New-York tribune., 1876-12-21
vrcg PISS AND LITTLE FLAME.

There have been fires and fires There was the
fire in Troy, when the pious Eneas saved his
papa the fire in Rome, when Nero played his cello
brated sonata for the violin; the confiagratlOns OF
London, of Moscow, of Chicago, and of Boston; and
Yesterday we printed (by the timely aid OF an AS
sociated Press Dispatch the thrilling story OF what
the devouring element did at Little Rock, Ark,
beginning at $50 p. IN. on the 10Th inst. and end
ing in smoke and ashes at 11:30 on the very same
evening. The gentleman who made up this
soul-harrowIng account was evidently not much ac-
customed TO fires Possibly he finds his official po-
stion at Little Rock little dull, and when Provi-
dence sends him something, by him in turn to be
sent we do not know that he is much to be blamed
for making the most of it, as he most certainly did
For if all Little Rock had been calcined,
pulyerized, and melted by fervent heat, he
could hardly have transmitted a more elab-
orate account of the incineration. 1t
might have been" is what lends immenses force
TO this well-padded narrative AT $50 p. m the ire
threatened to destroy the eastern part OF the city,
At S45 p. m. the streets were tbronged with
people," and " there no water on hand" More
over a report arose that there was considerable
powder in the building" A "three-story brick
building in fames~ The City Council,
at $50 p. M, adjourns. There is "possi-
bility that the flames may be subdued." The
loss probable at thus moment will be Sl50,000. If
water holds out. portion Of the building may be
saved" At 010 p. III. it is evident that the build
ing is doomed" and the telegrapher sezes this op-
perfume moment to tell the world of it, At 0:3O
(good gracious > "the water in tho cisterns has
given OUT The fire is in the second
story,n extraordinary to relate! Alas, the
building will be thoroughly guttedW but
fortunately "both firms are sufficiently insured"
At 1915 p. IN. this dreadful confagration had
been raging for two hours" The walls OF the
block fallp There is no telling where the flames
will be arrested" The general offices of the Little
Rock and Fort Smith Railroad Company are in dan
ger.D At lOh. SON. three brick buildings are razed
At ll:3O the fire Is out! Loss S15O,OOO!
But there were other narrowing incidents, full
particulars of which were kindly furnished by tele-
graph. Among those burned out, as we were told,
were "Popp, butcher" poor PopD aud Mr.. Reed,
the barber" This is interesting, but it is tame in
comparison with the recital that John Chambers
was dangerously injured by an ak dropped from
n house, while n box Of merchandise severely in
iured Jack Curtis Finally, at $3.50 p. NJ, we are
told that it was expected that "25 wooden build
ings would be destroyed" Nothing more is said
of tins conhagratiOn IN posse from which we are glad
TO infer that the "25 buildings" are still in esse.
There were, however, several wooden structures
which might possibly be crushed by the fall of the
ruins and we are rather surprised that we have not
received dispatch of portentOus length, stating
why they have not been crushed, and giving the
names, ages, occupations, and color of those who
would have been crushed if the crush had taken
place at all.
1t would be well for the proper authorities OF the
Associated Press to inform the Little Rock enthusiast
in his business that brevity is the soul of tele-
graphing as well as of WITT that fires consuming
hricl, huildinOO not entirely
known in this part of the country, and that the
national interest in the AK which fell upon John
Chambers has not proved TO be of profound char
aeLeF