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CHICAGO CONFLAGRATION,

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r , 20 O J?S. LAWRENCE J. GUTTER Collection of Chico.goo.na

THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO

The University Library THE GREAT CHICAGO CONFLAGRATION.

THK FIRST NEWS. THK SATURDAY NIGHT FIRE.

the St. Louis October The lire started in tne large planing mill | From Times, lltb.J situated bat ween Clinton and Canal and What -will doubtless prove the most de- Van Buren and Jackson streets, about the structive conflagration of modern times center of the block formed by these has been raging for two days and nights in streets. The wind was blowing very fresh and the flames spread with almost our sister city of Chicago, laying waste incredible rapidity, and in a few minutes alike the dwellings of the poor and the pal- the entire structure was a mass of fire. aces of the rich, magnificent stores, with The immediate vicinity was built up with small wooden tenement thir millions of merchandise, hotels and mainly houses and two-story frame buildings, oc- public buildings, gas-works, depots and cupied as groceries, saloons, te. The in- waterworks; everything, in fact, that ;lay mates of many of the houses, startled from slumber, had time to rush from the in the broad swarth of the destroyer for barely houses in the scanty attire of night, leav- miles. The city, which at the close of the ing their household goods to destruction. week was bustling with prosperity and In several instances children were hastily wrapped in blankets and quilts to break in its greatness, is now. for the great- proud the force of their fall, and thrown from the er part a lurid waste. A hundred thou- second story windows to the ground. sand are homeless, and thousands beside INDESCRIBABLE SCENES. The scenes in the vicinity of the confla- are beggared. It is the gration the brief telegraphic dispatch said GREATEST FIRE IN MODERN HISTORY. were indescribable. Half the population Considering the magnitude of the inter- of the city seems to have gathered there. in the river were in towing ests the wholesale Tugs engaged involved, devastation, to places of safety the vessels moored in the untold wretchedness that it has caused, the neighborhood, while locomotives were the effect upon commercial interests ana hastily pulling out the great number of transportation that must follow, it may be cars standing on the track in the path of set down as the greatest calamity of a sim- the flames. ilar character of which there is any recent. The loss in property by this flre, which We do not except even swept over about twenty blocks, has never THE GREAT FIRE IN LONDON, been carefully estimated, being submerged fol- for the aggregate losses will undoubtedly by the overshadowing calamity k of the be greater now than then. If our later ad- lowing day. vicea are correct that upwards of ten thou- sand buildings have been burned; it already THE SUNDAY NIGHT VIRE. approaches the London conflagration lu magnitude, when but thirteen thousand HOW THE FIRB ORIGINATED. houses were destroyed. Our fears are that Late Sundav evening a boy we at into a it may even exceeait. stable on De Kowen street, (marked There seems to have been two distinctive K. on the map,) near tne river, fires, one occurring Saturday night of on the west side, to milk a cow, carrying which notice was published in the Sunday with him a kerosene lamp. This waa morning papers, and which we were led to kicked over by the cow, and the burning believe had been brought under the entire fluid scattered among the straw. This waa control of the department. the beginning of the great flre. A single extinguisher on the* ground, or active work street and Michigan avenw, and soon of the police in tearing down one or two McVicker's theater caught fire. In a few shanties, would have prevented the spread- moments the Tribune was in flames, and at ing of the flames; bat the engines were the last moment the sleeping men were waited for, and when they arrived the fire aroused and rescued from the flames. By men, stupefied by exertioa at the fire Satur- 10 o'clock in the forenoon this remaining day night, worked slowly and clumsily. block was in ashes. Now was to be seu THEIR EFFORTS WERE UNAVAILING the most remarkable sight ever beheld in The wind from the southwest blew a gale. this or any other country. Rapidly the flames shot from house to THE FLIGHT OF A PANIC STRICKEN MULTI- house tnd board yard to board yard, until TUDE. the district burned the night before was There were from 60,000 to 75.000 mn reached. Meanwhile the flames crossed women and children fleeing by every the river north of Twelfth street on to the available street and alley to the southward South side, and made for a brick and stone and westward, attempting to save their business block, the railroad freight depots clothing and their Jives. Every available and manufacturing establishments. The vehicle was brought into requisition for full extent of the danger was Chen realized use, for which enormous prices were paid, for the first time. The fire department, al- and the streets and si >le walks presented ready tired, worked like heroes The the sight of thousands of persons mayor and his city government, who had and horfes inextricably commingled; t supinely rested, now began to exert them poor people of all colors and shades selves, but and every nationality, from Europe, China THE OPPORTUNITY HAD BEEN LOST. and Africa, mad with excitement, strug- The time when a thorough organization gled with each other to get away. Hun- could have blown up buildings or prepared dreds were trampled under foot; men and lor the emergency was neglected- It was women were loaded with bundles and their now a fight for life. A stiff gale had pos- household goods, to whose skirts, were session of the flames, and the beautiful clinging tender infants, half-drested and buildings, Chicago's glory, lay before barefooted, all seeking a place of safety. them. Harrison, VanBuren, Adams, Mon- Hours afterwards these might have roe and Madison were soon reached. The been seen in vacant lots or on the streets, intervening blocks from the river to Dear- far out in the suburbs, stretched in the born street on the east were being con- dust. sumed. Three quarters of a mile of brick FIVE HUNDRED BURNED TO DEATH. blocks were consumed as if by magic. It is fearful to think of the loss of life. THE FURIOUS INTENSITY OF THE FLAMES. It is conjectured, and with good cause, All that men could do was to blow uy that near five hundred have been burned buildings, but this availed but little. The to death. We saw four men enter a burn- Times, Tribune, Post, Republican, Journal ing building, and in a moment they were and other newspaper offices. Western News overwhelmed by a falling wall. There company's block, Field & Letter's estab was a crowd of men around the corner of lishments. a brick block recently built. the bulding, trying to save the property, Farwell & Co. were soon in aehee. Ic when, the wall yielding, some of them seemed that no sooner had the flames w^re buried beneath it. These were on the struck a wall than they went di-n.-.tly South side. Ou the North side twelve or through, and a very few minutes mrtioed fifteen men, women and children rushed to destroy the most elaborately built cruc- into the building of the Historical society, ture. The walls melted and the bricks a fire proof building, for safety. In a few were consumed. minutes the flames burst up and they were The wooden pavements took flre.making burned to death. a continuous frheet of flame two miles long by one mile wide. No human being could AN ACCOUNT BY AN EYE WITNESS. possibly survive rnauy minutes. Block af- ter block the fell, and red hot coals shot The following eloquent and truthful de- and and further higher higher, spread and scription of the fire was furnished by a further, unHl the North eide.Lake side and gentleman who participated iu the work South was a vast sheet of flames from the throughout. No one bur, river to the lake At one time so hemmed AN EVE-WITNESS in were the people that it WAS expected can form an idea of the and of thousands fury power must perish. the fire fiend, as he reveled among the pa- THE WORK OF A NIGHT. latial buildings and warehouses. On the One block in all tne vaet business section south side, with the wind blowing a hurri- remained at daylighr, the Tribune block. cane, at times it seemed but the work of a The custom house and Honore block, on moment for the fire to enter the south end* Dearborn street, had burned, and those of the building* fronting on Randolph, who had fought the flames here thought Lake and Water streets, and reappear at at last this tuock could be saved. A t>atrol the north doors and windows, belching of men, under Sam. Meriili. swept oil' the forth in fierce flames, which often licked live coals, ami put eut fUmes on the side- the opposite buildings Then the flames, walks, and another lot of men, under the belching from the buildings on both sides direction of Hon. Joseph Medill, watched of the street, would unite and present the roof. A SOLID MASS OF FIRE, At 7& o'clock this appeared safe, and completely filling the street from *ide to most or the men went to get a rest or food- side, and shouting upward a hundred feet A number went to sleep in the Tribune into the air. Thus waa street after street building, but there wax a change of wind. filled with flame and fire, and the exulta- The flames reached Wabash avenue, State tion of the fire fiend was given vent in a 3 roar which can oly be likened to the noise their deaths in the flames, from which they of the ocean when its waters are driven by were too helpless