New-York tribune., 1914-11-29

were now driven by the flames. They crept out
pale and trembling, not daring to utter even
muttered curse on the authors Of their misery
to such an extent had they been struck dumb
by terror. From their hiding places they carried
with them their most valuable effects but those
among them who most susceptible to natural
affection only thought Of saving their families;
on one hand could be seen son supporting his
infrm father; on another, wept bitterly
ever the infants which they carried in their
arms, and who were followed by others little
older, hurrying on for fear of being left behind
and calling in piteous tones to their mothers.
The old men, more crushed by the weight of mis-
fortune than by years, could seldom follow their
families and many lay down to die before their
ruined homes. The streets and public buildings
and especially the churches were filled with
these unfortunates, who, lying amid the rem
nants of their household goods, gave themselves
up to hopeless despair
SUPERB PALACES ARE ENyELOPED IN THE
FLAMES.
"The fire. continuing its ravages soon reached
the finest quarters Of the city In q moment all
those palaces which had admired for their
elegance of architecture and the taste Of their
furniture were enveloped in sheets Of flame
Their superb facades, decorated with bass-reliefs
and statues, fell with crash upon the debris OF
the supporting columns. The churches, although
rooted with sheet iron and lead fell Also and
with them those superb domes which we had
seen the previous evening glitterng in gold and
silver The hospitals, which contained upward OF
10000 wounded, were also soon alight, and the
horrors which followed were such as to freeze
the blood in ones veins. Nearly all of these
wretched creatures perished, and those surviving
might be seen dragging their half burnt bodies
over the smoking ashes in an almost hopeless
effort to escape.
"How shall | describe the frightful disorder
which broke out when license was granted TO Pill
lage this immense city? Soldiers, vivandiers, con
vcts prostitutes thronged the streets entered the
deserted palaces and dragged out all that excited
their cupidity. Some covered themselves with
cloth of gold or rich silks; others threw over tneH
shoulders priceless furs; many adorned them-
selves in the pelisses of women and children ana
even escaped convicts hid their rage under law
court robes The rest, rushing IN mob 10 the
cellars forced the doors and, after getting drunk
on the most costly wines staggered of with their
immense booty.
SOLDIERS OF NAPOLEON PROOF AGAINST
HIS MAGIC.
Toward evening, Napoleon no longer feeling
safe in a city which appeared doomed to COM
pete destruction, abandoned the Kremlin, and
with MS SUITE estdDIlsned hiInsel III lAe NhA'e""
Of Peterskoe. On seeing him pass, could not be
hold without shudder the leader Of this bar
barous expedition, who TO avoid the public indig-
nation, sought out the darket streets by which TO
make his escape. The generals also got orders TO
quit Moscow. At license assumed the frenzy
of madness; the troops, no longer restrained by
the presence of their leaders, gave themselves to
the widest excesses; retreat was safe, no place
sufficiently sacred 10 insure protection from their
bestal passions Nothing, however, excited their
cupdity more than the Church of St. Michael
which contained the tombs of the emperors OF
Russia An unfounded tradition had led to the
belief that this edfce concealed immense treas
ures and under this deluson soldiers carrying
torches descended into the vast subterranean
chambers beneath the church to disturb the Ee-