Connecticut western news., 1871-10-20

fiend,. for the combat was not of long duration-the people bowed their heads in anguish, and suffered the fend to have untrammeled sway.
 On Chicago avenue, a father rushed upstairs, to carry three children away, wben he was overtaken by the flames and perished with them. The mother was afterwards seen on the street on the Northwest Side raving maniac. In the same neighborhood 8 family of five persons perished. ,~
 In Wabash and Michigan avenues, and in all the places where the richer class of citizens live, when the fire came the distress was awful. Women who had never known what Q care was, and consequently were, as one would SUD- pose, utterly incapable of bearing, with eIuanimity such calamity as the de- struction of their homes, yet here there were many instances of heroism and love worthy to be sung in stroy Mrs I'd, of Wabash avenue, had been deserted by her servants as soon as it became certain that the house was doomed; they had gone off, taking with them whatever they could lay their hands on. She, her daughter, and her invalid husband were alone in the house, and the flames were rapidly approach ing. There was no help to be expected, for everybody was bent only on saving what he could of his own property. There was not moment to spare, and the two women actually carried MT. Id away in their arms and brought him in safety beyond the reach of the fire. Such instances were numerous alike among rich and poor. sE !
 As the fire approached the river it be-. came evident that it would cross it, and soon that fear was realized ; for the wind carried brands across the narrow stream to the northeast side, and there, falling on the wooden buildings adjoin- ing the gas-works, set it on fire, and then the flames, having secured foot hold, rushed on ts their work of further destruction. The gas-house was de- stroyed, and the city was lighted only by the fires which were consuming itself. Then came a panic such as city has rarely seen. Vague rumors of pillage filled the air, and deeds of violence and horror were more than dreaded. The people rushed pell nell from their houses rather than remain within them in dark ness-the most hated and detested thing in times of disaster and catastrophe. They ran in crowds about the, streets, meeting crowds rushing from opposite directions, and, in their fright trying to push their way through the dense masses which encountered them, were trampled down and many of them crushed to death in the desperation of the moment. s..
 The vessels in the river then took fire, and as the flames ran up their masts, seized the rigging, and danced like tienSs upon the spars, leaping about from one yard to another, the scene was beautiful and terrible beyond descrip- tion. But there was little though of the picturesque among those who witness ed it--all was horror and dismay. | Men who were milionaires yesterday morning, are penniless to-day but more terrible than all is the awful cer- tainty that many human beings have perished in the fames-how many, no one can tell. Perhaps no one will ever be able to tell but it is known that some have perished, and there is only 8 heart-sickening fear that the victims of the fiery monster may be counted by scores.
 Hundreds of horses and COWS have been burned in stables, and on the north side numbers of animals though re- leased from confinement, were so be- wildered and confused by the sea of fire which surrounded them that they rushed wildly to and fro, uttering cries of fright and pain until scorched and killed.
 Any attempt at description of the ap- palling scenes of this direful calamity would be idle. The simple fact that the once great city of Chicago is nearly de- stroyed, that hundreds of millions of active capital have vanished, and that an immense number of Chicago's in- habitants are houseless, is enough. Any attempt to embellish would be mock cry. ..s ...st ...... '~-h
 It is gratifying to notice that every city of the Union, as soon as it was known to what fearful extent the people of Chicago suffered, at once took measures for their relief. Hundreds of thousands of dollars, provisions of all kinds, cloth ing and necessaries were at once dis patched to them, and it was all needed. We may imagine, but one cannot attempt to describe the situation of a great city like Chicago in ashes, it's thousands of people in the streets, homeless and houseless the city without gas and with out water, and these people huddling together in the dark, dismal night It is frightful picture. :
 There was of course, a heavy insurance on the property burned. Chicago has been built up so rapidly that most of it's business blocks were mortgaged and of course insured, but how much will be realized from this source it is difficult to tell. The risks were in Eastern compa- nies and they will suffer so severely that many of them must break down. There were probably 5000, GOO worth of grain and provisions stored in the city at the time of the fire, nearly all of which was destroyed.
 Different reports have been given of the origin of the terrible calamity, but the following is believed to be correct Late on Sunday evening boy went into a stable on Dekoven street, near the river, on the West Side, to milk COW, carrying with him kerosene lamp. This was kicked over by the COW, and the burning fluid scattered among the straw. This was the beginning of the great fire.
 Several men, caught in the act of firing houses on the West Side, were arrested and immediately hung to lamp posts one on Twelfth st., near the river, and another three miles away on Clay borne ave-, North Side. This summary action checked the thieves and murder. CTS.
 A careful survey of the insurances shows that there were policies on the property destroyed amounting to oyer $2O0, ,OOO, 900 add another $10O, ,0OO, ,OOC to this sum and fair estimate can be reached of the loss.
 . It is fearful to think of the loss of life It is conjectured, and with good cause that nearly 500 persons have been burned to death. Four men were seen to ente 8 burning building, and in momen t they were overwhelmed by falling wall