The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-23

The city is doomed % was realized and,
as If moved by single impulse, they
rushed 70 the vestmaksr's room and
almost dragged the Mortified couple from
their beds
Deathly white, John Hicks CROPPED his
way tremblingiy to the great easy chair,
holding 1t as dear friends hands for the
last time. Great tears of anguish rolled
from his eyes, and as he pitifully looked
around the little place where there had
been such happy, happy days, where so
much that his long life had gathered was
stored, it seemed as though his distracted
heart must break.
Mother, mother !-Milly, Milly How
can we leave it," he cried in frenzied
despair.
Mother managed in some way to moan
that the Lord would provide. while they
were compelled TO almost tear the vest
maker from the spot; and as, half crazed
and wholly desolate, they sped from the
little nest, he agOniZedly clutched back
ward toward it all with his rough work
highlands, as did thousands upon thou.
sands of others that dolorous night,
moaning piteoSly again and again:
Dear, dear old home good bye :"
And now, if never before and if never
again, the vestmaker's apprentice was
given an opportunity to show what man.
ner of a man he was.
y
meeting Chicago had ever known; and
the AFFECT conditions enforced by terror
took form and aspect as fantastic and
horrible as the subjects were almost
nun berless and far separate in circum-
stance.
Crowded, torn, forced forward by re-
sistless streams of frantic refugees. or
thrown aside with a blow or a curse; fall
ing from exhaustion and suffocation, and
spurred by the feet of others until reused
again by despair; they fought their brave
fight with Death all that dreadful night
and struggled for this dear life of ours as
only despairing souls can show their des-
perate might.
Then the morning came, more terrible
In its slckly glare than the red glory of
the night, driving the witless thousands
over and beyond the river and into the
cold waters of the lake; and there, on the
sands, in and out of the surf, in turn
frozen and blistered, all but dead from
physical fatigue and mental suffering
they saw their beloved city go down like
bunch of reeds, knowing no earthly
hope beyond
AS that fateful day dragged on, they
were driven, driven onward; and when
the flames and the shadows of the night
struggled for mastery they were forced
pltllessly from each hating place. At
last the old French cemetery was reached;
and stumbling among the neglected
graves, on which were already flung
thousands of exhausted sufferers, the APP
prentice led, carried and dragged his
charges to the foot of a mound. on which
stood large vault, filed with lost and
moaning children, guarded by a single
determined sentinel who kept the almost
fierce besiegers away with desperate
success which attracted Ned's attention
even in his miserable distraction.
Packed full of little ones! And, by
the Eternal! I'll brain tho first ruffian
of you that attempts to enter!" he would
shout, while frantically swinging his
club about him.
1t was honest Bob White, ragged, Bills
tered and bruised, who was succoring
every wailing child that fed that way
and thus heroically defending them. Re-
alizing it all, Watson rushed upon him
with God bless you, Bob" unheeding
the singing blow from Bob's club, but
grasping him in his arms and shedding
the first tears that had wet his eyes for
many year; and they did him world of
good as he afterwards manfully con-
fessed.
ooh, but hasn't Chicago got up the
boss fire, though2'' exclaimed Bob pant
ingly as he recognized his friend. but
who is that with you2 The little vest"
Yes, Bob, and the big ones, too. More
dead than alive, thought But for
| heavens sake, as l have now a greater
motive than ever for remaining incog to
| the old folks, as you value my friendship,
! call me Edwards :"
Through long habit Bob raised his
| quizzers, from which the glasses had
| hours before been shivered, and gazing
for moment discouragedly at Watson,
| said musingly:
Bad as ever! Bad as ever, Nd
wards"
But the charging upon his temporary
! orphan asylum became too heavy to ad-
nit of speculations upon his friends de-
prayity, and he returned to the unequal
! conflict with hearty invitation to Ned
! to bring up his relatives" And in a
| few moments more the terror-stricken
! family was safely housed from the relent.
| less storm of fire; and all that second
night of fame and woe they slept as they
had never slept before, while the old
friends, still guarding the vault door,
watched over and protected them.
few days after the great Chicago fire
there were strange movements among
the living occupants of the
old French burying ground. Edwards
excused himself early one morning with
the avowed object of securing some sort
of home for the winter, which was all
but upon them. Milly followed soon after
Win some plausible excuse Tor her alb
sence; and Bob White, last of all and
looking uncomfortably conscious, shortly
disappeared with expressed formidabl;
purpose of working the Relief Society
for hatful or two of coal"
So John Hicks, who all his life long had
prided himself upon his independence Of
riches and fought out the principle man
fully, sat there among the dead, holding
mothers true hand, almost as listless anC
helpless as his own now, and said never q
word of the moaning words that were in
his heart to say.
An hour or two had passed after Bob.
departure, when the old people were star
tied from their stupor by the ruL0bling OF
a carriage which was rapidly driven III
TO the vault door; and Bob himself, gor
geously arrayed and chuckling under his
breath, Cruelty jolly, by Jupiter!" with
all the airs of a lackey handed the ole
vestmaker the following note:
Mr. and Mrs. Watson request the pleasur,
| Of your company to dinner at their residence
| No. -- Michigan avenue, at | D. m to day
Your daughter Mildred, Mr. Edwards ant
| Mr. White will be present.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hicks Old French Cemetery
Oct 10, 1871
Bob afterwards observed with tears II
his eyes when recounting the affair, thai
he coulu not bear their great bewilder
ment, and so he just hurried them into
/ their carriage and leapod upon the boz
with the driver to escape explanation.
/ and the DiteOuS wonder in their eveS . anr