The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-09-23
TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION AT CHICAGO!
100000 OF PROPERTY DEsTRO YED
Ten Million Feet of Lumber Barnt!


has ever occurred in that city. The fire
broke out shortly after o'clock P NJ,
and ragged all night though by 3 o'clock
a. NJ, it had been got under control We
copy the following details from the Chica-
go Press d Tribune, of Friday morning:
The fire broke out about $50 p. NJ, in
frame stable on Canal street, near the
corner of Lake street, owned and occupied
by +. Mehring & Co, Ice dealers. A high
wind was blowing at the time from the
southeast, and the flames were swept into
the heart of the block which was occupied
by high piled stacks of lumber, timber
&C., and also by very closely ranged wood
en- buildings, sheds, outhouses, workshops,
DC. By such material fed, before the Fire
Department had got we'll at work, an i'm
mense volume of heat and flame was being
driven north and west, which swept every
thing in its course along the Lake street
and Canal street fronts. The latter were
mostly small buildings of little value, the
former were chiefly one and two story
structures, and occupied by saloons, small
stores, &C., g., until midway of the block
began the large Milwaukee brick structure,
the Cleveland House. This with the Gin
ton House on the corner was destroyed.
Crossing Clinton street the devouring
element laid in ruins the Cochrane House,
six story marble front building, occupied
10y J. w. Cochrane, ESQ. Also the Hy-
draulic Mills, four story stone structure,
owned by Mr.. Monroe. and occupied by
Mr. Mitchell, and E. w. Blatchford's ex-
tensive Lead Works. The iIe then spread
to the adjoining block, destroying the Re-
formed Presbyterian Church, Of which Rev.
Robert Patterson is pastor, and row OF
good dwelling houses adjoining. How
far the fire will extend, we cannot definitely
state at the time of going to press; but
there is little doubt that the entire four
blocks which are described will be in ruins
The COchrane House was an elegant
six-story structure of the first class ia hotel
architecture, and finished and erected some
three years since, by J. w. Cochrane, Esq.
TWAS six stories in height and fronted on
Lake street, just west of Clinton street
| 1t was Of Athens marble front, and thor
oughly appointed and finished for hotel
business of the first order. In fact, it was
too good and too much in advance of that
immediate section of The city, to have
proved profitable investment of the out
| iav- nearly 100000 we beIieve-and it
| had for some time stood unoccupied. 1t
was finished below for stores Oh its Lake
street front The fire commenced its work
upon this fine structure at the roof, and
thence, far above the reach of the firemen,
it ate its way down into the heart of the
building, totally destroying it.
An ell from the Cochrane House. of
equal height with the main edifce, extend
ed east with the main building, to Canal
street, thus forming an angle on the cor
ner of the streets, occupied by three
story brick building, eighty feet on either
street. This, occupied by various tenants,
was also destroyed.
Next west of the ell of the Cochrane
House, was the stone structure occupied a:
the Hydraulic mills. This was complete
ly Quilted.
The Chicago Lead Works, of E. w
Blatchford, were erected in 1856, at a cost
Of about $4,000. 1t was the largest es
adjustment of the kind in the West, if moi
in the United States, and in manufactur
ing point of view, was one of the chief or
naments of the city. Besides the buildings
there were destroyed $50 barrels of lnseed
oil, machinery, lead, lead pipe, sheet lead
&c., to the value of upwards Of 100000
The business carried on was immense, tol
besides manufacturing upwards of 100000
pigs lead annually into lead pipe, sheet
lead, &c, they are extensive dealers in
shot of all kinds. The engine is spoken o.
as being one of the finest in the West, and
their machinery was of the most perfect
character in every particular.
The building itself was very fine, having
been constructed without regard to expense
and in most durable manner, as all who
witnessed the scorching it received befor,
it fell can testify.
One thing with regard to it, however
had been overlooked. There were nc
iron shutters on ia strange mistake
when its position to the lumber yards op
posite, is taken into consideration. 1t i
not 100 much to state, that had the win
dows been securely closed by iron frame.
and shutters, the Chicago Lead Work
might have been saved, and the limits 0
the fire lessened
x x II