to escape. the tempest upon a rooky beach; com- A MISERABLE DEATH. bined with the howl of the blast. One poor man had crawled for refuge in- HUGE WALLS WOULD TOPPLE to a water main, lying In the street near and fall into the sea of flame without ap- the waterworks, hut the fire fiend found parently gtying a sound, as the roar of the him even there, before he could get his rtery element was so great that all minor body wholly in safety and robbed him of sounds were swallowed up, aad the fall of his life walls was only perceptible to the eye and THE ENTIRE NORTH DIVISION not to the ear. If our readers will call to is swept clean from Chicago river to their minds the fiercest snnw storm in Wright's grove, a distance of more than their experience, and imagine the snow to three miles, but one house, that of Mahloa be fire, as it surged hither and thither be- D. Ogden, formerly the Hon. Wm. B. Og- fore the fury of the storm, they will be den'a, remains standing in the entire dis able to form a faint conception of the triot. A large portion of the population, scene as the flames raged through the driven from this desolated ground, are en- streets of our doomed city. Many of the camped on the prairie to the north, where buildings situated along South Water they have nothing but the canopy of heav- (street burled their red hot rear walls in en to cover them, and scarcely sufficient the waters of the river into which they food to satisfy their hunger. PLUNGED WITH A HLS8 THE LANDSCAPE. like unto nothing earthly, throwing up a Singly or in clusters are the ruins of billow which would gradually subside un- many churches looming againac the sky. til other walls would follow. The heat among the most noticeable of which are was so intense at times from some of the the North Presbyterian, Episcopalian, cor- burning buildings tnt they could not be ner of Caas and Superior streets, tne Ger- approached within one hundred and fifty man Lutheran, Robert Collyer's church of feet, which accounts for the manner in the Unit>, the New England Congregation- which the fir* worked back often against al, the German Reform, St. Joseph's and the wind. The fire, after reaching the St. Michael's (Catholic), and others. The business part of Randolph and South Wa- ruins of Sand's, Lill's, Henck'0, and Bush ter streets, leaped the river on to the & Brand's breweries are also prominent North side in an incredibly short space of features. Towards the northeast, the wa- time, and thence, among the wooden build- terworks tower lifts its beautiful propor- ings on that idNorth avenue, and licked up the trees are a great many instances of generous and shrubbery, cracking and destroying devotion on the part of rich and poor in the tombstones in its way. dividing with the destitute, there are pain- THE MOST REMARKABLE FEATURE ful of all, is the fact that the brick of build- burnt to if .INSTANCES OF CUPIDITY AND SELFISHNESS. ings was ashes the same as so that for the most the rubbish One was trj to remove valuable wood, part ing papers does not a formidable from an and asked two firemen to present appearance, office, there here and there a help him. which they refused unless he beinsrbut projection of wall. Hundreds of acres are almost as paid them fifty dollars. The were papers clean as cleared fields Stone destroyed. Drivers of express nicely work, wagons both sand and limestone, melted for have taken one and even five down, hundred, the most into one mass. hundred dollars for an hour's use of their part, disintegrated vehicles from distressed people. Among the sad accompaniment* of the calamity THE ST. LOUIS TIMES' SPECIAL were to be seen hundreds of men and boys BEASTLY INTOXICATED TELEGflAPHIC ACCOUNT. around the streets. The North division, where the saloon keepers stock was turned TUB ORIGIN OF THE GREAT FIRE. into the street, furnished a convenient op- The nre on Saturday evening, as has for the of such portunity gratification pro- been already stated, occurred in the plan- pensities, and there can hardly be a doubt ing mill on the corner of Elalstead and Ca- that many of these poor wretches found nal streets. It spread with alarming ra- pidity, and before it was subdued bad A SAD SCENE swept away a large portion of South Chi- His nephew, Win. Jones, is among the cago. The damage, however, was compar- many victims who were devoured by the atively within bounds, most of the build- flames. He removed his family from his ings destroyed being frame and of small residence, and had parted with his wife sixe. but a few moments, when his horse and THE GREAT FIRE. buggy were seen dashing along the streets, The origin of the Sunday night fire has and it is preruined that the young man already been stated. It was occasioned was thrown out and burnt before he could by the explosion of a kerosene lamp in a escape. To add to his losses, Mr. Ogden barn near DeKoven street. The flames at received a telegram yesterday announcing once enveloped the stable and spread that hia lumber mills at Pestigo, on Green to adjoining wooden buildings, which were Bay, Wisconsin, had been destroyed, soon in a blaze. A strong wind prevailed together with the town, buruing at the time, and all efforts to subdue the alive thirty souls, including his partner, lire were unavailing. In a few minutes wife and three children, his nephew and it had reached a large rooting establish- wife and his superintendent and family of ment, where over 1000 barrels of tar were three. The dispatch added: "The woods stored, and this it was whioh gave it its are all ablaze and we fear your pinery fearful velocity. The conflagration be- will be destroyed." Mr. Ogden bore up came general and roared like a vast fur- bravely under this scries or appalling dis- nace. Iron buildings, which were suppos- asters, merely remarking. "If this be true. ed to be fire proof, melted down in a few I shall lose 13,000,000 mote and ba a ruined minutes, and solid stone churches sank be- man." This is buc one of the many terri- fore it as if blown up by powder. I ble stories I hear hourly. counted POTTER PALMER'S LOSSES TWENTY NINE RUIXS OF CHURCHES, are immense. Two miles of magnificent many of them as fine structures as any in stores on State street are in ruins and his the country, and which cost not less on an grand hotel, tbe Pacific house, is gone. average than $75,000 each. A few bare He had invested millions of dollars in walls only are left to tell the story of their building up Chicago, and to do this had former grandeur. Leaving the corner of mortgaged heavily the larger part of his Congress street and Michigan avenue, and improved property. It was but a short driving along the lake and through the up tiine before the fire, that he secured a loan per portion of the cic 7 to Lincoln park, for of $650,000 at 7 3 10 per cent;, and he has five miles, the eye rests upon nothing but nothing left to meet his heavy loans hut a shapeless mass of wreck and ruin. The barren lots and what little improved great cathedral, the bishoo'a man- property may have been spared in the sion, Potter Palmer's hotel pal- southern part of the city, euiirely inade- ace, hundreds of elegant and expensive quate to make him whole. He was largely stores and dwellings all fell before the insured in home companies, most of which flame storm, which consumed in twen- are bankrupt and unable to meet their ty-four hours five hundred millions of dol- losses. lars worth of property. THE GRAIN BONFIRE. A SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE The elevators, which completely envi- is the entire absence of rubbish aside from roned the city, and which contributed the walls left standing. Scarcely a stone largely to the trade of Chicago, were swept or brick or a scrap of iron can be seen on away in a few moments. There are buc the ground. It is all reduced to powder. four left standing, two owned by Munn & The fire passed by and around the water Scott, one by Flint & Thompson, and the tower fronting the avenue, without even Central elevator on the lake. Three mil- shattering a pare of glass, and attacked lion bushels of grain are still burning, the rear building, burning out all the wood making monstrous bonfires, which, with works and injuring the engines so as to tbe acres of coal on fire, cast a dismal render them powerless. This cut off the glare over the ruins at night, and present supply of water, and left the great city en- a heart sickening spectacle. tirely at the mercy of the merciless fiend. THE LOSS OF LIFE THE HEAVIEST SUFFERERS. cannot at present be computed, but it has I had a lengthy conversation with doubtless been fearful. Already over a M. D. Ogden, Esq , the largest lumber hundred charred bodies have been dug dealer in the West. His residence alone from the ruins, and hundreds of frantic escaped, and now stands solitary and persons are scouring the city in search of alone in a wilderness of desolation, cover- their loved ones, who have been missing ing an area three miles long by one mile since Sunday. An old French woman, who wide. It is a double frame structure, two barely escaped with her life, told me to- stories high, with a Mansard roof, and es- day that she counted no less than forty caped without beiug even scorched. The persons, men, women and children, in the flames came sweeping down Dearborn river at one time, all of whom met a wa street, leaving scarcely one stone upon tery grave. another, and was caught by a counter cur- A FEARFUL REPORT. rent of wind just at his house, and chang- The servants at the Tremont house were ing its course, shot in another direction, in the top story of the hotel at the time of leaving naught in its wake but wreck ana its conflagration, and as none of them have rain. In other portions