The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-10-29
From the Chicago Democratic Press.
Appalling Calamity.

FROM the chicago Democratic Press.
Appalling Calamity.
Trelre Stores destroyed, Loss, 7O0,O0C,-
Fearfa'loss of life,-C Citizens and Firenen in
the Rnins!-Twenty Victims to the casuali-
ty.-FuH Recognition of the Bodies igh-
teen Bodies recovered.
A calamity most appalling has burst upon
our city. The destruction of property, in
amount before unparalleled, but far more the
loss Of probably not less than twenty human
lives, will be enrolled in our annals against Oc-
tober 10Th, 1857, and make it ever mournfully
memorable.
About half past three O'Clock Monday morn
ing fire broke out in the business block 100
and Ill South Water street, thence spreading
to right and left and extending across the al
ley to the Lake street front of the block until
twelve stores of the first class, four and FIVE
stories high, and filled from cellar to roof with
valuable wares and merchandise, were lail in
smoul!eriDg heaps of rubbish.
Worse than all, a fearful los. of human life
was involved. The number who persisted can
be knewn only by lapse of time sufficient to
indicate the missing, or by clearing the scene
Of the catastrophe. 10 bodies have been
recovered and others are missing.
1t is not distinctly known how. nor is it
definitely stated where the fire originated
The most careful inquiry and summing up
Of the best evidence in possession up to the
hour of going to press. tends 70 the conviction
that the fire lifts veil which shrolds the life
Of too many Of our clerks and employees who
find their only home and their only social life
in bachelor apartments in the upper stories of
our business blocks. anti
1t is in sad, but too painfully strong evidence
that the fire, which originated in the five story
building, Nos. 100 and Ill South Water street,
was caused by carelessness or drunken reck-
lessness of the participants in drunken de-
bauch of clerks and abandoned females they
had made their companions and associates in a
Sabbath nights revel. Early after the alarm
was given, those first on the ground saw fe-
males in state of deshabille, and some of
them, with other occupants of the upper
stories, well nigh in state Of nudity, making
their hurried escape from the building. 1t
should be added that the same phenomena
were witnessed in the Lake street blocks.
THE CATASTROPHE AT NO. 10.
From the great height of the block last nam
ed, it lowered high above the less modern and
humble block on the East, one of the oldest in
the city. The store No. ITO was occupied by
the Messrs. Barnum as an extensive variety
store. Having accommodated itself to the
change of grade. the building was but three
stories above the present sidewalk. hrf
1t was thought advisable to clear the store,
and large force of men, fremen and others
were aiding in the removal Of the goods
Numbersof firemen and citizens were upon the
roof. Probably at one time not less than two
hundred persons were within and upon the
building. 1t was thought that the store was
comparatively safe; doubtless those who so
feariessy rushed in had no thought of peril.
Suddenly fearful crash announced a new
phase of the calamity. The heavy and tow
ering wall of the adjoining store had fallen
outward upon the roof Of Barnum's establish
uiCbt, ohu hoo CotiiCu Oh uCtOAC IL W tue UdSt-
ment Firemen and citizens, wall, roof, and
merchandise, with the burning ruins from the
store adjoining Gall mingling fell.''
Here the destruction of life was fearful
Nineteen bodies, horribly mutilated, disfgurad
and burned, so as in numerous cases to render
Identification impossible, had been extrecated
from the ruins at last accounts, and others
were missing and supposed to be lost. Among
the names we notice that of John High, IT,,
formerly of High &c Magee, an old, highly es-
teemed, and worthy citizen of Chicago. A
large force Of men were employed in the search
SO long as there was prospect Of finding any
more bodies, and the funeral of the killed who
were strangers, was at the public expense, and
attended by an immense coneourse.