The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-13
From the N. Y. Tribune.
CHICAGO IN ASliESl
Ono Hundred Thousand Hon oloss
Persons Appealing For Aid.

ElCfS, AND n SCORE OF tHUNClifS
DEsTRoYED-MANY VESSELS BURN.
ED-THE FIRE STILL RAGING.
CHICAGO, Oct. 0.-The most terrible
that ever occurred in the
United States has been in progress
in this city for nearly 2l hours,
laying the whole business portion Of
the city and one fifth of all tho build.
ings in ashes.
The fire broke out last evening, be.
tween 8 and 10 o'clock, in a barn in
West Taylor street, and owing TO the
inflammable nature of its contents, the
building was wrapped in flames before
the iiremen arrived. From this insig-
niiicaut source sprang this terrible ca.
lamity.
The portion of the city where the fire
originated was built up almost entirely
of wooden buildings, closely packed to-
gether, tonantcd by carpenters, cabinet
makers, coopers, varnish manufactur-
crs, intorspersed with lumber yards and
stores of other equally inaammablo
materials. The wind was blowing n
terrible gale and the devouling element
spread 80 rapidly that all attemps TO
stay its ravages proved fruitlcss.
The fire soon reached Clark Street,
upon which the greater portion of the
fine business blocks were situated, all of
which arc destroyed. The Court House
which was 20 years in building, was
swept away in 80 minutes. The Sher.
man House, opposite the Go urt House,
the new Pacific Hotel, which was soon
to be opened, and said to be the largest
in the world and, indeed, every hotel
in the city is swallowed up in the sea OF
fire. When the fire reached State Street
toward tho lake, an attempt was made
to stay its progress by blowing up the
buildings in the vicinity of Field, Lei
tiers & Co.'s magnificent dry goods es-
tablishment, but this only seemed to
add to the fury Of the flames. From
State Street the fire advanced with un :
abated fury to the North Division, and
scarcely vestige of the 5000 buildings
on that side of the river is left. Taking
a south casterly direction, the fire swept
through Madison avenue and Monroe
Street, extending distance of about
one mile and quarter, devouring in
its advance The Tribune building, Cros.
by's Opera House, McVicker's Theater,
and hundreds of the finest business
houses in the city. West of the Court
House, embracing Lasalle, Wells, and
South Water Streets, upon which a
very large portion of the business was
concentrated, everything is swept clean.
Tho space burnt over covers an area of
more than five square miles, while the
value of the property destroyed is SIM
ply to be conjectured, some placing it
at Sl0O,000,OO0, and Others even more
than this.
1t was about O'Clock this morning
when the fire crossed the river at Ad-
ans Street bridge and soon destroyed
the gas works, and then spread itself fin
every direction. More than one-half
the population are now pushing through
the streets in vehicles which are obtain
every "6tnef" way" VAN fact. ,aq.pgajiInl and IN
household treasures in their arms and
on their backs in utter confusion, not
knowing whittier to go. Fearful suffer-
ing must follow, and almost immedi-
ately. Full 100000 people are at this
homeless and houseless, not
knowing where to lay their heads or
get anything to satisfy the cravings of
hunger.
At noon, the whole business portion
of the city from Harrison Street north
to Chicago avenue, and east of the river
to Lake avenue, was devastated, en-
bracing district three miles in length
to 4 mile or mile and half in width.
The flames swept through the city with
the rapidity of prairie fire, and many
persons must have perished.
At this hour &c p. M the awful work
of destruction still goes on with relent-
less fury. From Harrison Street in the
south to Division Street in the north,
and from the river to the lake, an area
Of four miles long by one mile wide,
the flames have swept everything be-
fore them.
The streets in the districts still un-
burned are lined for miles with such
household goods as have been saved
from destruction. Most generous offers
Of assistance in money, food, or any.
thing wanted are coming in from al
most every city and town throughout
The country by telegraph. The Mayor
has responded to several offers, asking
hat cooked food be provided rs soon as
FIremen are on their way
lere from Cincinnati, St. Louis, and
'ther cities. The water works are en-
irely destroyed. Buildings are now
'eing blown up on the line of the fire
o attempt to arrest its pr ogress.
1t is believed that the spread of the
ire southward will soon be stayed at
Harrison Street; but on the north side
here is no diminution of its fury, and
he entire divi sion of the city is evil
lently doomed TO utter destruction.
There are grave fears that the flames
nay spread to the west side of the north
Of the river, and the inhabitants
# the streets nearest the river are al
eady moving to places, it is supposed.
If greater safety. The Western Union
Telegraph Company have now six
wires, working east and south, running
nto temporary Office at the corner of
'tate and Sixteenth Streets. The North |
Western Railroad Company are rum
ing trains on beth its branches, which |
re crowded with fleeing citizens. 1t
j now positively asserted by some that
he water works are still intact, but the
water has been shut Off from the South
nd West Divisions, on account of the |
luantity being used ON the north side. |
4 trustworthy gentleman, just arrived |
rom the North Division, brings the
oyful intelligence that the water works
IRE uninlured. God grant that it may
,rove true
1t Is impossible now to give even an
taNsF.x E..N.. .aaI--