The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-10-14


their pets being all the, had saved from the
ruins Of their homes. Aaoetspenarian sat in
a yard, with large Cat snfolded in his fee
BILE embrace. Men dragging wagons wore
green walls over their fscss To nrotect their
eyes from the binding dust. Drunken men
staggered among the crowds, apparently DOS
sessed of the idea tina. the whole affair was a
municipal spree, in which thew were TAKING
part as duty that should De discharged by
all good citizens. Trucks passed nm the
streets, loaded with trunks, on which sat la
dies in costly garb, and with diamonds in
their ears and on their fingers. But one day
before they would have scorned the idea Of
riding in anything less imposing than luxu-
rious landau or coupe: but their pride was
levelled in the presence of the universal i'm
minent danger, and they were thoroughly
glad to get the humblest cart in which to
place themselves and their valuables.
The great portion of the people knew not
whittier they were going All they knew was
that the horrible fire was behind them. and
they must move on. The stream poured
southwark for hOurs-the broad avenue being
filled from house to house with men, women.
children, horses, mules, vehicles, wheclbar-
rows-everything that could move, or that
could be moved. Truckmen and express
drivers were hailed from the steps of houses,
Or eagerly pursued by the occupants, with
the view OF securing their aid in removing
household goods to place of safety. In many
instances the appeals were unsuccessful, their
services having been previously engaged by
other parties; but, when they were olsen
gagged, they charged the most exorb,tant
prices, ranging from IS to $lOO for load.
aud turning up their noses at offers of
amounts less than they demanded This class
of people made great profit out of the calami-
ties OF their fellow citizens. Their pockets
may be heavy today, but their oonsciences,
II they have any, should be still heavier. The
instances of generosity were, however, far in
excess OF those Of greed and selfshness Peo-
pie from districts which had not already been
burned, or who had secured their own goods,
turned in with will, and worked to assist
their friends, and frequently rendered aid to
persons whom they did not even know. Good
angels, in the shape of women, distributed
food among the sufferers; and spoke kind
words to those who appeared to labor under
the severest affection. Human nature, God
be thanked, has its bright as well as its dark
sides.
In addition to the crowds pressing south.
ward, throngs of people moved northward to
sec what they could see And these counter.
currents frequently caused jam that was al
most inextrica5le. But, after great effort, in.
terspersed with considerable loud talking and
no small degree of profanity, the dead, lock
would be removed, and the opposing surges
would again make slow progress.
When the church on the corner of Wabash
avenue and Harrison street took fire, it
seemed as II no limit could be placed to the
southwark march Of the monster An i'm
mense throng was collected in the vicinity of
Harrison street and Hubbard court and word
was passed among them that Laird Golfers
church was about TO be blown up The intel
ligencc spread with the rapidity of lightning,
aud then ensucd a terrible race for life. The
masses fled with preciptancy up the avenue.
helter-skelter, pell-melI. 1t was everyone for
himself, and devil take the hndmost. Little
consideration was had to sex or age Fortu-
nately, however, no one was seriously injured
in the fearful rush, and The people poured in
diejointed masses down the various side
streets, many not decming themselves safe till
they had placed several blocks between them
selves and the point from which the dan
ger was expected to proceed.
And so the day wore on, the living kali
eidescopc making constant changes but ever
presenting the same sad aspect. Excitement,
sorrow, grief, terror, panic, madness colored
everything, relieved simply by few torches
of righteousness that was absolutely grotesque
in their relation to the all.prevading horror.
NORTH DIVISION.
As early as 3 o'clock in the morning of Mon.
day, the people on the North Side, or many of
them, began to get little nerveua They heard
the roar Of people moving from the South d..
vision, and they could see the flames and dis.
tinguish the noise of the steamers. Still they
did not, at that early hour, entertain any seri.
Gus apprehensions, feeling confideHt that the
fcient to prevent any spreading of the conAa.
grafton. By daybreak, however,, things were
somewhat in different position. The fire, NOV.
ing northeastwurd had gotten to Rush street
bridge, which was crowded with people. In or.
der to prevent this aiding the FIRE in crossing, it
was turned, but
THE ONLY RESULT WAS THE DESTRUCTION OF
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE UPON IT.
The fire crossed there, without paying any at.
tention to the removal Of the bridge, and seize
ing upon the frame buildings, the warehouse
and the lumber yards. moved rapidly north ward
toward the waterworks. Tho people living in
that section, and north of there, thought that
the best place for them 10 seek shelter was on
the lake shore and they rushed that way, carry.
ing with them what they could. They very
soon found that they were there 500 ~ -
BETWEEN TWO DEATHS,
the fire on one side Of them, and the water on
the other, into which the intense beat OF the FIRE
was driving them. Many lay there half in tho
water and half in the sand, with their heads
down in order to get as mu b cir IA they could.
The smoke driving from the shore made 1t al
most impossible to live, but, - they were sur
rounded on three sides, and there we're NO boats,
thew remained where thew were, and suffered az