The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-08-02
An Actresses Experiences in the st.
tsGIGo8 John Fire. h. lit;ops er

;sgiseG John Fire. J. 3i;oef 2a
Miss Louise Pomeroy, in a letter from
st. John, received in this city, says the
New York Tribune, gives some interest
ing details Of her personal experiences
during the recent confiagration. She
says:
Only three or four people, who were
guests, at the Victoria Hotel, saved their.
personal property. [ was among the
fortunate number in saving my profess
sional wardrobe. - Wes~insisted upon
having our trunks brought down to the
office, despite the opposition of the
'clerk, who urged that there was no dan-
ger. Large red-hot cinders were blow
ing about at the time and dropping on
the roof of the hotel. Moreover, "a house
few steps off was going the way of all
the rest of the town, with the dreadful
wind in our direction. To retreat in
good order was sthe better part of
valor.a A truckman was instantly call
ed, and his cart loaded and started for
the country by the kindness of Mr.. Kel-
ly, treasurer of the theater, who carried
the luggage to farmhouse out on the
marsh road, two miles away, This was
the last and only property saved at this
house. A quantity of baggage was car
ried down to the American wharf, how
ever, and burned before the very eyes Of
the unfortunate owners. A number of
actors lost all of their wardrobes. Little
or nothing was saved at the Academy of
Music. My basket was packed all ready
for the nights performance, and l con-
graduated myself, as the baggage was
carried along the street, that l could
send for my basket and soon be ready
| at night to go on as if nothing had hap
,pened.3 But there was no play that
night, and it will be, many a long year
before they have another theater in st:
John. 1t was difficult to- decide which
way to 60, The red glare loomed up in
every direction, menaeing the lives of
those who did not not saann beat an instant nsa re- re-
We walked through King Street, the
principal business street, to Kings
Square, while one side of the last block
next the square was following the de-
strl1ction3 of the entire street to the
waters brink. The furious flames were
/ reveling through the inside of the build
ings. 1t was fierce assault and,
i though a sad, . magnificent sight.
/ When a1ittle more than half way to the
square, the falling of wall appeared
imminent and liable to cut off all egress
at the corner. r Itzwas necessary to run
for life, with the heat pouring threats
upon one at every step. A very queer
feeling creeps versonesat such peril
Gus moment. It is bad enough to die
at all and have a beautiful certainty, but
i to- be Buried to deathAoh,l no! Any
human being would make, good time
7 under such circumstances. Arriving
safelylat Kings Square, it was impos-
sible to leave. We all lowered around
I like lost spirits, eager to witness the
plan of destruction A hotel at the cor
ner, allnewly furnished, was going, but,
i as if anxious for company in its misery,
4 passed the fire-brand across the street
to the bell tower, which grasped it, with
4 the aid of the wind and began to crackle
4 and flame as busily as the rest. From
4 this the fdrhiture in the square caught
4 fire and burned UP. fss0TlikI qeq.EsI +,
j Old Trinity Church., the pet of the
4 city for it's age and associations, burned
at 5 O'Clock in the afternoon. 1t was
4 ninety years old. The special pride OF
the city, the old coat-of-arms, which was
brought from New York or Boston by
the royalists who founded st, John, was
on this church, and was saved by pa
4 triotic fireman and given into the charge
4 of woman for afe-keeping. q There
was great, eongratplationq, among the
people for this, even vtsnp in their distress
i The venerable Ccleeks Ithat had been as
d faithful as a dial for. many years, STOP
ped at $40, and was soon reduced, te
ashes with the rest of this ancient land.
mark. .jIiaeb 10 aelois s1a n354a