White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-10-19
THE CHICAGO FIREl
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS.

=
had already made fearful havoc. vast truck
perhaps thirty cr forty blocks on the West side
north and south of jackson street, was one grea
field Of fire. As yet, the people on the East sidt
little apprehension that the fire would cross tn:
river. The light from the burning city illumina
ted the heavens with fearful glare. The streets
were filed by an excited multitude. People from
the West Side were fleeing from their burning
homes. The noise of the roaring tornado of flame,
as il swept onward in its career of devastation
rose above the tumult and din If the great home
less multitude that fed before its deyOuring fury
! Up to this time the inhabitants on the East
Side had been hopeful. They relied largely on
| the character of their great iron and stone front
buildings The track Of the fire-fend was already
nearly mile in length and half mile wide. A
vast multitude, hurried from their burning homes
were crossing the river before the advancing col
umns of flames. The wind whistled and hOwled
through the streets eand the bright light of the
fire every moment grew brighter.
Still in the lower w.. q. lie city. in the yicini-
ty of the great hotels and business, the s;ciins
amoDS, the people was more that Of commisera-
| tiOn for the sufferers on the West Side than ap-
prehension for their own safety. They did not as
| yet fully believe that it would cross the river.
the flames blazed and cracked among the tim
bers of fast consuming dwellings as shops, along
jackson street, and north of that street on the
| West side.
THE FIRE CROSSES THE RIVER.
| 1t was now little after IL o'clock. The fire
| was raging along the West Side mp the river, ex-
| tending from Jackson to Adams street. Men faZ-
| got the flight of time-mOments became hours.
Some buildings in the neighborhood of Jackson
street. on the East Side, We're proclaimed to be on
| fire. The Jackson street bridge was all ablaze.
The hearts of the people on the East Side sunk
within them. They now fully realized the magni-
tude of the danger. The winds were blowing
great sheets of fire down into the heart of the
city. Strong men frembled, women shricked, and
children became frantic.
In an incredibly short space of time the fire had
reached Wells street. and with another lean the
stately buildings Lasae street were all ablaze.
From Jackson street northward the fire column
seemed tn leap forward to Adams, Monroe and on
toward Madison street. One of the finest quar-
ters of the city was now swallowed, as II wcre in
a vortex of fire.
STREET SCENES.
1t was now midnight. The heavens were light
ed up with lhrid glare, the vast surging null
titude swayet to and fro while above the roar
of the wind. and the cracking of the flames, rose
the confused noise Of shouting men and wailng
women. Merchants were gathering mp their most
valuable articles. such books and papers land
lords were arOusing their guests, and advising
hasty departures men loaded with the most pre-
cious articles of the household, followed by awe
stricken women and frantic children. were rush
ing away from the fre-demOn as rapidly az the
throhgea cohtiUon Oh tne streets would ADMIT; !;
women separated from their families, gave utter
ance to shrieks that rang clear and shrill above
the horrible roar of the devouring flames and the
VIVA moan OF tne w'hd as IL swept the merry de-
luge along in its march of ruin.
nttie aiter IL O'Clock the guests OF the large
boarling-hou in the neighborhood Of State and
Adams streets, were turned horrified into the
stree's TO swell the vast multitude already abroad
PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES.
Rv 10 o'clock tho fro had mail. oo,s;d.roh,.
proGress nm Ibe south S;Ja ,nd in .n".La. h""r
The fre ,s ra,;n,, ,;,I -. .,s. =, .no.ne. nou.
as Wells In Solis .n ri.rr str. a' ,.'I as e.ss.
north as Nn,roa and .Jam,s s.r....s TT 40 ,a
ali tbe time was bIow;n~ a n.rf.ct r,. frou, IN" ,h.
southwest Great masses of sam;u I io.r,,s n s' ime
giles, &c, We're carried by the wind to the dis
tance of half a block or more and deposited on
roofs, thus creating fires in advance of the main
column. The first rush toward the North division
was stayed. The smoke in that quarter
soffocating. People could scarcely breathe. The
course taken by the alarmed multitude now set
IN toward Michigan avenue and the lake shore.
Ihe whole space between the buildings and the
lake was soon fillesl and as far south Lake
Park and even further, were collected, perhaps,
lGnooo people by o clock on Monday morning.
Inc whole portion OF the city was involved in
the ruin And still the multitude increased along
ine lake shore and on Michigan avenne: Not
long were they allowed 10 remain there. The fire
mend was III close and hot pursuit. Several blocks
on that avenue were ignted from the flying
flakes of fire, and the great crowd was pushed
further toward the south.
At this time the fire had extended east to Wa
bash and Michigan avenues, and was moving
north toward the river. The board of trade bail
tnng, the courthouse, and Metropolitan hotel, the
postofhce, st. James hotel, Sherman house, the
Matteson housa, and a vast number of the best |
business houses in the very centre of the city, |
were all burning. Before daylight the whole dis |
trlct petween the river and Wabash avenue, and |
from jackson street to Lake street, was one great
merry furnace. Several blocks of magnificent |
structures on wabash avenne, extending east to |
Michigan avenue, which it was thought for a
time would resist the fury OF the fiery tornado. at
last snceumbed, and were speedily made into |
shapeiess heap OF runs.
ALONG THE LAKE SHORE.
The ;nte,se be,t of tb. 6ro -, ,h. .;.r h., Co.
eefl the vast mnt;tnJe collected .ionn waI,;,,.,,
,venne hack 10 tbe f,rtbsst ysr,,. ,,f ~, I,1s.L
and sontbward into ale n,rt a,,a o,.a,, 49,,
Cottage grove The J,y dawn S,rna ~, S..r.o ~
tban II 0) people eynosel to the w;,,d .,,d ,n;s.
IF the lake. WIN had been bnt f.w sbor. hnn.s
before surrounded Inv the comfarts ~ hame N'''
Many in tbe vast fbrong NJ anx;ors s,e..,..r.
If the awful scene had hsen .tartIsd hr ~ So
Harm. and left their homes supncrIes:. hrt th.
,ipht passcd and tl,e ,l,v came pra;r hr;n;,,, NJ
,rosnects Of brratfasf The ann ,oonnt. fN..rs "a
he zenith. and VET the gnaving of hnna.r 80
,ot appeased. The scene became pitiabis in The