth Avenue, and
as soon lost to view with her feline affinities.
OF course there were opportunities for the
DISPLAY OF COURAGE
uring such a momentous event Among the
lany heroic acts performed, one of the
ravest was by Mr.. p F. Driscoll, who
sscued two ladies' at No. 279 State street,
ON terrible death. The ladies, who We're
! the third story, found themselves cut away
ON the stairways by the fire, and appeared
the windows calling for help. Mr.. Driscoll
rushed up the stairs, through
noke and flame, and succeeded in bringing
lie bewildered women safe to the sidewalk,
here they woman-like, tainted from pure
latitude. Mr.. Driscoll was slightly scorched
uring the performance of his brave deed
1t Is strictly within the bounds to say
10000 PEOPLE
ere in the street by o'clock Beginning at
ne Custom House square, where there was
z excellent opportunity for seeing, and
5retching away down as far as Van Buren,
rect, there was surging mass of men, 1t
as well-conducted gathering. There was
tile speech, The eyes were too busy draw
lg in facts for future USE Once in while
ian whose feelings had been too long re-
ressed, would break forth with sWell, all
We got to say is, it's id shame" 'sYes,
S ID shame" the bystanders would
y in chorus and then everybody, having
lus been relieved of a passing weight Of
lief, would relapse again into silence.
A young man of the name Of Brown has
Gated small sensation in New York. He
mes from Iowa. Herald reporter was