Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-04-17

cunulated horrors of the whole war were
We women moved about. seeking out
our friends and trying to buoy them up
with the report Of what General Lee had
said. It is true that we received very
little encouragement but in spite of this.
and of our sinking hearts, We uttered
brave words and deceived ourselves into
uec,arlng that We were perfectly salts
ned and confident that our cause was
safe"
Amid these scenes the day wore away.
and gave place to "A night whose tctrors
have rarely been surpassed in otlr happy
land, The army was !eavihE the city all
night friends parted from friends hus
band from wife. father from child; tender
maidens sent away their lovers with smiles
gliding their tears. with brave words and
fainting hearts. Hundreds of citizens
determined 70, leave with the army, and
every Ayailable vehicle was pressed into
Service But soon a more formidahic en-
envy than the beeeiging army asserted the
mastery over the city. Who gave the
order for firing the tobacco warehouses
will never be\known. Probably it was
done without authority. and due to the
rccklcsSncss of some individual.
The houses occupied position in the
heart of the city, and from them the fire
spread rapidly; and, as fearful addition
to the horror Of the hungry flames, a mob
of hungry men, women and children
went from place 10 place, breaking open
warehouses, and appropriating whatever
fell To their hands. With desire to pre-
vent the mob and the incoming army
from getting hold of the spirits, which,
was stored by the government, orders
were given by the city officials to pour it
into the streets. The cutters ran with
it: and men, like swine, stopped and
drank from the mirc; and soon the flame,
recognizing kinship with the fiery
stream, leaped to meet it, and roaring,
cracking and dashing in blue, red and
yellow waves, the two demons whirled
down the streets, carrying destruction
with them, and driving the frightened
crowd before.
At daybreak our shaken nerves were
shattered by repeated terrific explosions
following in rapid succession. 1t was
the blowing up of the ironclads, whose
advent had been welcomed with such
hope. Unable to rest in the house, a
friend and myself started out just after
davbreak to see what the condition of
. things was Soldiers crossed each other
hurrving after their comrades, or, with
sullen faces, returning home; hundreds
Of men and woven came pouring up the
streets with the spoils Of the night upon
them; here was woman rolling barrel
of flour before her, followed by child
eroaning under basket too heavy for his
strength; there was man with box OF
bacon, and another with box of shoes
and for background to the scene, the
lurid smoke rose toward heaven and
through its angry blackncss the rising
sun sent its beams.
As the day progressed the horrors IN
creased. Some recklessly wicked person
had cut the hose. and so all attempt to
pnt out the fire was hopeless. 1t had
progressed from the business portion Of
the town to the homes of the people
Fuoitives filled the streets, who had only
escaped with their lives from their burn
| ing buildings Then a succession OF raplc
, and terrific explosions frightened US anew
We thought the enemy had entered, ane
were at their dread work of ven
reance. We soon found that 1t was thu
, arsenal and the Tredegar works, which
were not to be cheated of their work o
, destruction. and were pouring their mur
> derous shot and shell into the helpless
diving .eitv.>as if to vent their lmpoten
rage. .EOne more horror did | witness
} About 40 o'clock, Just before the en-
Q trance Of the Federal army, a cry OF DIS
NAV ran all along the streets which wer
ont of the track Of the fire; and saw
crowd of leapng. shouting demons, L
4 narti-colored clothes, and with head
| half shaven. 1t was the convicts from
e the penitentiary, who had overcome tn
G puard, set fire to the prison, and wer
now at liberty. Many a heart which ha'
- kent its courage to this point, quailed a
the sight. Fortunately, they were to
t intent upon. securing their freedom to d
< much damage. With the Federal arm
o came protection. What we had locke
I forward To as our worst evil Was hies>
T inc. hv bringing reason to our dlstracte
reoplc. Bv organized eNertion the tir
c was controlled and by night sank do"
: to n smouldering. angry mass, READY
e break ont at a moments notice.
) The fire had licked up everything cor
a s,Imahle around three sides Of the Capltt
d SQUARE and the old Capitol hulldin
h stood alone. like Greek monument
" the midst Of the ruins OF Athens. po
Vt the green grass of the square were co
II lcrtcd hundreds of men. women an
" children. who had been burned out
II In utter dcStitution they lay there an
> louked up at the stars and stripes whlc
Il foated over them, token Of their defe'
9 and humiliation.
c One week passed. Another Sahbat
Il found us still looking for good new:
e from the fugitive army. We went
y church. but were forbidden 10 of
n nrlvcr> for the success Of our arms O.
= hearts vented themselves in silent pet
tions When absent friends were pray'
- for We all wrote between the lines
i Barti>t minister prayed.
!, 20. Lord, Thou knoweS1 what we
q earnestly desire and dare not ak f~r
- words Grant it, oh. Lord. Grant 1t !.
h About eight o'clock we we're sitting
- c,o+her silent. with tense nerves anu &C
- ;,.r hearts when the sound u e