The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-05-11

nearly hall n mile distant only to have
it burned there The owner Of team
could command almost any price for his
services. Fifty dollars, and even 800,
was paid for a single load Of trunks
hauled beyond the reach Of the flames.
An old lady was seen tieging n sewing
machine along near burning building,
when n gentleman came along with n
huge trunk on his shoulder, and said to
her: You had better leave that, for you
will be burned by the flames from that
building She replied. IL lose this my
only means of support will be gone. "
Without n moments hesitation, down
came the trunk. and the machine was
carried to Il place OF safety. while the
gentlemau's trunk was buIned before he
could return
What more pathetic story could be
told Of n mothers love than that pOr-
trayed by the charred remains Of n cat
caught under fallen timber. while in its
mouth, held tight in death. was the body
Of n kitten?
Sitting on the steps ut the ruins of St
Johns church was an old negro woman.
and at her feet a huge bundle OF various
articles collected from the ashes Well,
auntic, were YOU burned out2 No sahl
but my white folks was. an aint know
whar To find de las one ob EN-. Dis
sure is n Judgment sarnt on dis town,
when dat iire was coming tow dis m Y
house jest got down ON my knees and
prayed To de Lord To let dat wind blow
to'ther way. and, child, dc good Lord
heard dis nigger and spared her.
Further on in the midst of the ruins of
u once handsome brick dwelling was n
lady and children searching the ashes for
some familiar object. " Yes. this was
our home. and we did not save n thing
but some trunks with a few clothes -
Similar replies could be heard ON every
hand
One gentleman saved a valuable library
by burying it in the grounf.
In spite Of the desolation there were
many Incidents humorous in theextreme.
Fancy this picture for n kodak fiend: Six
young ladies perched on the top Ola load
Of trunks and boxes, drawn by n mule,
on whom one of these fair ones was using
woman weapon" aided by the vigor-
Gus application of parasol, in the vain
endeavor TO induce the aforesaid mule to
hasten his steps.
The scenes around the telegraph office
were one long 10 be remembered. Hun
dreds of messages poured in from all
parts of the country, but owing to the
excitement the parties To whom they
were addressed could not be found Every
one has gone to work with will, and
the streets are being cleared Of obstruc-
ton, while the business people are secur-
Ing temporary quar- ters wherever they
can Most of the banks are already
open for business Contributions IN
money and provisions are pouring ~, and
the relief committees are doing n great
work. and no one is suffering for food
who will apply for it.
There are hundreds out Unemployment,
and young men who have been earning
800 per month are today showing what
kind of stuff the Southern man is made
of, and are not ashamed to work on the
streets at 81 90 day.
While it will take years for the city to
recover from this holocaust, the writer
predicts that before the tourist season
opens in 1902 there will be several hotels
open that will surpass those burned, and
many of the splendid residences will have
been rebuilt. The citizens of Jackson
vile are discouraged but not dishearten-
ed, and with that determined spirit OF
enterprise they are going to show the
world how quickly they will arise from
the very ashes.
May success attend their every effort.
r. II. X.