of the city Mr. been seen since, it is feared that they were Ogdcn was less fortunate. His vast lum- burned to death. There were about forty ber yards were swept away, including of them. three and a half million feet of pine and WHAT 18 LEFT OF THE CITT. other lumber, and entailing upon him a The entire business portion of the city is loss of fully two millions of dollars. destroyed. The pride of Chicago, State street, with its large atone rows, Randolph. THE NEWSPAPERS TO GO ON. Madison. Monroe and Washington streets. The Journal, Mail and Tribune have ap- with their grand hotels, massive insurance peared, in abb.evlated form. They are and banking establish uients and wholesale oeing published at Edwards' printing houses, are laid In ashes. The West side house until new buildings can be erected. stands as before, but, with fw exceptions, The Times will be out in ita uausal dreee contains nothing but frame buildings. and size a noon as tne type can be shipped Portions of Wabaah and Michigan avenues from the East. and the North end remain, with some hand- HOW CHICAGOAXS TREAT TUB MATTER. some residences, but the valuable and ele- Reuts have advanced enortuoualy on all gant portions of the city are a mass of empty and tenautabie houses, the owner* smouldering ruins. The postofflce and being quick to take advantage of the ter- custom house suffered less from the con- rible situation. I was shown a small aix- flagration perhaps than most of the build- room dwelling today, for which $75 a ings, everything of an inflamma- mouth is demanded, that could have been ble nature was consumed, but rented at $12 six days ago. The same the walls are intaot and the edifices can apiric is manifested by dealers generally, easily be rebuilt. The same is true in exorbitant prices being: demanded fer all part of the Tribune building. Its exterior the necessaries of life. The few hotels is nearly Intaor, bur it is otherwise in left standing are asking $8 per day. and in- ruins. It is stated to day that the four and ferior accommodations at tnat. This is all wix cylinder presses are but slightly in- wrong, and in loudly condemned by the jured, andean be put In running order in better class of citizens, who justly think a few days. The Trem nt houae, Revere that ''charity should begiu at home." house, Pacific house, Duulap house. Mas- THE WORK OF RECONSTRUCTION. sasoit house and other hotels destroyed, Despite the terrible condition of affaire, and board of tr*de building were literally which haa swept away in a few brief hours razed to the ground. The only prominent the fortunes of half the community, there buildings regaining are thn Michigan Ave- la a fixed determination on the part of nue hotel, Laclede hotel, Demson house, most of them to tight over the battle of Heeney Boston and New York capital- ers toek shelter, and I never before wit- ists have telegraphed that they will ad- nessed such a hearc rending spectacle. vance $5,000,000 if necessary. This will go Spread out upon the ground were some sev- greatly towards repairing the injury, but enty-five thousand persons, most of them id far short of $500,oot).000, the aggregate without a blanket to cover them, and alt losa. suffering from cold and neglect. They in- formed me that their Bufferings had been in- THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE'S SPK- tense, and that during the night over a CLAJL TELEGRAPHIC ACCOUNT. dozen of tteir number had died. One poor woman waa vainly striving to give nour- I have just returned from the ishment to an infant about four weeks old, ghastliest promenade ever seen IB whi e by her side lay the dead body of a the world. From Congress street to little girl of three jeara They are being Lincoln park, and beyond to Wright'* conveyed to the city and afforded shelter, grove, four miles of what waa last raiment and food as rapidly aa possible. week the business and moat vigorous GAS A>D WATER. city of the West is now one A portion or the city h* been in dark- WIDE SPREAD DESOLATION, ness three days, owing to th destruction marked by rcorched and calcined chitu- of the gas worfcH in the east and sooth por- ueys, by mounds of glowing brick and tions of the city. The western worku stone, ail covered like a wintry plain with nre the proprity of C. K. Garrison, Esq.. of a fail of whitening athen. The vastneea NewYoik, and a brotner of the St. Louis and luonoto j of the view is as weaiiaome taiaily of Garrison*. Pipes are now being aud aeureneing as that of Laid through the tunnel to couueoo the east 1 UK DESEBT. end, anrt gas whl be turned oa in a few Formerly every quarter of the city had dajs There being but one residence on it disilDCiive character, and along the the South aide, it is not probable that these banks of Lake Michigan to the south ot works will be rebuilt for some time to the river, ruse the staielv mansions of the come. men whose energy and industry made Labor will be speedily commenced on Chicago what it was Few streets in any of the waterworks, ami it u expected that the cit.y could present eo uniform a display engines will be In running order in a few wealth and tante in their residences a weeks. Meantime, the tire enmnes are Wabaah and Michigan avenues. IB the being employed in forcing water into inn apoe bounded on three aides by the lake pfptsa for daily couauuiu'iou, ami fteble and the Chicago river, and on the south by streams are ruuniug lu uiuot part* ot the VanBuren street, there were embraced burned district some of the finest business houses on the and a of beauti- continent, higher average their friend* all who desire to c^ . The best ful and people devour. y trust that'tae term or COSTLY JLRCHITKCTCR* severest etreAS and panic is over. than had ever bn applied in the world to of trade. on Along the river, THE CHICAGO EVENTNG JOFRNAX'S ACCOOfT.

The Chicago Evening Journal of Tues- day, October 10th, the first paper of that ita appearance after the gen- the ground to the of the newspaper press, niaanfaetnring the following items of interest- bv the of relative to the fire: variety and great navel obliterated in a day by the The great flre of Chicago laid waste over LEVELING HA*D 1800 acres, upwards of 18^00 buildings and of the nagrationTae loveliest garden rendered about 85,000 persons homeless. on the a enue, which was Just below my As to pecuniary loss no flre which ever window,window is as squalid and miserable with occurred in the world has been attended thwi)d trampling of the hoof8 of this with that suffered by Chicago, as in no disaster a* any back-yard of a soap boiler city was there ench an amount of valuable on Canal street. The wretched tenement merchandise, or so many expensive build- houses which shelter the laboring poor ings destroyed. Most of our merchants are nawfdeaa aad h*4 received their winter stocks of eoods. WHITE DT THEM ASHES none of which they were able to save. The and their chimneys form a shapeless loss in merchandise alone at thto last great monument; there is equality at toast be- conflagration win be double that suffered tween a hovel and palace in their by London and Moscow combined. SHKOUDS OF DESOLATIOX. But the great heart of Chicago is not What most impresses one in the aspect broken, nor her spirit of enterprise of the burnt district, is its utter loneli- crushed. Siie will arise from her ashes. the debris which encumbered with an energy that will eclipse all her streets the day after the former efforts, and speedily regain her for has in a great measure mer position. cleared away. The sidewalks are littered still by the ruins, but One thing particularly strikes the pas- s perfectly free throughout the sengers through all the streets-the ab- tfce center off the city, there is sence of everything of a combustible na- NOBberof ture. Brick, stone and iron abound, and CTTRIOITS SPECTATORS make np whatever is left of the mos: ehaig among (he ragged magnificent and costly structures. walls. Dirt, in the .ordinary sense of carrying the term, has vanished; all is >.with them. clean, but oh how desolate. Another thing i fare crowding is the uniformity of the destruction. The stock into shops that burst marble palaces and cheaper brick and mor- , and far down Michigan ave- tar blocks lie in common disorder. There

, in that safe stretch of lake side that is no distinction, except in the presence of beyond Michigan terrace, the last and iron pillars, and marble door and window loveliest sacrifice to the flames, you eee the names of banks and insurance compa- WHAT IB tErr. nies haarJy The only buildings left intact 1 BCKAWXKD eiC TCI SHDTGLKS the river and the lake and the ri at the doors of decorous pri- street are Hathaway 'a coal cfiice. of the T*n*Meim elevators on the Tneyhave the land block, at the cor- of Randolph and Market. Not a ves- houses, and the first of them went up all jf any wooden structure is left in at once, and as quickly as a house of cards and the walls of the majority of the under my window thia evening. A dozen in the district described are lev - will probably be the ground. In some instances, to be wans have not fallen. HO BRAVADO, altogether resolute, ti^ ly COUBT HOUSE. desolate, up- These superb merchants and bnaineas on the scene, rear the walls of the Mart men do not se m to think there thing fine in their attitude, but the world J trial of .. not deny them ic business. >'ot -buckled" but the OKDKBXT AFD TRAHQCTL, np from where we write, a ruined - are fed and the naked are ment of departed aiestneaa, The old: te churches and the public remains with the tessellated pavem. the We,: - but the glorv of the tribunals *"fl ihe The railways convey to council chamber are things of the past. LAKE STREET. ijrnd Harrison streets, the JTew dab From the Trement to the great Union house, depot is not far, but its wealth of mer- would chlndise and stately edifices were known far and near throughout the West, but the i-ye dims and the pulse goes slow when the riiin of this noble mart meets the sight. SOUTH SIDE. Theseenein Uusseetion of the city is too appalling to be dwelt upon with other wSrdsthanthose which will in the most adequate manner convey an idea of the being saved. The apex of the reality, which seems beyond the power of desolation, which is an horizontal tongue or pen to relate. The streets that at the corner of DeKoven and are burnt over are Madison, Monroe, street, and from there the burnt Adams, Jackson, Van Bnren, Congress^nd sweeps northeast, widening andI wiSs> Michigan avenue, where it was checked, ing for a distance of some nvemiles, the Michigan avenue hotel being saved. while the distance to the lake is almost On Wabaeh it burned through to Harrison between Jefferson, and the river east and street. The last house burned on the east west, and Van Buren and DeKoven. the side of Wabash avenue. On the west tide, first street north of Dr. McChesney's (the Wabaeh avenue and sootn, and from any Methodist) church was not burned at the can be seen a dozen or more tall eh northeast corner of Harrision and Wabash marking the site of as many enormous avenue. On State street. 