"
Meanwhile, great bodies of the citizens of all classes had been
at work; some upon the cumbrous engines, others carrying water,
others levelling houses, but all their endeavours seemed
powerless to quell the raging flames. And it was notable when
first the pipes in the streets were opened, no water could be
found, whereon a messenger was sent to the works at Islington, in
order to turn on the cocks, so that much time was lost in this
manner. All through Sunday morning the flames extended far and
wide, and in a few hours three hundred houses were reduced to
ashes. Not at midday, nor yet at night, did they give promise of
abatement. The strong easterly wind continuing to blow, the
conflagration worked its way to Cannon Street, from thence
gradually encompassing the dwellings which lay between that
thoroughfare and the Thames, till the whole seemed one vast plain
of raging fire.
The streets now presented a scene of the uttermost confusion and
distress. The affrighted citizens, whose dwellings were
momentarily threatened with destruction, hurried to and fro,
striving to save those of their families who by reason of
infancy, age or illness were unable to help themselves. Women on
the eve of child-birth were carried from their beds; mothers with
infants clinging to their naked breasts fled from homes which
would shelter them no more; the decrepit were borne away on the
shoulders of the strong. The narrow thoroughfares were moreover
obstructed by furniture dragged from houses, or lowered from
windows with a reckless speed that oftentimes destroyed what it
sought to preserve.
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