Lambert Tree

The more combustible nature of the buildings in that part of the city gave to the conflagration a wider sweep and a more rapid movement than in the South Division.

like a mighty line of battle the conflagration extended its terrible banners of flame until the right rested on the lake the left on the river then advancing in one awful charge it literally swept that portion of the city from the face of the earth nothing could penetrate that vast line of flame and live before it sixty thousand men women and children fled for their lives on the eastern side of the district many persons fled to the lake shore supposing that to be a place of entire safety many indeed were cut off by the rapidly advancing flames from the possibility of escape in any other direction for nearly all who sought escape in that direction the sequel proved that they had taken a fearful chance the experience of mr lambert tree and family was in part that of many Perceiving that his own house could not escape, Mr.

Tree, with his wife and child and aged father, went to the residence of his father-in-law, Mr. McGee.

The McGee residence occupied the center of a large enclosure, and was therefore regarded as a place of probable safety.

But the very fact, that of its isolation from surrounding buildings, soon revealed that it was the most dangerous retreat that could have been chosen.

the conflagration enveloped it completely on all sides before the house took fire on the side opposite to the approaching flames the square was enclosed by a high board fence without openings on the front the flames had already cut off all possibility of retreat the only way of escape was toward the northeast over the fence already mentioned a barrier which three aged persons a woman already fainting in the dense smoke and a little child half suffocated could not possibly scale the fence too was on fire the house was already enveloped in a shower of burning firebrands a horrible death seemed to be the inevitable doom of the entire party at this terrible juncture a portion of the burning fence fell to the ground opening a gateway from the fiery cul-de-sac.

Through this opening Mr.

Tree, dragging his fainting wife and child, fled toward the lake.