356 was the last number burned. This was the sooth limit can he named aecurateir. The Chicago far west as the track of the Dock company'* ware house, on so Michigan " """" " " " * Taylor Southern railroad track. The long freight street, JMI theT h A Pitteburghand Fort Wayne houses (in and out freight) were burned railroad, with all their contents; cars and every- BAJTK VAULTS. thing as far south as Taylor, a ad west of One of our reporters made the tour of the the east track. Taylor street, the north banks (that were) this morning. The indi- limit of a great lumber district, was not canonswer* that all the va*l:a were safe. crossed to the south. Thus, in short, there The currency and securities, which could is only one buildine within the limits not be replaced (not counting the United above described which is not horned State* bonds, which could be) looked in to ashen, and this seems to those vaults must he several hundred mil- have recaped through a mira- cleit is numbered 91 to 99 Harrinon 3 writing, only one vaolt has street, on the corner of North led, that of the Commercial streets which run north and sooth are wy found in a perfect state of Michigan avenue Wabash avenue. State, n. There were an sorts of Dearborn. Clark, LaSaile, Well-. Sherman, wild rumors afloat Gris wold and Market streets. This section tion of this and that bank, of the city contained the glory of vaults and safes. Manyi our architecture, and the palatial resi- among the debris of the bunt dtotrict, ap- dences of some of our most wealthy parently in a good state of citizens. The names of individual owners REAL ESTATE TIT__ cannot but the prominent All the records of daeds and business structures were the depot of are destroyed.i This includes all the real the Lake Shore, and Chicago, and Bock estate,ate, not only in Chicago, bat in Cook Island and Pacific railroad. on Van Buren. county.with its numerous suburban towns. from Sherman to Gris wold, and sooth to Fortunately the abstracts of titles in the Harrison; the Pacific hotel, which was office or SL.jrta.l i Hoard, ready for the roof , and occupied a block; aie known to be &afe. the custom house, which is gutted, the A leading member of th heavy whitened walls alone standing; gives it as Ms opinion that the title to all Honored blocks, finished and .unfinished, the property in the county can bereestab- on Dearborn, from Monroe to Aaam&*he ttahS by means f th**c abstracts. The Tribune building, the Times office, Legialatore will probably pass some enab- the Post building, the office of the Staata ling act to cover the ease. ing and numerous publications. The As to the value of real estate, it is now Hieganc structure known as the Lake Side entirely indeterminate, because it is im- Press building, on Clark, the Young Men's possible to divine where the future busi- Christian association library, the Republic ness center will be. The latter will de- Insurance building. Farwell hall. Mc- pendnpon the location selected by the Vicker'a theater, th Clifton house, leading business houses, which are already the academy of Design, Conn A. Ten Broeck'a Manufacturing company "u THB FOUR EXCEPTIONS. building, on Adams street; the Palmer There are only lour buildings' house. St. Mary's, St. Paul's Catholic on the Sooth Side below Vi church. Universaliat, Second Presbyterian, Those four are the custom hoose. the < Trinity Episcopal church. First Presbyte- the First rian church, Michigan avenue, Terrace the Tribune r> w. the Chicago clut>. Potter Palmer's new completelypletely burned oot, nothing re- hotel, unfinished. Robert Law's coal Mng except taithe walls and parts of par- yard, Rogers & Co.'s coal yard, the tttfoas. WeWedmbtdoobt if aay of them CAH ever largest firms of the city, the Jewish except the custom house. eynagogue.northeaet corner of Fourth ave- walls seem to have stood Map of the Great

Theblco'i shading shows the extent of day night conflagration, at thejunct: the fire, which covers an area of a mile in DeKoven and jeffersnn streets; B the width, by five miles in length, or over 3000 house; C, the postoffioe; D, the HI acres. A is the starting point of the Sun- Central railroad depot; E, Board of 1 fire in Chicago.

' building: F, G and J, the Mattepon, Tre- Central renervoir. Of that portion in light . inont and Sherman hotels; H, the Michigan shade, only a part is built up. Lincoln Southern railroad depot; I, the St. Louis, parkjoina the extreme aoith> which was . Alton and Pittsburgh depot, and K. the tbe upper limit of the fire. 10 tne fire teat without flinching. The mason- contained the following philosophic view ry of the ether three haa been very ae- of the ruins of the great fire. It saya: noualy impaired. BANKS. Now that the smoke of the burned dis- There is not a bank left in all Chicago, trict has cleared away and the general unless it be some^little house remote from at first so has what was the center of business. The ac confusion, confounding, very tual losses of the bankers cannot be com- considerably subsided, we are able to take in one puted, even approximated, any a bird's-eye view of the general loss, which case. One thing we are authorized to state we give below : positively. The banka will resume regular business in a few days PUBLIC HALLS AND BLOCKS, ETC. It should be added that the Union Stock Aiken's museum, Andrews' building, An- Yards National bank is the only national in Cook coun- drews' & Otis' building, Arcade building, bank now in working order Berlin National bank suf- Arcade court, block, Blake's build- ty. The Cook County Boone Bowen's fered less than any other, because the ing, Blaney hall, block, bull.' Burch's block. Calhoun fartheest south of It was located in ing, block, any. Foltz's Chamber of Commerce build- the northern corner of the Honore block. nail, Mutual Life Insurance build- The Union National was the ttrat to go, al- ing, Chicago and Corn ex- ing, Chicago "Times" building, City ar- though the Northwestern Court located in the chamber of com- mory, City gas works, house. City change, 's block about the same time. waterworks, Cobb (No. 1), Cobb's merce, went Indeed, Cobb's block not an hour afoer those on the building, (No. 2), Commercial it was Commercial Insurance ground thought any bank in danger, before building, company's and the building, Crosby's building and Crosby's all, unless it was the First National house and were in flames. Opera house. Custom postoffice, Cook County National, Democratic THE JAIL. hall. Dickey's building, Dole's Drake's Ex- There were on Sunday evening confined building, block, Ewing block. change Bank building, Farwell hall, Fe- in the jail about ninety prisoners, all of nian Firemen's hall, Flanders' were free exit when it be- hall, block, whom given -Etna Fullerton came apparent that the court house would building, block, Gallup's thrown wide building. Garret! block, German house, burn, the jail doors being Turner at about 2 o'clock Hall, (Clark street), Germaniahall, open yesterday Hartford Fire All of the em- Insurance building, Health morning. prisoners Lift Holt's Honore braced the opportunity to building, building, unexpected block, Illinois Central Railroad Land de- escape, and immediately left for various with the of partm-nt building, Jacfcsou hall, Keep's parts of the city exception Kent's George Dresser, who went at once to the building, building, King'a block, Kinzie hall, Larmon block, Light Guard West Side police station and gave himself hall, Lincoln block, Link's where he is now in custody. Mr. Dress- block, Lloyd's up, block, Lombard block, Loomis build- er, it will be remembered, is the man who ing, Lumberman's exchange, recently, while acting as keeper in the McCarty's the occasion of the death building, McCormick's building, Mo- Bridewell, was Kee's of a him from the building, Magie's building, prisoner by throwing or Marine Bank Ma- corridor into the yard. Maj block, building, THE COURTS. sonic temple, Mechanic's building, Mer- cantile building, Methodist Church There is not a law office nor a law libra- block, Hall block, Monroe left in the few small Metropolitan building, ry Chicago, except Morrison Turner'** libraries at the residences of the building?. New hall, duplicate Newberry block, North Market Nor- leading lawyers. There is not a paper hall, ton block, Odd Fellow's hall. Old Board of showing that there is a suit pending Trade in of the six courts of