Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-10-12

Board of Trade, Court House, Western
Union telegraph and Associated Press
Offices and hundreds of other buildings
were all in flames. The air was filled
with live Goals which were hurled north
and east. The fire engines were power
less. All the men could do was to blow
up buildings, but this awaited but little.
The Tribune, Post, Republican, and Jcur-
nal newspaper offices, the Western Union
Co.'s block, Field g. Lietles' establish
ment, the Drake block, recently built, and
| Farwell 81 Co.'s establishment were soon
in ashes. 1t seemed that no sooner had
the flames struck wall than it went d.
rectly through, and sufficed to destroy the
most elaborate built structure. The walls
melted and the bricks were consumed.
The wooden pavements took fire, making
a continuous sheet of flames two miles
long by mile wide; no human being
could possibly survive many minutes.
Block after block fell, and red hot Goals
shot higher and higher and spread far
Their and farther until the north side of
Lake street was vast sheet of flames.
Those who could made for the remain
ing bridges, others went to the lake shore,
and so south only one. block in all that
vast business section remained at day.
light, viz: The Tribune block. The Gus
tom House and the Matteson block, in
Dearborn street, had burned, and those
who had fought the flames here thought
at last this block could be saved. The
patrol men, under Samuel Medill, swept
off the live Goals and put out the flames
in the sidewalk, and anothe under Joseph
Medill watched the rooms. At half-past
seven this appeared safe, and most of the
men went to get rest or food. A number
went TO sleep in the Tribune building,
but there was change of wind and the
flames reached Wabash and State streets
and Michigan avenue, and soon the Nc
| Vicker's Theatre caught fire. In a few
minutes the Tribune was in flames, and
at the last moment sleeping men were
aroused and rescued. BY ten o'clock in
the forenoon this remaining block was in
ashes. From $4,000 to $4,000 men, wo-
men and children were now fleeing by
every avenue, street and alley to the
south and westward attempting to save
their lives. Every vehicle was brought
into requisition, for the use of which enor-
nous prices were paid. Thousands of
persons and horses inextricably commin-
gled-poor people of all colors and shades,
mad with excitement, struggled with each
other to get away. 1t is estimated that
five hundred people were burned to
death.
Hundreds were trampled under foot.
Men and women loaded with bundles
and household goods TO whose skirts were
clinging tender infants half dressed and
barefcoted, were seeking place of safety
Hours afterward those might have been
seen in vacant lots or on the streets far
in the suburbs stretched in the dust. 1t
is fearful to think of the loss of life. 1t
is copjectured, with good cause. that
nearly 500 have been burned to death.
There was crowd of men around the
Caroa building trying to save property
when the walls fell in and buried several
beneath it. Twelve or fifteen men and
women rushed into the building of the
Historical Society, fre-proof building,
for safety. To a few minutes the flames
burst upon them and hey wers burned to
death. Among those who took refuge in
this building was Col. Samuel Stone, sol
years of age, also John B. Gerad and wife
and Madame Depelgram, noted teacher
of music. 1t is feared that Dr. Fererar
and family also persisted as they have not
been seen since.
ANOTHER FIRE-THE END is NOT YET. |
CHICAGO, Oct. 1913 10 p. N.
Word is just brought that fierce fire
is raging on 31st street, two miles south
of the southern fire limit, on the south
side and little less than that from the
limit on the west side. This has been set
on fire, evidently for the purpose of des-
troying the remand err of the city. 1t is
largely occupied by wealthy residents. 1t
is also known that two men, caught in
the act of firing the buildings, have been
shot, and two others let off with ropes
around their necks.
As the wind is blowing a perfect gaIe,
the end cannot be foretold.
LATER.
INCENDIARIEs SHOT AT SIGHT.
NEW YORK, Oct. 100 p. M.
A dispatch from Gen. Palmer, vice
president of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, elicits the following re-
liable response from Gen. Stsger, Super
intendent at Chicago. A fire started in
a small building on 31st street, but was
speedily put out.
Incendiaries are busy, seven or eight
have been hung or shot at sight,