Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-10-20
Chicago in Flames.
SCENES IN HE BURNING CITY
Gen. Hall Of Maine, who was an eye witness
ofthe fire, says the wind blew

CnlcagO II rlameS.
SCENES IN HE BURNING CITY
Gen Hall Of Maine, who was an eye witness |
Of 1.-THE fire, says the wind blew
HURRICANE.
The narrator never faced 6ercer blast Hats l
were blown off, signs and awnings torn from /
their fsstenings by the fury Of the gale, while /
the people thronging the the streets were hall |
blinded by the flying dust, ashes, sand and grit. ]
The flames came on with incredible swif,ness
The General describes the rush of the flames I
before the blsst to an immense moving machine. I
They would take section and sweep onward, (
leaving TO the right and left buildings still intact
Then, suddenly, another section would be swept
by the devouring element, leaving blackened
and smoking strsrth behind
THE ROAR OF THE FLAMES,
The General says, was appalling. HIS army
experience in the nokest branch Of the service
the srtillery-gsve him 10 data for a compari-
son with which to convey correct idea Of the
sound. It was, he said, like the rolling and IN
rolling Of acres Of sheet iron The constant
falling Of buildings and walls Of buildings added
to the uQrosr and lent horror to the spectacle
How TIE FIRE sAs FASTENED.
So great was the velocity Of the wind, tia;
the awnings snd signs on the store7, when well
on FIRE, would be caught up and carried forward
blazing mass to ignite some tinder-iried roof
far ahead Of the original line Of fame In this
way many people were literally caught between
two fires, and doubtless many persisted in conse- I
qusace.
SUMMARY DISPOSAL OF THIEVES.
Tee General also confirms the report recount /
ing the summary node adopted by the police
and people when dealing with thieves. He saw
one villain strung up 10 lamp post. The iel-
low presented a revolving sight, and more vii
lsiuous countenance never decorated such
plsce. He saw another thief beaten to death.
The fellow Was caught in the act, but came near
making his escape by running. 4 citizen threw
brick at the scamp, which, hitting him on the
head, brought him 70 the ground. The nextin
slant the madiened crowd, with terrible roar,
we're upon hin, and in few moments the thief's
body presented only the most distant resemblance .
to the human form. lie was literally beaten to
a jelly.
A correspondent thus tells OF the sudden ven
geance that befell bold thief:
'seeing the oashier Of one Of the banks rush
into his Office IS the flames were bearing almost
upon the building. the thief watched bis exit. I.
II was not long before the official appeared with .
his srms full Of money packages and bonds, and .
no sooner had be appeared than the thief pros
trate1 him with a blow upon the side Of the .
head aud grabbed a portion eff the treas I
ure. A policeman in instant saw what .
was done and grabbed the villain. who drew
pistol ard shot the faithful officer through the .
heart, and then sprang through the excited .
crowd, brandithing his pistol and ende2voring .
to mske good his escape. But the sight, with .
III. ~. e.. - I . fa.-
ed the bystanders TO frenzy, ami they fell upon .
the wretch Ike so many tigers, tearing him limb .
from limb. and literally difemboTeling him"
OTHER SCENES.
A Mr. Stevens, returning home from bic burn
ing store had 20 place handkerchief over his
mouth 10 escape smotherIng He saw, he thinks.
no less than twenty men, women and children
expire around him from exhaustion, aud some
were ttihed. In looking behind as be was bur
ryiug awsy, be saw the flames gaining on him,
and shove the uproar Of all he could sometimes
hear the piercing scream Of some unfortunate
being
Another merchant relates TIE following
Just now occurred scene that frcze cur
blood. At the intersection Of Randolph and
Market streets wss a large building (Csl0u's)
used for Offices The janitor resided On the
fourth floor with bis family. consisting Of wife
and four children. By some means they were
unable to escspe Surrounded by the FIRE, they
assembled 10 the root The babe w4s IN the
mothers arms, and another child, little boy,
chung 10 hsr skirts. Two girls were csspel 10
the arms Of the father. Their shouts we're but
f.intly heard over the howl Of the winds sui the
rosr Of the flames. At last the heat became 90
intense that the woman wss overcome and fell to-
the roof The father wildly threw out his hand
and staggered. writhe1 AMI sunk by bis wiie's
side. That Was all Of that tragedy. We sicsen-
ed At the sight. and hurried down to the street.
which by this time was pretty well deserted
Then along the banks Of the lake, we wandered,
mo-e Ike dead than living men. We heard and
saw mourning ard sg-ny and suffering that al
the books ia the world could NOT hold the &C
count Of We were comfortably fixed in life one
week ago; and now We are penniless. We have
no doubt thst incsndiarles did part Of the work,
and for robbery snd ravage.