icc- buildings, (South Water street) any Oriental Ocis ord in Cook the buildings, block, (LaSal)n county, including Otis street is not an in- street), building (State KPardee'a Federal court. There Phoinix dictment in existence in the county buildiug, building, Pomeroy's not a not a buildiag, Pope's block, Portland block. against any one, judgement, Poalflice in bankruptcy in the Federal building.Purple'd block, Raymond petition block, Reynolds' blo^k, Ru-e's building. courts. Even the duplicate 11 lea that thw Scammon'rt building, Shepard'a in their offices of important building, lawyers kept Sherman House block, Smith, Nixon V oases are all gone. Ditson's Smith. & Nixon's Sonts' FROM ST. LOUI8. ball, block, hall, Speed's Staats comes Sc. rival of block, Zeitung building. And now Louis, great Steele's Scone's in and block, building, Tajlor'a Chicago enterprise and business, Teutonia Trade than in noble block, hall, Assembly hall. greater Chicago generosity. Tribune Turners' Tvler in and ten oar loads of building, building, $160,000 money block, Uhlich's block, North Division cooked previsions are brought here City Railway stables, Baer's b'ock, Herting'n by Mr. Blow, on behalf of that city, and with miscellaneous building, Union building, Volk's building, ten more cars, loaded Walker's and are block, Warner's hall and olock, provisions supplies, reported block. Wheeler'u Irom the same If Chicago ever has Washington Duilding, city. Wicker's Hall build the which heaven for- building, Witkowsky opportunity may Bros.' bid she will herself a ing, Workingmen's hall, Wright prove worthy rival, block. even in these good works. building, Bryan's In addition to the above were a large number of elegant buildings recently com- A GLANCE AT THE RUINS. pleted, or ia process of erection, repre- senting a valuation approximating millions The Chicago Evening Journal of the nth of dollars. 11

CHURCHES. Storey fc Co . Wilkins & Stone, Ferd 8. North Baptist, Olivet Baptist (colored), Winslow, Collins Wells street), French (Klnzie Evangelical Association of North America, street). Fort Dearborn house. G*rden City, Evangelical Second church, Free Evan- Girard, Hatch. Hess, Garni, Howard house, gelical, English Lutheran (Ontario street). Haber house, Illinois house, Jervis house, First German Evangelical Lutheran St. Palmer, Bi^elow, Ogden house, Laclede, Paul's, Evangelical Lutheran Trinity, First Mansion house, Massasoit house, Mattesou German United Evangelical Lutheran St. house, Moulton house, Metropolitan hotel, Paul's, Illinois street Independent Mis- Michigan (Central Railroad hotel, Bethel sion, Jewish church of the North Bide, home. Nevada, New York, Orient, Poto- Kehileth Benai, Shalom (Jewish), First mac, Raymond house, Revere, Rock Island, Methodist, Wabash avenue Methodist Schall, Sherman, St. James, Tremont, (scorched), Grace Methodist, Grant place Washington, Western Eagle and Wright's. Methodist, Dixon street Methodist, Van In addition to the above should be men- Buren street German Methodist, Cleyburn tioned at least a dozen other buildings in avenue German Methodist, Grace Scandi- course of erection aud completion, repre- navian Methodist, Huron street Bethel, senting a valuation of several hundred Bethel African Methodist, Quinn's African thousand dollars. Methodist Chapel, First Norwegian Evan- RAILWAY DEPOTS. gelical Lutheran, Swedish Evangelical Great Union Central dept, (including the Lutheran, First Presbyterian, Sec- Illinois Central. Michigan Central and Chi- ond Presbyterian, Westminster Pres- cago Burlington and Quincv), Southern byterian, Fullerton Avenue Presbyte- Michigan and Rock Island, Northwestern rian, North Presbyterian, Orchard Street (Wells street). Presbyterian, Bremer Street Independent TELEGRAPH COMPANIES Mission, Newsboys' Independent Mission Western Union, Metropolitan, Great and Home. Erie Street Presbyterian Mis- Western, Atlantic and Pacific. sion, Burr Presbyterian Mission, Tammany Hall Catholic Cathedral of the EXPRESSES. Mission, American Merchante' 8t, Mary's Catholic Church Adams', Union, Holy Name, United Brink's. and university, the Catholic Ecclesiastical States, palace, St. Louis' Catholic, St. Joseph's NEWSPAPERS, ETC. Catholic, St. Michael's Catholic, Church of Evening Journal. Tribune, Times, Re- the Immaculate Conception, St. Rose of publican, Post, Mail, Ledger, Democrat, Lima Catholic, Convent and Academy of Agerdyrkning and Oeconomic, American t. Francis Xavier, Convent of the Sisters Churchman, American Messenger, Ameri- of Charity (North side), Convent of Netre kanischer Botachafter, Baptist Quarterly, Dame, House of the Good Shepherd, Con- Baptist Teacher, Catholic Weekly, Chicago vent of the Benedictine Fathei s, Convent City Directory, Commercial Bulletin, Com- of the Benedictine Nuns, Convent of the mercial Express and Produce Reporter, Redemptionist Fathers, Swedenborgian Daily Law Record, Daily Programme, Temple of the New Jerusalem, North ttwe- Daily Record, Dispatch, Druggist*' Price denborgian Mission, Unitarian Church of Current, Dry Goods Price List, Evening the Messiah (R. L. Collier's), Unity Church Mail, Journal of Commerce, Legal News, (Robert Collyer'e). St. Paul's Universalist. Office Directory, Railway Review, Real BANKS. Estate Journal, Union (German), Staata Chicago Clearing house; First, Second, Zeitung, Child's Paper, Child's World.. Third, Fourth, Fifth, Cook County, Com- Dagslyet, Daily Commercial Reporter and mercial, City Manufacturers', Merchants', Market Review, Der Deutsche Arbeiter, Mechanics', Loan ana Trust, Northwest- Der Hausfreund, Evening Lamp, Hem- ern, Traders', and Union National banks; landet. Hemlandet Ratta, Home Circle, International Mutual Trust company; Mer- Volks-Zeitung, Catholishe Wochenblatt, chant*' Savings, Loan and Trust company; Little Corporal, Live Stock Reporter. Mac- Farmers', Merchants, and Mechanics'; edonian and Record, Methodist Publishing State Savings institution; Real Estate, House, National Baptist, New Covenant, Loan and Trust company; Union Insurance News from the Spirit World. Northwestern Railroad and Trust company ; Hibernian Banking Review, Publishers' Auxiliary, association; Chicago Building and Loan as- Gazette, School Festival, Sunday School sociations; Swedish Commercial, National World, bvatiska Arnerikanaven, Advance, bank of Commerce, Marine bank. Art Review, The Arts, Bright Side.Courier, PRIVATE BANKERS. The Chronicle, Congregational Review. J. M. Adsit, A. C. & O. F. Badger, Bald- Fremart, Herald of the Coming Kingdom, win, Walker ISA.8i:EK. INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS Im- Holy Name, St. Mary's, Sn. Joseph's, We copy from the New York Sun the fol- maculate Conception, First Lutheran, First incidents : United German Lutheran, 8t. Paul's Sec- lowing thrilling ond ana Third, Italian school, German and A YOUNG LADY'S STORY. JEnglish. Mies Rollins had a most narrow escape ACADEMIES AND SEMINARIES. from a fiery death. She was surrounded Academy of Sciences, Christian Brothers, by the flames, and dashed through a space Holy Name, St. Francis Xavier, Bryant fc where the wooden pavement had kindled Chase Commercial, Dearborn Ladies' sem- into a blazt). She tells the following inary, Dyhrenforth's Commercial, Gold- story : beck's Conservatory of Music, Law depart- When the second fire broke out in the ment of the University of Caicago, Rush South division, nearly all the people be- Medical college, Colleg of Pharmacy, Ho- came insane with terror. I never e<*n tell meopathic Academy of Medicine, Charity of the universal horror of those hours. Dispensary, Hahnemann Medical Dispen- They wem years.. I don't wonder ttiat sary, Bennett Medical and Surgical college. men seemed demented and womyn hysteri- HOSPITALS cal One of the little girls that attended Women and Children's, Protestant Dea- my school became lost. I found her cry- coness', Smallpox, Alexian Brothers', ing as though her heart would break. She United States Marine hospital, Jewish. is but seven years old, and sheconldnot ASYLUMS. tell what bad become of her parents and Newsboys' and Bootblack's Home, Nur- family. There were many such cases. sery and Halt-orphan, St. Vincent, House As we went on further the throng increas- of Providence, St. Paul's Presbyterian Or- ed, until the screeta and tidewalks were phan asylum, St. Mary's and St. Joseph's black with people. It was like a fieshet, Orphan asylum, Charitable Eye and Ear and poured in the one direction of safety. infirmary. By and by we found the fire getting around MINOR LOSSES us as though escape would be cut off. and Wentworth, Wonlworth & Co., Briggs we would be entombed in one erand pyre house. Loss on furniture, fixtures and of flame. "Go the other way; we are horses in Briggs house, $100,000. Insur- headed off !" was now and then the cry, and ance; Franklin, Philadelphia, $5000; Re- the multitude would turn back struggling public, Chicago, $5000; American Central, in a new direction. I saw some women St. Louis, $5000; Commercial Mutual, Cleve- and children and one man, exhausted. Ho land, $2500; Atlantic. New York, $2500; down In the gutters to die in the hopele*s- Reaper City, Rookford, $2500; Occidental, ne*sof desneratiou. Others would seize 8an Francisco, $5000; Excelsior. New York, and urge them along Smoke and cinder-* $5000; Home. Columbus, Ohio, $5000; Fulton, and flame and tcoruhing heat filled the New York, $5000; State, Caicago, $2500; New air England, Boston, $5000; Irving. New York, CHILDREN fcCRKAMED IN TERROR $2500; Merchant*', Hartford, $3000; North and begged for water. HOHJM would catch British and Mercantile, London, $4000. To- up water from puddles uear hydrants ami tal, $59,500. moisten rue mouth "This is the day of The loss of the Chicago iron works, No. judgment! this must be the end of the 146 to 152 (inclusive) North Water street, world!" exclaimed more than one. The Dewey, Jones & Sanders, proprietors, is es- degree of sympathy that prevailed was timated at from $50,000 to $55,000; insurance wonderful. Theie seemed to IM one in- $10,000. stinctive throb of feeJing, and the strong J. B. Hendriokson, 201. 