52

THE ASHTABULA DISASTER.

chief fireman and he yielded to the direction andabandoned the engines and his men.

A man who has seen two persons still living,underneath the wreck, comes up and begs thatwater be thrown, but the engines stand idle, andthe firemen dare not work without orders. Themore determined of them leave the engines andgo down to the wreck to work without them.Pails are procured from the stores, and withthem the firemen work. Great exertions aremade to extinguish the flames in this way. Des-peration has taken possession of the citizens.

An hour has passed, and it is stated that thereare some still living, but the engines stand idle.There is talk, even, of disobeying orders and as-suming command, but the law is quoted and thatis prevented. Men fly here and there, anxiousto save the living; others assist the wounded.Some stand on the banks, with hands in theirpockets, and look on unmoved, but the fire stillburns. A few seize a rope and fasten it to thelocomotive, and try to lift it off from one poorwretch who lies beneath it, but the time passesand the flames are not subdued. A line is begun