The Indianapolis journal., 1904-02-14
WHEN LONDON BURNED,
As DESCRIBED BY PEPYS
Ancient Bit of History Recalled
by the Great Balti-
more Fire.
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
The disastrous Baltimore fire served to illus
trate the fact that after an interval of more
than three centuries marked by steady prog
ress in science and invention, a conhagration
well started in the heart Of great city can
only be suppressed by destroying houses which
are are not yet in ham9S and thus isolatng the
which the great fire In London was finally
extinguished after it had ragged for four days.
so many interesting glimpses of the terror and
confusion of the time that realistic account
Oh Wnat occurred petween lhe "a ana oth
Pepys was called up about 3 in the morning
OF Sept. ?. and told that London was in flames
but, thinking it a matter of small moment the
philosophic diarist went back to bed again. At
on him and his wife told him that 800 houses
had been burned down during the night. Pepys
so 1 made myself ready presently. and walked
to the Tower and there got upon one Of the
the end of the bridge all on fire. and in
finite great fire on this and the other side
SO down. with my my heart heart full of trouble.
that it began this morning in the Kings bak-
burned St Magnus's Church and most part of
Fish street already. So L down to the water
and there saw a lamentable fire. Everybody
endeavorng TO remove their goods and fiinging
that lay of. poor people staying in their houses
long till the very fire touched them. and
then running into boats or climbing by one
pair of stairs by the water-side to another. And
among other things the poor pigeons, / per-
ceive. were loath 10 leave their houses; but
they. some Of them, burned their wings and
fell down"
Pepys having remained in his boat on the
Thames fully an hour and observing that
everything. even the stones of the churches
proved cOmbustible and that a high wind
driving the flames into the city he re-
solved to report the state of affairs to the King
SO he went to Whitehall, and word was car
red in to the King so l was called for and
did tell the King and Duke Of York what saw.
and unless his Majesty did command houses to
be pulled down nothing could stop the fire
They seemed much troubled. and the King com
him, and command him to spare no houses but
to pull down before the fire every way"
After long search. PeDvs at last met the
lord mayor in Canning street. disordered in
dress and almost spent with fatigue
ITO the Kings message he cried like faint
spent people will obey me. 1 have been
pulling down houses; but the fire overtakes us
faster than we can do it, SO he left me- and
him. and walked home seeing people all almost
distracted. and no manner OF used to
quench the fire. The houses, too so very thick
as pitch ard tar. in Thames street; and ware.
houses Of oyle and wines and brandy. and
other things. The churches. houses and
all on fire and flaming at once: and a borrid
noise the flames made. and the cracking OF
On the 90 OF September about 4 O'clock In
the morning. friend sent Pepys's cart. in which
uables (Which / did :" records the dia rist
riding myself in my nights -gowne I'm the cart
and Lordi 10 see how the streets and the high
ways are crowded with people running and rid
ing, and getting OF carts at any rate 20 fetch
away things The entire day was passed by
Pepys and his wife in packing and removing their
household goods. SO that he has little to record
save that they fed upon the remains OF yes
tertiay's dinner. having no fire. nor dishes
nor any opportunity OF dressing anything" This
fact did not lessen his energy. however for
ne up again at break OF day on the tth
OF September. 10 get away what WAS left ~
his household goods.