54

THE ASHTABULA DISASTER.

next attacked, after the fireman is rescued. Thepoor dog, which has kept up his piteous howl, wasalso taken from the same place. This is the lastliving creature taken out, but the bodies stillburn. The wind blows cold, but the fire burnson.

The strangest misunderstanding has takenpossession of all. Whatsoever the motive ofthose in authority, the effect was, to keep theengines from playing upon the flames. Therewere tanks on both sides of the track; the engineswere both on the ground; there was hose suffi-cient, but the misunderstanding made everythinguseless, and the department was held back anddid nothing. The indignation of the citizenswas openly expressed, but the fire continued. Mr.Stebbins, a citizen, asked the captain of thesteamer, why water was not thrown ? and wasanswered, that the chief would not order it. lieexclaimed, “We had better hang him, then,” butthe fire continued to burn until, in places, itburned itself out, and there was nothing more tofeed upon; nothing was left except the bodies,and these were almost consumed. The fumes of