205 and 211 South helped the weak. I believe that thieves Clark street; loss, $40,000; insurance, $7000. had a great deal to do with the fire. It William G. HoluieH, on Lake street, they did not start it in the first place, they books and stationery; losses $30.000 to kindled llames in fresh places. I savr $35,000 houses that bad been deserted entered by H. R. Cabery, Masonic goods and rega- ill-looking fellows, who ransacked bureaus lias, 60 State street, loss $10 000. Insurance and closets. There was no time to speak to Allemania of Cleveland, $1600; German of them. Once or twice when they were of Cleveland, $1500 ; Commercial Chicago, spoken to they professed to have been sent $3000; Home Mutual of Chicago, $2000. by toe owners to save things Many peo- A. B. Case, music printer, 168 Clar ple in the haste of their escape abandoned of everything, even to jewelry and money. I blood. At the intersection Randolph saw one fellow's pooicet half full of Jewelry and Market streets was a large building offices. re- and watches I spoke of it, but in an in- (CalUm's> used for The janitor etant he lost himself in the crowd. I saw sided on the fourth floor with his family, a colored man with a lady's chatalaine consisting of a wife and four children. By chain suspended awkwardly at his vest. some means they were unable to escape. The little girl I had walked until the hot Surrounded by the fire, they ascended to pavements blistered her little f*et. Then the roof. The babe was in the mother's we carried her. "Is papa and mamma arms, and another child, a little boy, clung burnt up! is Neddie burnt up dead!" she TO her skirts. Two girls were clasped iu pireously asked. L%te at night we found tue arms at the father. Their shouts were them all safe It was nearly morning be- but faintly heard over the howl of the fore we obtained shelter and food. I winds and the roar of the flames. At last never want to set eyes upon Chicago again. the heat became so intense that the woman MR. LOfKWOOI/8 8TOBY. was overcome and lell to the roof. The Miss Roliins's story is not so thrilling as father wildly threw out his hand and stag- his that of the gentlemen, especially Mr Lock- gered, writhed, and punk by wife's wood, who, in company with Mr Wallace, Fide. That was all of that tragedy. We escaped across the river in a boat, the sickened at the sight, and hurried down to bridges being useless. Thence they crossed the street, which by this time was pretty the lumber district, which had commenced wf 11 deserted. Then along the banks of to blaze. In one instance thev had to leap the lak-5 we wandered, more like dead than over the burning timber Upon a roof living men. W heard aud saw mourning they clambered to get a breath, and rest and agony and suffering that all the books the of. and view. : in the world could not hold account " They said We had an awful sight from here. We were comfortably fixed in lite one Four dray horses were penned up in a week ago; now we arw penniless. We eat yard, on either Ride of which were have no doubt that incendiaries did part of alls of lumber blazing, crackling and the work, and for robbery and ravage." of all the snapping fiercely. The air was intensely The shoes and clothing party the of the ordeal hot and the smoke stifling. The poor ani- attested severity through mals had got loose and ran to and fro, which they had passed. their nostrils expanded, their eyes aglare with terror, and uttering all the time wild, THE TERRIBLE 8OKNBS OF MON- despairing cries, pawiug the ground, roll- DAY. in the dust and in ing rearing fury. We The following is from the Chicago Tril>- sickened at the sight and hastened away, for our own salvation was none too cer- une of October 12th: tain. Arriving at the Court house, we SCENES ON WABA.SH AVENUB. pushed through the multitude and finally The scene presented on Wabaeh avenue obtained a place in the tower. Here we on Monday, for a period extending from 4 bad an extended vision of the devastation. o'clock A M. till late in the day, was a most The night was hideous with scenes and extraordinary one, calling to mind most sounds more infernal than human. Below vividly the retreat of a routed army. The us in the square among the crowd we re- lower part of the avenue had, at an early cognized hour, been occupied by residents of burning A MAN WHO PREACHES IKF1DKL SERMONS, quarters, who sought safety for themselves- or rather tirades from the steps, and fre- and their chattels by depositing them ou quently was stopped by the people on ac- the grass plats skirting the sidewalks. For count of the great disturbance he incited. a leng distance these plate were occur, ied Now he was wringing his hands as if In by families, mostly of the lower classes, agany, and wailing and shouting: "Where with their household goods. They sup- is God now! Where is God now! Show us posed that they had dUcovered a place of the an gelt!" & j. security, but their confidence iu this regard Thia he continued until an oilicer collared proved unfounded. As the fire commenced and thrust him into the basement, where spreading up the avenue a wild scene of his raving were less audible. confusion ensued. Tne street was crowded The crowds could be seen in the streets with vehicles of ail descriptions, many huddled together, stupefied with fear, drawn by men, who found it impossible to- gazing like demented ones upon the awful procure draught animals. The bidewalk* panorama. The lurid glare gave every- were filled with a hurrying crowd, bear- thing a crimson hue, and the moving ing in their arms and upon their backs and figures in the avenues seemed like imps of heads clothing, furniture, fco. Ladiea brimstone. Horses were terrified, and dressed in elegant costumes, put on with a snorted and neighed as they were trem- viewof preserving them, and with costly blingly forced to go. The cries of children apparel of all kinds thrown over their and parent* seeking each other in vain arms and shoulder?, staggered along un- were more than heart-rending. Very few ner the unwonted burden. Poor women of the rougher classes were intoxicated, with mattresses upon their heads, w and even these seemed awed into decor- weighed down with furuituie, tottered um. On and on with remarkable speed with weary steps up the crowded street. came the flaming procession. It leaped Nearly every one wore a stern expresf-ien.. the river, and strided on with unopposed and moved on without a word, as if they had fury. The multitude now began to leave. braced up their minds to *ndure the worst All the hotels had been emptied, and flight without manifesting any emotion. Occa- was imperative. sionally, however, the wall of women and A BORRIliLE TRAC,E1>V. children rent the air. bringing tears to the Just now occurred a scene that froze our eye of those who witnessed the inamf e- tAtlons. Poor little children shivered in the slow progress. cold night air, and looked with wide open When the church on the corner of Wa- eyea upon the scene they could not com- bash avenue and Harrison street took tire prehend. Ludicrous Incidents were of oc- it seemed as if no limit ceuld be placed to casional occurrence, lighting up with a the southward march of the monster. An sort of horrible humor the terrible realities immense throng was collected in the vi- of the situation. Women would go by cinity of Harrison street and Hubbard with dogs in their arms, their pets being1 court, and word was passed among them all they had saved from the ruins of their that Laird Collier's church was about to homes. An octogenarian ran in a yard, be blown HP. The intelligence spread with with a large cat enfolded in his feeble em- rapidity of lightning, and then ensued a brace. Men dragging wagons wore green terrible race for life. The masses fled veils over their fac< a to protect their eyes precipitately up the aveuue, helter-skel- from t -e blinding dust. Drunken men ter, pell-jneil. It was everyone for him- staggered among the crowds, apparently self, and tae devil take the hindmost. I/-- possessed of the idea that the whole affair tie consideration was had to age or sex. was a grand municipal spree, in wnich Fortunately, however, no one was seriously they were taking part as a duty that should injured in the fearful rush, and the people be discharged by all good citizens. Trucks poured in disjointed masses towards the pawed up street loaded with trunks, on various side streets, many not deeming which sat ladies in costly garb, and with themselves safe until they nad placed sev- diamonds on their fingers. But one day eral blocks between themselves and the before they would have scorned the idea of point from which the danger was expected riding in anything less imposing than a to proceed. luxurious landau or coupe; but their pride And so the day wore on, the living kaleid- was leveled in the presence of the univer- oscope making constant changes, but ever sal imminent danger, and they were thor- presenting the same aspect. Excitement, humblest cart in oughly glad to get the sorrow, grief, terror, panic, madness, col- , which to place themselves and their valu- ored everything, relieved simply by a few ables. touches of ladicrousness that were abso- The great portion of the people knew lutely grotesque in their relation to the not whither they were going. All they all pervading norror. knew was that the horrible