Алая чума

           SowetoreupthecementfloorofthecentralcourtoftheChemistryBuildinganddugawell. Thereweremanyyoungmen,undergraduates,withus,andweworkednightanddayonthewell. Andourfearswereconfirmed. Threehoursbeforewereachedwater,thepipeswentdry. 

           “Asecondtwenty-fourhourspassed,andstilltheplaguedidnotappearamongus. Wethoughtweweresaved. ButwedidnotknowwhatIafterwardsdecidedtobetrue,namely,thattheperiodoftheincubationoftheplaguegermsinahuman’sbodywasamatterofanumberofdays. Itslewsoswiftlywhenonceitmanifesteditself,thatwewereledtobelievethattheperiodofincubationwasequallyswift. So,whentwodayshadleftusunscathed,wewereelatedwiththeideathatwewerefreeofthecontagion. 

           “Butthethirddaydisillusionedus. Icanneverforgetthenightprecedingit. Ihadchargeofthenightguardsfromeighttotwelve,andfromtheroofofthebuildingIwatchedthepassingofallman’sgloriousworks. Soterriblewerethelocalconflagrationsthatalltheskywaslightedup. Onecouldreadthefinestprintintheredglare. Alltheworldseemedwrappedinflames. SanFranciscospoutedsmokeandfirefromascoreofvastconflagrationsthatwerelikesomanyactivevolcanoes. Oakland,SanLeandro,Haywards—allwereburning;andtothenorthward,cleartoPointRichmond,otherfireswereatwork. Itwasanawe-inspiringspectacle. Civilization,mygrandsons,civilizationwaspassinginasheetofflameandabreathofdeath.