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As in Jex Bardwell's photograph of the Union
Depot, a solitary figure accentuates the absence of human activity. "It was impossible to make visits to the ruins on Monday, on account of the
great heat and the still tumbling walls," wrote Colbert and Chamberlin. "All travel between
the east and west sides of the river was done through Twelfth Street, which thus became
gorged with vehicles and pedestrians. All railroad trains on the south side stopped at
Twenty-second Street, two miles south of their usual terminus. There was no gathering
together of the people on this day, for there was nowhere to gather. Even the loafing
power of the city was staggered for the time. There was no running of the street-railroad
cars, or other of the signs of life which usually are visible, even on Sabbaths and holidays.
In short, the day seemed a dies non--a day burnt out of the history of the city."
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Among the Ruins 