nre was behind E8CAPB OF PEOPLE IXTO THE WEST DIVI- them and they mast move on. The stream SION. poured southward for hours the broad av- So soon as the people west of Clark street enue being tilled from house to house with began to se tkat there was no hope, and men, women, children, horses, mules, vehi- that, the fire was really bound to go north- cles, wheelbarrows everything that could ward to an indefinite point, they turned all move, or could be moved. Truckmen and their minds to getting over in the West di- express drivers were hailed from the steps vision, where tusre was comparative safe- of houses, or eagerly pursued by the occu- ty from the flames and plenty of vacant pants, with the view of securing their aid ground on wnich to encamp. So, since in removing household goods to places of Chicago avenue bridge was useless, the safety. In many instances the appeals whole tide turned toward Division, which, were unsuccessful, their services having from Grove to Halsted. was untouched, been previously engaged by other parties; aud promised to remain so. Ic was not but when they ware disengaged they many minutes before a steady stream of charged the most exorbitant prices, rang- carriages, drays, express wagons and ve- ing from $5 to $100 for a load, and turning hicles of every description were rushing up their noses at offers of amounts less pell-mell across that bridge, interlocking than they asked. This class of people and breaking, while the southern streets made great profit out of the calamities of leading up to Division were jammed * i,h their fellow-citizens. Their pockets may wagons, which occasionally caught nre. be heavy to-d*y, but their consciences, if The expressmen and draymen, stimulated they have any. should be still heavier. by the immense prices they were receiving Tne instances of generosity were, how- twenty to fifty dollars a load drove ever, far in excess of those of greed and their heavy teams recklessly forward, selfishness. People from districts which breaking down the weaker teams and forc- had not already burned, or who had se- ing their way acrees the river, in order to cured their own goods, turned in with a return as soon as possible for another load. will and worked to aa-ist their friends, and Sometimes they themselves came to grief, frequently rendered aid to persons whom and then, unfastening their horses, tried they did not even know. Good angels, In to find another wagou. the shape of women, distributed food THE ROADS WERE FILLED WITH PEOPLE among tne sufferers, and spoke kind words crazed by excitement and liquor, or stupe- to those who earned to labor under the fied with smoke, and no regard at all was severest affliction Human nature, God paid to them by the drivers, so tnat at all be thanked, nas us bright as well as its those points numerous accidents were con- dark sides. stantly occurring. One man was driving In addition to the crowds pressing south- up Clark street with a heavy load, when his ward throngs' of people moved northward he fell from feat to see what they could see. And these AXD IS8TASTLY BROKE HIS KECK. counter currents frequently caused a jam The team was loaned with trunks that was almost inextricable. But after marked "Barton Edsall." Mrs. Edsall was great effort, interspersed with considerable taken from her house in a half insensible load talking and no small degree of pro- condition quite early in the morning. fanity, the dead-lock would be removed, THE WANDERERS and the opposing surges would again make crossing Division street either scattered 15

thennelves north or went straight -west, and the wot side of Dearborn were sll while many encamped themselves upon ablaze, the spectators saw the lurid light Grove Island, which lies between the appear in the rear windows of Speed's North branch and Ogden canal. When the block. Presently a mas, who had appar- train* moved a little westth^y found their ently taken time to dress himself leisurely, way blocked by the cars of the Northwest- appeared on the extension built up to the ern road, which had been run up there to second story of two of the stores. He avoid fhe fire, and people were compelled coolly looked down the thirty feet between TO make long detours to get through them. him and the ground, while the excited Many unable to force their -way through crowd first cried jump; and then some of the confusion of Division street, which was them more considerately looked for a lad- almost equal to that at the crossing of the der. A long plank was soon found and Beresina. turned into the side streets, and answered the same as the ladder, and was made their way to North Avenue bridge, placed at once against the building, down where they were able to get Out without which the man soon after slid. great difficulty, though much hampered by But while these preparations were going the railroad trains after they got across on there suddenly appeared another man there; not only teams, but foot passengers, at a fwurth story window of the building carrying in their arms children and gome ^>elow, which had no projection, but flasn lit' le articles of furniture or wearing ap- from the top to the ground four stories parel, wended their weary way in the same and a basement. H s escape by the stairway direction. One woman had nothing but a was apparently cut off and he looked de- silk sack, and another was accompanied spairingly down the fifty feet between him by a child, who had in its arras a couple of and the ground. The crowd grew almost eats and a little dog, and cry ins: itself, sobs frantic at the sighr, for it was only a choice out, "Don't cry, mammy." After getting of death before him. Senseless cries of out upon the prairie, they settled down "Jump! jump!" went up from the crowd- wherever they could flnd room, some sit- senseless, but full of sympathy, Tor the ting in rocking chairs, and others upon sight was absolutely agonizing. Then, for blankets on the ground. None of them a minute or two he disappeared, perhaps said anything, but all sat looking intently even less, but it seemed so long a time the at the fire, which was immediately before supposition was that he had fallen, suffo- them. Many who had teams went as far cated with smoke and heat. Bat no, he west as the Artesian well, where they en- appears again. First, he throw* a bed, camped around the large pond, wMch sup- then some bed clothes, apparently; why, plied them with water. Tbere they re- probably even he does not know. Again mained in the most forlorn and uncomfort- he looks down the dead, slreer wall of rifty able condition, which was aggravated by feet below him He hesitates, and well Le the rain, which began falling at 11 o'clock may, as he looks behind him. Then he on Monday n'ght, and which caused a mounts to the window sill. His whole change from the warm and comfortable form appears, naked to the shirt, and his temperature of the day to the piercing white limbs gleam against the dark wall in the dullness of yesterday ainrnin* . bright light as he swings himself be- LATE ON MONDAY EVENING low the window. Chicago avenue bridge caught nrts and soon Somehow how none can tell he drops fell into the river. It waa even then al- and catches upon the top of tae windows most impossible to get over at Division below him. of the third story. He stoops street on account of The teams which were and drops again, and seizes the frame with even t hen crossing Every where i he wild/ his hanus, and his gleaming body once; e*t confusion was prevailing. Families more straigbtens and hangs prone down- were separated and the members were ward, and then drops instantly and acour vainly seeking for one another. One po- ately upon the window sill of tae colrd liceman picked up a three months' old child story. A shout, more of joy than applause, which had been lost in pome way. Since goes ap from the breatuiess crowd, and there was no use in faoing the fUmes, the those who had turned away their heads, engines arranged themselves along the not bearing to look upon him as he seemed west bank of the north brauob, and did t he about to drop to sadden aud to certain best they could all Monday in playing oa deatb. glanced up at him once more, with a the ea*t and west sides. ray of hope, at thin daring and skillful feat The flre went further and further north, Into this window he crept to look, proba- taking both siciee of North avenue, and bly, for a stairway, but appeared again continuing beyond that presently, for here was the only avenue 01 TILL IT REACHED WRIGHT'S GROVE, escape, desperate and hopeless as it was. and Ogden's grove, where it did not pro- One* more ne dropped his body, hanging gress so easily amid the wet timber. The by his hand. rain which be gas falling oa Mondnv even The crowd screamed, and waved for him ing dampened the grass, and sensibly re* to swing himself over the projection from tamed it. Then it worked back again and which the other man had juat bean res- got hold of the coal heaps and lumber- cued. He tried to do this, and vibrated yards laying soutn of Chicago avenue, and like a pendulum from side to side, bat made a clean sweep of atl tha* was left could not reach far enough to throw him- there. 8- brilliant was th light on Mon- self upon Us roof Then he hnng by one day evening that it was feared by some of hand, and looked down; raising the other those on the west sid* that it would cro<*s hand, he took a fresh hold, and swung over there and obliterate wh<*t was left of from side to side again to reach the roor. the city. in vain Again he hung motionless by one A FRIGHTFUL SCENE nand, and slowiv turned his head over hi* While Madison street, west of Dearborn, shoulder and gazed into the abyss below 1C *s :% O! :o

