The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-19

joined the advanced guard, gazed long and thoughtfully on that goal of his wishes. Murat went forward and entered the gates with his splendid cavalry. but as he passed through the streets he was struck by the solitude that surrounded him. Nothing was heard but the heavy tramp of his squadrons as he passed along. for a deserted and abandoned city was the meager prize for which such un- paralleled efforts had been made. AS night drew its curtain over the splendid capital Napoleon entered the gates, and immediately appointed Mortier governor. In hls directions he commanded him to abstain from pillage. Tor this said he, you shall be answerable with your life. defend Moscow against all, whether friend or foe"
 The bright moon rose over the mighty city, tipping with silver the domes of
 more than two hundred churches, and pouring flood of light over a thousand palaces and the dwellings of sOOo00 inhab- itants. The weary army sank to rest, but there was no sleep for Mortier's eyes Not the gorgeous end variegated palaces and their rich ornaments, nor the parks and gardens and oriental magniicenee that everywhere surrounded him, kept him wakeful, but the ominous foreboding that some dire calamity was hanging over the
 silent capital.
 When he entered it scarcely a living
 soul met hls gaze as he looked down the
 long streets, and when he broke open the
 buildings he found parlors and bedrooms
 and chambers all furnished and in order
 but no occupants. This sudden abandon
 ment of their homes betokened some se- cret purpose yet to be fulfilled. The mid
 night moon was settling over the city
 when the cry of "Firel'' reached the ears
 Of Mortier and the first light over Na-
 poleon's faltering empire was kindled. and
 that most wondrous scene of modern times con1menced-the burning of Mos COW,
 Mortier, as governor of the city, imme- diately Issued his orders, and was putting forth every exertion, when at daylight Napoleon hastened to him. Affecting to disbelieye the reports that the inhabi- tants were firing their own city, he put more rigid commands on Mortier to keep
 the soldiers from the work of destruction. The marshal simply pointed to some iron
 covered houses that had not yet been
 opened, from every crevice of which
 smoke was issuing like steam from the sides of a pent-up volcano. Sad and
 thoughtful Napoleon turned toward the Kremlin, the ancient palace of the czars,
 whose huge structure rose high above the
 surrounding edifices.
 In the morning Mortier, by great ex-
 ertions, was enabled to subdue the fire.
 But the next night September 15 1872 at midnight, the sentinels on watch upon the
 lofty Kremlin saw below them the flames bursting through the houses and palaces.
 and the cry of "Firel frel'' passed
 through the city. phe dread scene was
 now fairly opened. Fiery balloons were seen dropping from the air and lighting
 or the houses; dull explosions were heard
 on every side from the shut-up dwellings, l and the next moment light burst forth
 and the flames were raging through the apartments.
 All was uproar and confusion. The se- rene air and moonlight of the night be- fore had given way to driving clouds and wild tempest, that swept like the roar of the sea over the city. Flames arose
 on every side, blazing and cracking in the storm, while clouds of smoke and l sparks In an incessant shower went dFiy- | ing toward the Kremlin. The clouds l themselves seemed turned into fire, roll ing wrath over devoted Moscow. Nor
 ter. crushed with the responsibility thrown upon his shoulders, moved with 1 his young guard among this desolation,
 blowing up the houses and facing the
 tempest and flames, struggling nobly to
 arrest the confagrahon.
 He hastened from place to place amid
 the ruins, his face blackened with smoke,
 and his hair and eyebrows singed with | the fierce heat. At length the day dawned "a day of tempest and flame-and Nor
 tier who had strained every nerve for
 thirty-six hours, entered a palace and
 dropped down from fatigue. The manly
 form and stalwart arm that had so often carried death into the ranks of the en-
 emy, at length gave way, and the gloomy
 marshal lay and panted in utter exhaus- ton. But the night of tempest had been succeeded by a day of tempest, and when
 night again enveloped the city 1t was one
 broad flame, way to and fro in the blast
 The wind had increased to a perfect hurricane, and shifted from quarter to quarter, as If on purpose to swell the sea | of fire and extinguish the last hope. The | fire was approaching the Kremlin and ! already the roar of the flames and crash
 of falling houses, and the cracking of 1 burning timbers were borne to the ears | of the startled Emperor. He arose and walked to and fro, stopping convulsively and gazing on the terrific scene. Murat, l Eugene and Berthier rushed into his pres | ence, and on their knees besought him to | flee; but he still chung to that naughty | palace as if it were his empire.
 l But at length the shout, "The Kremlin is on f1rel'' was heard above the roar of the confagration, and Napoleon reluc- 1 tantly consented to leave. He descended into the streets with his staff and looked about for 8 way of egress, but the flames blocked every passage. At length they | discovered a postern gate, leading to the Moskwa, and entered it; but they had entered still further into the danger. As kNapoleon cast his eye round the open space, girdled and arched with fire, smoke
 and cinders, he saw one single street yet open, but all on fire, Into this he rushed, and amid the crash of falling houses and raging of the flames, over burning ruins, through clouds of rolling smoke, and be- | tween walls of fire, he pressed on; and. at length, half suffocated, emerged in safety from the blazing city and took up 1 his quarters in the imperial palace of Petrousky, nearly three miles distant. Mortier. relieved from his anxiety for the Emperor, redoubled his efforts to ar | rest the confagration. His men cheer fully rushed into every danger. Breath ing nothing but smoke and ashes, can i opieN by flame, and smoke, and cinders, | surrounded by walls of fire, that rocked l to and fro, and fell with a crash amid | the baking ruins, carrying down with l them redhot roofs of iron, he struggled against an enemy that no boldness could
 awe or courage overcome. Those brave troops had heard the tramp of thousands of cavalry sweeping to battle without
 fear; but now they stood in still terror ! before the march of the confiagration, un- der whose burning footsteps was heard the incessant crash of falling houses, and
 palaces. and churches. The continuous
 roar of the raging hurricane, mingled with that of the flames. was more terri ble than the thunder of artillery, and be- fore this new foe. in the midst of this hattie of the clements. the awe struc<