At the fremont House the elevator became
useless, snd the sleeping guests, large number
being babies, hurr ei down stairs The catte-
Of the removal Of trunks and the h-rrying Of
domestics impeded the passsgeEsys. Several
persons IN their eageruess jumped down the
stairs and limred away Others, in their hsste.
EFF beneath their pillows, watches snd money,
only discovering their Losses when they had
reached the Michigan Cenrrs. Depot-then sup
posed 10 be perfectly safe plsce. \ crowd Of
persons FASTENED thiJher, some carrying beis
some sewing machines, and one lady had sx
canary birds in a cage in one hand and an ion
mense family Bible in the other. She said &c I
was determined to bring these OF if I lost all tie
rest" Another young womsn wss seen carry
ing two large paintings, evidently those Of her
father and mother. She Was but partially clad,
and amongst al her household wealth sought TO
preserve these 6lisl mementoes as being to her
mos, precious.
The lady school teacher, heretofore mentioned,
tells some strange experiences
IS One incident combined the pathetic with
the ridiculous Two blocks beyond where lived
in HSlstead Street resided an old German, an
almost helpless cripple, whose sole support was
his wife and young son. The latter went away {
in the morning snd did not return. The FIRE
rapidly approached With deadly omen. and the
Old couple were not only distracted st the A.
sence Of the boy, but fearful Of their possible
fate. At last the flames came Sc nesr that they
must dy or die Ia the strength Of her sfec-
ton the Old woman seized the poor cripple, {
placed him upon her back, sul thus staggered 5
along for distance Of two blocks, when some I
men placed him in 4 g7ocer's wagon and drew
him 10 a place Of safety But It seems wicked ?
2
scenes IN memory. | never can tell Of the uni ?
versa horror Of those hours. They we're years {
| don't wonder ihst men seemed demantei and c
women hystericaL
One Of the little girls that attended ny school
became lost. found her crying IS though her s
hesrt would break. Size is but seven years old,
and could not tel what had become Of her "a
rents and family. There were many such cases i
As We went on further the thr0ng increased
until the streets and sidewalks we're black with
people. Il was like ffeshet, and poured 10 the
one direction Of safety By snd by we found a
the Ere getting around Us as though escape o.
would be cut off, and We would be entoubed in =.
one grand pyre Of fame. Go the other way
We are headei of - was now and then the cry,
md the multitude would turn back. struggling a
in new direction. | SAW some women and v
children and one man, exhausted, lay down in p
the cutters to die in the hopelessress Of desper-
alton. Others would seize and urge them o
along. Smoke and cinders snd fame sud scorch- Il
ing heat filed the air Children screamed in 2
terror and begged for Wsier. Some would catch is
up water from puddles near MIGRANTS and c
Eo'stel the mouth. This is hell-fre % This a
s the cay Of Judgment This must be the
End o. the world . were the exclamstions s.
heard The degree Of sympathy that prevailed p
was wonderful The strong helped the weak. 2
y hen the ire department gave up in despair. V
he people seemed Ike 50 many scared sheep. II
they rushed pell-mell away. Some Of them Il
'Arried what they could in their hands. saw Il
IN lrishwomSn carrying = half grown pig, T
which kicked and squeeed with all its might. Il
Until the flames overlook the painting woman, ii
when she abandoned the animal to its fate A "
olored woman shoulderel her weeks washing n
u huge wicker basket, and grabbed. with the &c
ther hand, frying psn and some muffin rings. d'
LUCE oinders fell upon the dry, clear starched al
lothes, and set them smoking. In this way 81
he poor wretch already half beside herself with be