The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-10-24

THE FIRE AT CHICAGO was one Of the most
disastrous that has for long time, been re-
corded. The actual loss in property destroy
ed foots up s6,6.O0o; the indirect and Incl
dent-losses would make the damage nearly
one million Of dollars; occurring rs IL does in
in the midst of the commercial disasters Of
the times, it will be serious calamity 20 the
city. The Chicago papers remark. the mis-
fortune stalls heavily and disastrously upon
our business community, before staggering
under the pressure in thu general commercial
world. 1t falls ruinously upon some Of the
parties, doubtless, and SWEEPS away as by a
breath, the Accommodations # years.
Nineteen persons arc known to have per-
ished i'm the flames and falEag ruins, and
several others are missing and Sre supposed
to have been so deeply buried by the falling
building that no trace of their rcmains has
yet been discovered. The melancholy loss
of life was occasioned by an attempt to save
the stocks Of goods and property III an old
and humble block of stores that stood 6sSide
modern lofty block Of six story stores in
hundred persons were within and upon the
humble buildings, suddenly fearful crash
announced new phrase of the calamity
The heavy and towering wall of the adjoin-
ing store had fallen outward upon the roof OF
the smaller establishment, and had carried
all before it to the basement. Firemen and
citizens, wall, roof and merchandise, with
the burning ruins from the store adjoining
"ali mingling, FELL" Ja Wv p
A fearful scene of terror and dismay en-
sued. The portion of the wall left standing
had fortunately preserved the front portion
of the store, which was densely thronged by
a confused crowd. Many of them were pros
trated by the flying missiles, many were
trampled and bruised in the flight Of Their
companians, but soon all was clear for Q
space extending about thirty feet from the
front. The store was very deep, and for
nearly two-thirds Of its whole length the
building was a mass of ruins, now beginning
to burn briskly. rs the flames conveyed in
the fall fastened to feed on the wood worl
and the light and combustible portions Of tn,
| wares.
Where were they who were lately 80 busy
so unheeding of danger? Who were beneath
that burning pile! Alas! the question is no
yet fully answered. There were several mar
row escapes. One seems almost miraculous
A fireman named Conuor who was on th,
roof of the low building was carried through
into the basement, and found himself, on re.
covering his sensrs, comparatively free, anc
near the grated window opening on the al
ley. To this he made his way, and was ex
treated. UHFF-s
A female, from the upper stories of stor
made her way along the roof of adjoinin.
stores west, in raiment thin, and lighter il
hue than her character, and found an escap
through the scuttle. Another leaped from
and upper window and was caught uninjurec
by o fireman. - -
A young man, lodger in the same build
ing, whose name we did not learn, let him
self down from the fourth story window by
rope, which, 1t is said, he had the good sens
to keep ready to answer this very purpose.
The thieves were thick, and their opera
tions numerous.