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HOKKIBLE SCENES. dead, no more memorials of anything but disaster. Every inscription has disap- (From the N. Y. Tribune, Got. 14 peared, and even the dead are robbed by J the flames. The park turned into a wilder- The lamentable tragedy at the Historical ness of fire, the crowds doubled backward Society building is the darkest episode of and made for the s-rcnues leading west- this day; the people in the edifice confi- ward and to the south, to reach which they dent of its strength gathered their most must ores* the river. Many of the bridges valued possessions and crowded the cel- were in flames; the rest were already lars in assurance of perfect safety. choked with the heavy wagons which, Among them were citizens of note, the tearing their way tnrough, cruelly aggra- venerable Col. Stone and wife, Mr. and Mrs. vated ihe distress of the thousands of foot Able and two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Car- sore women and weary men. Fully 30. COO penter, Dr. Lead and family, with several people were afoot in this quarter, and others notso well known. While the fiUht this mass densely wedged into barricaded ened group were moving a trunk, the libra streets, b3tween trampling hordes, kept rian caught sight of a flame, and, snouting up a ceaseless stream far into the night. to the rest, rushed from the fatal place. With the night, new volumes of fUme The others, at least twenty in number, shot out on the air, and new crowds were not seen to emerge, and tbere is no were hurled among tae fifing masses. doubt that they perished, a the building There was no hope of saving rhe city, was soon tottering in utter wreck. Tiie the struggle was simply for life Half-clad original copy of the Lincoln Emancipation women fled moaning througa the streets, proclamation perished among the most and at this time, it is asserted, robberies uberished memorials of this society. were perpetrated in some of the remote Death came to the crowds in the open private residences. A vast throng reached air as well as in the buildings. A groat the prairie, and sunk exhausted on the following of ruffian?, emboldened by the ground; the air was filled with a torrid heat absence of the police and half maddened and even at this great distance immense with liquor, assaulted several saloons on particles of cinders fell in showers. The the verge of the tire and held the ground dreadful agony of separated families came against the advancing flame. When the to add its horrors to the calamity. Babies moment of ne

Bae to banks 9,089,699 every day existence Everything here Bills payable 244,112 muftt com"! down at once to a basis of utility. Embellishment must be sec- Total $41,178,177 ondary to use. Tbo butterflies of the city Number of banks, sixteen. will take flight, and the totally impover- In response to tbe call of the controller ished will be tempted to seek other scenes. for reports from tbe banks, showing their Tbe classes who have still some property condition on the 24 inst., but fl*e Chicago left will strive to render it valuable again, banks have forwarded their official state- and to them we must look to rebuild Chi- ments. These oame to day, ami possibly cago, aided by suoh energetic strangers as more may be received to-morrow. After may seek their fortunes here, replacing that date it is not expected at tbe depart- the bankrupt and disheartened. Tiuie ment that any further deposits will be re- alone can determine the extent to which ceived. Partial returns will, however, be Caicago in ashes can hold ita customers promulgated by the controller's office, to- and keep them contented. For a year, at gether with the usual promulgation of Na- least, the charitable of other cities must tional bank reports. be ready to contribute te the destitute of Chicago, and an organization should be THE FUTURE OF CHICAGO. perfectnd here whiott could be officially recoieniz'd, and whose requests for aid What will be the future of Chicago ! would be cheerfully accepted as right and This question is on the lips of everybody. proper. Strangers ask it of Chicaoans, and Chi- REMARKABLE ESCAPE A ROOF cagoans of strangers. Here is a city of CKOWl>ll> FALL- three hundred thousand inhabitants that WITH WOMEN ING IN. has suddenly lost several hundred millions f dollars and two-thirds of its facilities [From the New York Sun, October 14th 1 for living and transacting business. The 1 country at large has subscribed enough in Mr. and Mrs. William Spiring, an Eng- provisions and money to bridge over the lish couple, who have just arrived from first of The in- period physical suffering. homeless and told surance companies and banks will pay Chicago, friendless, their thus : something, but noti more than a twentieth story left Salt Lake list and started of what would the losses. The 1m W week, rupay for our former home. We have mense region tributary to Chi- London, agncultual been in Salt Lake nine We is unharmed, and as ever. living years. cago productive to at In Coioago has bought its grain and supplied stopped spend Sunday Chicago. the fire of niht we were driven its demand for merchandise. The profits Sundiy from our hotel with clothing, on this work for thirty years has been scarcely any out of the building, losing swept away. Ic was these profits barely getting and $500 in money, all that built up Chicago, and if it is our trunks, oiothlng, had. wandorad about the city all rebuilt a similar accretion, year year, we We by in the rai a in search of foed. must again ba the agency. The capital day Monday can not cotne from anv other source. The We obtained from some charitable people to us from tension of credit at mis alwa.vs sufficient clothing keep expos- Chicago was intense, as neither been extreme. The is in debt ure. The suffering city largely could be until and so are its citizens. The for a food nor water provided appeal homeless After loan from without col- Tuesday for the people. heavy government, for the author- IK absurd. It Is commerce tint that Uhey were provided by lateral, the issued a builds cities, and no subsidies can ities. On Tuesday mayor pro- large he would issue them afloat. Much of busi- clamation announcing keep Chicago's to all wished to ness must at divert- passes over any road who be, least, temporarily availed ourselves of ed to her rivals. But whatever the condi- leave the city. We and went to Pittsburgh, tions, she most start afresh and by her this opportunity own her make whence the Pennsylvania Central passed energy regain position, where we arrived this her losses, and be content to know us to New York, good directed us at the that this will be a task for many years. morning. Tney mayor's ofllce to come out here. Tnere is no magic to accomplish it in a twelve-month. There was a sad scene at the office of the Another fact must be faced In thi mayor of Chicago morning ugly of nit C&ioago. due** built of wood must be de- following the issue proclamation. o'clock in the a lante stroyed by tire. All ov*r the globe this Before 6 morning law has no crowd had gathered In the street, and exception. Thorefore, Chicago the arrival of the mast tear down as well as build Until formed in line, awaiting up. of the of ahe uses in her edi- mayor to get their passes out city brick, stone and iron FOR- fices will be afraid of and her DtSOLATED HOMES AND WRECKED capital her, TUNES. history will be replete with disaster. arrived o'olocfe) the Where the prevailing winds are so boister- Befor the mayor (to streets. From this time ous there is a dont>le need of solid bulld- line filled several were Issued as fast as inParis, subscriptions are going on. Alto- Jjim't talk about $15 to me. Say $1000 and I will talk to you." gether, the contributions from abroad will They had no more money, and, tried to amount to over one million of dollars. carry their father, who urged them to New York has given over two millions, abandon him and save themselves; but they would not, and were of which Alex. T. Stewart gives $">),000, OVERTAKEN BY TUB FLAMES AND PERISHED. Robert Bonder $10.000, and the leading The horrors as well as the exient oi the bankers, $5000 each. fire were no doubt aggravated by incen- diarism and pillage. The police had to dis Boston contributions amount already to trioute arms among the citizens to protect $300,000 in cash, with the prospect of more. their property. Two men who stood guard- Cincinnati has contributed $200,900, ex- ing their ;tea ihe liver by large em- total will not fall short tf seven or eight several bers and burning boards feet millions of dollars in cash, beside the square, which were born* across by the ffnle Never did a fire burn so rapidly. value of a million in food, clothin?, & . The flames rolled two hundred leet into tbe From all over the country the relief af- air. Curling back, they would dart across the street, and in an instant another black forded has been prompt, and spontaneous. would be in flames. Imagine the un- Committees of distinguished citizens are burned streets at night filled with furni- now in Chicago from St. Louis, Cincin- ture, men, women, children and teams, lit only by the lurid glare of the pursuing nati and Pittsburgh, personally superin- flumes. No sounds but groans and ciiee, tending the disbursements of their boun- miugled with the oaths of drivers and the ties. Nothing has ever occurred ia this roar of the sea of fire, whose hungry waves were liobine them UD. country to call out such generous and profound sympathy with genuine distress, THE GRJtt^l' USIJLB* MOVEMENT. which, deplore the occasion as much as we Never before in the history of any great may, cannot but fill the heart of every public calamity was there exhibited tuch true American with pride.