The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-04-03

ward MOSCOW leaving tDousands OF slaii
French and Russians heaped behin'
them in their deadly trail Of war. Th'
most heroic resistance Of the powerful
Russian armies could not avail to per
manently arrest Napoleon's determined
and headIong progress, and at length
his victorious army marched into as
tonished Moscow.
But never did conquering army re
eeiye a stranger reception than thai
given by the great city OF Moscow tc
the French. As they entered the city
not soul was to be seen anywhere and
all was silent. It seemed a city Of the
dead. The very air seemed to hold a
haunting suggestion OF some impend-
ing and dire calamity. When they en-
tered the residences and stately palaces
they found them deserted but all fur
nished, as il the inmates had just gone
visiting. The business houses were still
filled with their stores. In this mag
nificent city OF wealth and plenty Ma
poleon had determined to take up his
abode till spring aud return to France
when the birds were singing and the
flowers we're bIooming-hut the Rus
slams had decided otherwise.
AT length night dropped her curtain
over the strange city Of Moscow. The
bright moon rose over the mighty city
tipping with silver the domes OF more
than two hundred churches and pour
ing a flood OF light over a thousand pail
aces and the dwelling OF three hundred
thousand inhabitants. /" 1t was a city OF
oriental magnificence and splendor. It
would have been pleasant indeed for the
French to revel through the long stormy
Russian winter in this seat Of opulence
and plenty. Napoleon had settled him
self very deliberately in the Kremlin,
the splendid but deserted palace Of the
Cars. But lol the shout Of Fire
Firel'' rang out in startling accents and
tongues Of flame were seen leaping up
IN different parts Of the city. The Rus
slams on departing had left behind them
secret agents to destroy Moscow by fire.
The army worked desperately to put
% put out the flames, but the secret in
sendiaries we're also busy, and on the
second night their work was effective.
Fiery balloons swept through the air
over the city, glaring messengers Of de-
'truction, and dropped hastily among
he dwellings and palaces. Dull and
leavy explosions were heard here and
here and flames began to leap from
windows and roofs like fiery serpents.
A great tempest arose and tapped its
'apid wings angrily amid the flames,
them with appalling rapidity.
All was glare and wild uproar. The city
vas doomed The streets soon became
ike glowing threats Of great furnaces.
sheets Of flame leaped from house to
louse in angry haste and hissed in VEN
yeance. The whole city became roar
ng, rolling, surging sea OF flame.
)omes and steeples became writhing
riches and pyramids OF fire and the
burning flames leaped up and licked
be clouds with their scorching tongues.
And the flames OF burning Moscow
inged and crimped the ambitious wings
i Napoleon's power, and the brilliant
hrone Of his powerful empire assembled
n the smoke and dissipated into thin
ir.
The army hastily withdrew from the
iery maelstrom, like Lot from Sodom.
Napoleon now took up his temporary
esidence three miles distant from the
turning city, and even there, he said, |
he walks and windows OF his room
'ecame so hot that he could scarcely |
ear his hand against them as he stood
nd watched the turbulent conhagra-
ion. Mr.. Headly quotes Napoleon as
aging afterwards: It was a spectacle
1 sea and pillows OF fire, sky and
louds OF flame, mountains Of red roll
~ flame, like immense waves Of the
ga, alternately bursting forth and ele-
ating themselves to skies Of fire and
hen sinking again into the ocean Of
anne below. Oh, it was the most
rand, the most sublime and most ter !
iffic sight the world ever beheld. 4" The j
urning OF their own capital by the /
russians was the most unique, daring /
nd wierdly destructive piece Of strategy /
] all the history Of war, and that was !
lainIy Che thing that ruined Napoleon,
II now winter had set in in earnest and
10 Grand Army must begin the long /
nd perilous march back to France. y
The march Of Napoleon's army out
/ Russia IS one Of the most tragic and