The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-10-21
NUMBER 81.
THE GwICAGO FIRE.
NO PARALLEL IN MODERN HIsToRY-THE
GREAT FIRES OF THE PAST.


Among the great confagrations of the
past that of London in September, 1866,
will always stand pre-emuent for its terr-
hle destructiveness. 1t followed upon the
great plague, which had carried off one third
of the population in the previous year. and
swept over nearly fye>sixths of the space
included within the city walls at that date.
1t lasted four days. and the ruins covered
436 acres. 1t destroyed eighty nine churches
GncludiDg ST. Paul's), the Royal exchange,
the custom house, Guidhall, Zion college. and
many other public buildings. besides l3 200
private houses. -Four hundred streets were
entirely laid waste, and about 200 600 of the
inhabitants of the city were obliged to enS
camp for some time in the open fields of Is
lington aud Highgate. The most disastrous
fire in London since that date occurred on
the 25rh Of March, 1884, when 200 houses
in the Cornhil ward were destroyed. Many
desu uctive fires have occurred in the British
metropolis at later dates; the most recent
worthy of special note being the burning Of
the cotton and other wharves Of Tooley
street in June and July, 1851. The FIRE
continued ragiug with greater or less fury for
nearly month. Several persons were killed.
and property was destroyed TO the value Of
$4,000, ,OO0.
On the 9Th of May. 1912, d fire broke out
ragged with great fury for four days. destroy
ing about oue-third cf the city. S.xty-one
streets, containing ,747 houses. were utter
II laid waste. and thousands of people were
rendered homeless. There were few public
buildings of value destroyed, and that por-
ton Of the city was quickly rebuilt in a
much more substantial manner than before.
In this country great fires, especially be-
fore the day of improved Ere engines have
been comparatively frequent. and New York
has had her full share. In September, I776,
soon after the city came into the hands Of
the British, 500 houses were destroyed, form
ing at that time large part If the town.
The buildings were rather huddled together
at the lower end Of the island, and were
mostly of wood, and the district west Of
Broadway and below Cortlandt street was
swept bare New York was visited by au-
other great confagration, the greatest IN IFS
history, on the 10th Of December. 1885.
SIX hundred warehouses, and property to the
extent OF over twenty millions Of dollars
were consumed. The oldest inha bitants
still remember the horrors of that terrible
disaster. On the sixth of September, 1889,
the city had another severe visitation, when
forty six buildings and property valued at
SO 900 600 were destroyed. The next con-
iagration Of large extent in that city took
stores and dwellings, IN the lower part of the
city were des treyed. These, however, were
of com paratively inferior value, the whole
loss amounting to Sc 600 600. -Four lives
were lost on this occasion. Since that time.
owing to the increased efficiency Of the means
employed to prevent and extinguish fires,
they have generally been confined to a single
building or a small group.
In the same wear Of the last great fire in
New York, I845, Quebec suffered terribly
from the same destroying element. On the
2Sth of May fire broke out in the FAN
bourg St. Roch, which destroyed l 500 build
ings before 1t could lie quelled. Several lives
were also lost. Exactly one month later
l 800 buildings were burned, and by these
two conhag agrations nearly two thirds of the
city was laid in ruins. The pecuniary loss
has been stated at So, ,0O0 600. IL the same
year, on the 18th of June. nearly the whole
town of ST. Johns. Newfoundland, was de-
stroyed. and 5000 people were rendered
homeless.
Albany suffered from a great coufla grafton
on the 9th of September. 1913. Six hundred
BUILDINGS, besides steamboats,, piers and other
property. valued altogether at So, 900 600,
were burned. Twenty four acres land with
in the city limits were covered with ruins:
St. Louis had a great fire in May, 1S49,
when fifteen blocks OF houses and twenty
three steamboats, were consumed, causing
loss of over S. 600, 600.
Philadelphia has been fortunate in having
few great fires. but one occurred in that city
on the 9Th of July. 1860, which destroyed
$50 buildings. These were of inferior value.
and the whole loss was but $1,000. 900,
though twenty FIVE persons were killed, nine
drowned and 120 injured.
A large portion Of San Francisco was de-
stroyed In 1851. On the Sd Of May fra
broke out which consumed nearly $500
buildings causing loss of So. 100000 and
several lives. A little over month later,
on the 22d of June. 500 more buildings were
burned valued at $50 900 COO or more.
Twelve acres Of land in Syracuse were
burned over on the Sth of November, 1865.
About 100 buildings were destroyed. and the
loss of property amounted to 81 600, 900.
The scene most naturally recalled by this
fearful disaster in Chicago is the terrible cell
ebration of the fourth of July m Portland.
Me-. in 1866. The leading facts of the great
event are still fresh in the public mind. The
fire, beginning in a boot shop on High street
swept north. and destroyed in its course
nearly one half of the city. The pecuniary
loss was about SIS 900 600. aud one,fourth
I of the population were rendered houseess.
1t seems probable from the reports thus
far received that the terrible fire in Chicago
has no parallel in modern history, unless in
the confiagrations kindIed by war. Even
the great fire of London, though relatively
more destructive. did not equal it in abso-
lutte extent. The London of that day was
| little more than two>thirds the size of the
Chicago to day. having less than 250 900 in
habitants; and if, as reported. two-thirds of
Chicago is in ruins. the desolated territory is
far greater than the 6ve-sixths of London
/ said TO have beea laid waste in 1866. ID
A sssTRoNG> MINDED" thus relieves her
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