The streets were full of steam fire-engines, all roaring and playing, but the houses were so high and large, and the volumes of fire so prodigious, that their water-jets looked like so many squirts.

As we stood, we saw the fire grow.

Block caught after block.

I myself saw one magnificent store catch at the lower windows.

In a few seconds the flame ran up storey after storey, spouting out at the different landings as it rose.