160 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



wise were bringing out their furniture, their account-books, 

 and their treasures as fast as possible, and depositing them 

 in the road and on vehicles, to be carried away. A curious 

 medley these articles presented. Here were costly pier- 

 glasses, glass chandeliers, and pictures such as one would 

 hardly have expected to see in Siberia at all ; whilst a little 

 further on, perchance, were goods from a grocer's or pro- 

 vision merchant's shop, and all sorts of delicacies such as 

 sweets and tins of preserved fruit, to which they who would 

 helped themselves ; and working-men Avere seen tearing open 

 the tins to taste, for the first time in their lives, slices of 

 West India pine-apples or luscious peaches and apricots. 

 Other prominent articles of salvage were huge family bottles 

 of rye-brandy, some of which people hugged in their arms, 

 as if for their life, whilst other bottles were standing about, 

 or being drunk by those who carried them. The effects of 

 this last proceeding soon became apparent in the grotesque 

 and foolish antics of men in the incipient stage of drunken- 

 ness. 



" In the street were all sorts of people soldiers, officers, 

 Cossacks, civilians, tradesmen, gentlemen, women, and chil- 

 dren, rich and poor, young and old. Some were making 

 themselves useful to their neighbors, and a few were looking 

 idly on. At every door was placed a jug of clean water for 

 those to drink who were thirsty, and it would have been 

 well if nothing stronger had been taken. The fire brigade 

 arrangements seemed to be in great confusion. There were 

 some English engines in the town, but the Siberians had not 

 practiced them in the time of prosperity, and the consequence 

 was that the pipes had become dry and useless, and would 

 not serve them in the day of adversity. The arrangements, 

 too, for bringing water were of the clumsiest description. 

 A river was flowing on either side of the city, but x the fire- 

 men had no means of conducting the water by hose, but 

 carried it in large barrels on wheels. Moreover, no one took 

 command. Now and then one saw a hand-machine in use, 

 about the size of a garden engine. 



