National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-11-03
Incidents of the Chicago Fire.

we commune IilS WYNN, '"'"""s" ".
the Chicago fire, They give ns sad
picture Of the scene =
The fire burned across Clark street,
destroyed the fence that bounded the Old
German cemetery from the street, and
swept across the grass and devastated
the graves. A great many family lots
were enclosed by wooden fence, In
every instance these fences were burned,
and where the head boards were of wood
these do were consumed stone
memoirs N were overturned, and the
fire in its utter iiendlshness actually |
burned into the ground To the depth OF
a foot in some instances. Not satisfed
with this il continued on its destructive |
career and burned all the vaults and
their contents One large receiving
vault must have contained 1T beast twenty
dead bodies, every one of which was
DESTROYED utterly. Grave after grave
is ruined beyond all hope of recognition.
One wooden tomb is burned IN most
fantastic manner. 1t appears now like
"A flagstaff, with flag on its peak, ior-
rible idea The demon of fire waving |
Il flag of victory over death The whole
surface of the cemetery Is scorched black
aud every tomb is either overturned or
burned, and the graves devastated AS
the flames swept across thls cemetery
securing with relentless fury the living
and the dead, number OF women VINO
were bearing bedding and other milan
mable articles, were overtaken ana their
dresses and their burdens fired, and II
I was only by the presence OF mind exer-
cised bv the men, who forced these wo-
men directly into the lake, that their
lives were saved, aud even now the shore
is covered with half burned ticking,
nearly buried by the sand and action of
the waves.
Nearly all the dead by the fire have
been buried : the County Potter's
Field, no one beng able to recougnize
the bodies.
A correspondent relates the following
heart -sickening story As ! was pass
ing by the burning Post-otlice | was
chained to the spot by the shrleks and
curses emnnating from Reynolds block,
a well knows resort of the deml-monde.
Some two hundred prostitutes had rooms
here, aud when the fire reached them
number of them were sleeping off the
effects of intoxication and debauch.
!
number of them were trying to get ont
through the alley entrance. The flames
from the Post-otlice building drove them
back, and with horrible curses on their
: lips they staggered back to perish IN the
ruins No one could assist them from
> that side, but signal was made for
them to go around to the Dearborn
street side, and here number were
assisted to the ground by tremen and
e citizens. About twenty-five rushed out
= through the Madison street door with
nothing but their night clothing on and
$ dress hastily snatched up in their
l hands. All were possessed with the one
idea of personal safety. They ran wild
j " up and down the street, all in the light
G of thousand fires, exposing their naked
4 ness to the eyes of thousands, but no
: one took note Of such scene then. but
), to many who saw it the recollection
e thereof will not fade for many day.
: How they bewailed their fate How
S some OF them cursed their luck, their
Maker and the day they came to Chi
cago
OF the courage of those who lost all
e by the fire, the following incidents are
+ reported by correspondent | met Il
! friend walking thoughtiully around with
;. piece of lead pipe. As | approached
e and saluted him he stopped, slapped the
v lead pipe down on brick wall till it
d mashed flat, and then said "Jo, that
a pipes all I've got in the world but /
v begin again Tomorrow / met man
. on the night of the fire who had lost first
! his store and then his handsome resi-
] 4 I'll. In
n lugglng around IL marble mantle, with
= the heavy sides attached. He laughed
T. as he saw me, and remarked, That's all
Y there is, now but I'm going to see if |
0 can't find another and build house to
e fit" One more i saw Blakely, editor
a of the Eceni1g Post lowering around in
l front of the ruins of the office. He pick
/ ed up brick tacetiously and spat upon
: it. What for" | asked. Seeing
e whether they re cool enough 20 clear ont
a and build over again was the reply.
s This reveals all of the spirit Of cheer
, fulness there is. The mirth is rather
5 forced there is plenty of pluck, but it
= has solid slibstratum of serious med
4 itation.
A story is told of well-known ban
, ker, as follows Monday morning, be
, fore the fire had reached that building,
: Mr.. Tincham, OF the Illinois National
+ Bank, went to the sale, and succeeded III
$ getting ont $500, 900 dollars. This pile
of greenbacks he packed INTO common
. trunk, and hired a colored man for 81 600
5 to convey it to the Milwaukee depot.
, Fearing to be recognised with the pre-
5 cious load, Mr.. Tincham followed the
man at a distance, but soon lost sight o.
him. He was then overtaken by the fire,
: and driven toward the lake. After sew
eral barrow escapes from sutfocation, he
1 succeeded i'll working his way to tug
boat, and got round to the Milwaukee
, depot, where he found the colored man
waiting for him with the trunk, accord
ing to promise Mr.. Tincham paid the
t man the 81, coo, and started for Milwau-
$ kee, where the money was safely depos-
| tied i'll the bank.
, saw man on Monday night looking
E intently and seriously at his block of
l five-story houses, on Water street, then
, writhing and roaring in the flames. |
| knew him and watched him. His case
was riytcd | pitied him heartily, for
: [ judged that he was on the verge of
despair At last L venturea to approach
and break his reverie. "Wel Blake,
what are You thinking of - said |.
Ah-h." said he, with II smile, 81 was
q thinking that the rats must be catching
= hell I!
WHAT WILL BE THE RESULT. An area
y such as that through which the fire has
. swept is not less than 80 600 miles in ey-