The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-10-24
Chicago.
The following letter from our fellow
DR.. Byford, will be read with
;utorAct NV o,,r c;k;zopc.

hing of interest should transpire here. You
will, no doubt, hear of the two disastrous
fires which have so recently added to the
difficulties in which our city is at
present involved, before this letter reaches
you. The pecuniary loss from both will fall
nothing short Of million dollars. This, in
times like the present, will be felt by the city
as well as the individuals Immediately con-
for some time to come. But the most
serious and appalling effect of the last con-
fagration was the loss of several influential
and wealthy citizens. Three or four mer-
chants whose stores were lost, persisted in
endeayoring to save as much Us possible of
their worldly goods and are now being |
taken home to their families, so charred and |
mutilated that, but for some garments or |
jewel, they would be entirely unacceptable.
Two Of our immediate neighbors, Mr.. Brad !
ley, a jeweler, and Mr.. Barnum. fancy
goods merchant, are in this category, and
their families may now be heard mourning
their sudden and unexpected bereavement.
Although the ruins are not halfcleared away,
10 bodies have already been recovered; and
how many more are to be disentombed from
this dreadful wreck, remains to be seem
The streets, alleys and avenues, near the
ruins, are crowded by spectators and expec-
tant friends, who wait in anxious fear lest in
some of the mangled corpses passing by, a
brother, son, father or husband may be re-
cognized. A more heart-rending scene can
not well be imagined, than is presented by
the anguish and suspense of these bereaved
friends, awaiting the disclosure of the reve-
lations brought to light by the removal of
the ,ubish under which lay their nearest and
dearest relatives. Many were stripped ut
once of their wealth, and left in II state of
comparative dcstitution, in the disastrous
hours that ushered in Monday morning.
Amid all this sorrowful, and to the unso-
phisticated, impressive scene. were many in
cidents exhibiting the human character in its
more brutal aspects. Robbery and thefts
were detected in several cases-fghtng,
quarreling and drunkenness met the eye on
every side.
The circumstances which made the last
FIRE so destructive to life, were such as too
often produce the same effect in large cities
the falling CT heavy brick walls. Most of
the people were crushed instead of burned to
death. They nearly oil pcrished together.
~ large six story brick building on Lake
street, occupied by Mr.. Shay as a dry, goods
store, and Mr.. ID. Il. Cook, US book store,
was on fire, and next adjoining stood three
story building, occupied by Mr.. Barnum as
fancy goods store, and Mr.. Bradley, with
jewelry, think in the same tenement. AT
a time when this last building was filed
with people trying to rescue its contents from
the flames, which were expected every mo-
ment to encircle it, the wall of the six story
building, towering some thirty or forty feet
above the roof, began to crack and topple;
and Notwithstanding this warning to the
people inside, before half Of them could es-
cape it fell, crushing through the roof and all
the floors into the cellar-crushing almost to
powder everything beneath, and burying the
living contents of the lower room several feet
below packed under heaps of brick and NOR
tar. Two or three persons nearest the door
escaped unhsrt. One who was buried COM
pletely in this awful and annihilating crash,
was taken out alive, the rest all perished. r
Much dispute has arisen as to the origin OF
this last confagration. My convictions, af-
ter getting all tie information | can obtain,
is that it originated in one of the infamous
\ dens that arc too often found near the
wharves, where sailors are discharged with
full pockets, in every large city. Be that as
it may, several women Of notorious reputa-
ton were driven in CONSERVATION int the
streets, almost nude; and 1t is supposed one
Of them perished in the flames.
The first fire was within one square of oul
residence on State street. 1t occurred on last
Saturday night, one week ago. In this there
were many, probably dozen, fine dwelling
houses consumed, one drug store, jewelry
shop, and a small tavcrn-all wooden build
ings. We were considerably frightened
somewhat smoked, but not at all hurt. The
last fire took eight or nine very valuable bust
ness establishments, and two or three dwell
ing houses. 1t extended from South Waite,
street on the river east of Clark street through
: to Lake street.. Both of these fires happened
about the same hour-between two and three
, o'clock in the morning-when everybody was
in deep sleep; and consequently much time
elapsed before the fremen could get to work
efficiently. The all absorbing topics of pro-
| fit and loss occupies the minds Of business
men, to the exclusion of nearly every Other
subject.
The currency here consists almost entirely
Of Wisconsin and Illinois money. / have
not seen an Indiana bill, except what
brought with me, during the time / hav,
been in Chicago. / am told by persons in
terested here, that it is all bought up and
immediately sent home. tried to buy som,
not long since, with Illinois money, bu
conld find none; and was informed by the
brokers that if they had any for me, they
would charge three per cent for it.
Yours, &C., W. ii. B.
sB-It is stated that the Tariff will form {