, 1864-02-17
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE,
Grey, Marshall & Co.'S Tannery
Bnrned-Loss $4,000.

A fire, most disastrous in Its result, broke ont
little before II o'clock last night, In the large
building owned and occupied ~ tAuncfy by
Giey, Marshall Co. The building was two hun
dcd feet In length by forty feet in width and three
stories high, built partially Of brick, and was
c1anmed ncaray full OF leather hides and material
for tanning. It vas situated on the east bank OF
the North Branch, inst north Of Chicago avenue,
aud wae enclosed between tho river and the
North Branch canal The fire Was fret seen about
quarter to II, and owing to the strong wind
blowing at the time and tho distance from the en-
gfne houses, the building was in q blaze from end
to end before the steamers began to play. In the
space Of an hour 1t was nothing but blazing rum
Tie alarm WAS ruuG for the fourth district and
the engines all went over lnto the West Division,
and running up Halsted street, became entangled
IN thelabynth lying near the intersection Of that
street with Chicago averue, commonly known as
the Patch" Here they found themselves obliged
to cross the river, and had to make desour to the
bridge, though one OF two Of the hose carts YEN
turcd over On the Ice. During the delay thus
caused the flames .werc each minute increasing
their hold on the material and the i2nited pioccs
OF tan being carried enthusiastically by the wind,
not only put buildings IN that direction in inmi~
nent danger, hut made 1t rather perilous to pass
through with the engines. At lAat they arrived;
standing down to the waters edge, holes were
broken through the Ice and they began to play.
The flames mockcd their efforts. Tho vast mass
Of material there collected furnished only too
good basis for confagration on grand
ecd1e, and the flames were lashed by the wind into
maddencd fury Fortunately there were no other
buildings Immediately TO ieeward, or no power
could have shielded them they would all have
been involved In ono common .uiu. Nothing can
better e1enplify the force Of hnbft-the result OF
A.. =. A.
Ter impoteucy to c1cck Its ravngcs, the drcmcn
still laborod still they poured volumes Of watef
On the blozlng mass, and ever and
anon their 1.-THE forms might be
disce1ned flttiug through the lnrid glare. a.
With axe in hand they seemed looking for.a
chance 10 cut away But though they could not
prevent the entire destruction Of the building they
were emincnily useful in combating the shower
Of burning rain which threatened destruction to
everything combustible within half mile Of their
origin, and lying under their path. The fire had
at last expended Its fury, and had aaSaided to $
comparatively innocuous staee by midnight,
though the morning was far advanced before The
engines had ceased to p!ay.
The building Is total wreck, nothing remain
Ing standing but the engine house, and that is
probably worthless for future uee. The stock on
hand could not be asccrtaiEed, but 1t is known to
have been vety large. and the establishment had
been for zone weeks running at the highest Pres
eure. The to.al loss ts about $s5, 900; the stock
and building were both insured bnt not to the full
arount.
The origin Of tho fire Is mystery, and will PEI
haps ever remain go, though there is some
ground for believing 1t 10 have been the work Of
an incendia1y. The flames first broke out In The
part Of the building most remote from the engine
house, ard there WAS neither fire nor light in that