New-York tribune., 1871-10-11

There is O rumor that In burned blacksmith h-shop
on Rush-st the bodies Of Is men were found burned
to crisp, they having rushed into the shop to es
cape from the flames, which had surrounded them
before they had discovered their peril. An immense
number of people are missing and central intell-
gence Office has been established, where the names
of all missing ones are given to the police.
Twenty-three dead bodies have been taken to o
station-house onl the North Side. At the present
time it is impossible to identify the bodies.
Women in the pains Of childbirth, and patients
who have been moved from beds Of sickness to save
their lives which at the ct were nearly spent were
all exposed to the rain of last night, and the cold
raw winds Of to-day. Several deaths have occurred
at Lincoln Park, and three women have brought
children in the world only to die. Another night
must be spent in Lincoln Park and brick fields at
D1vision-st, and yeti another and another. All
trains are loaded to their fullest capacity,
taking people away who in many instances. have no
place to 90, yet they cannot stay here and every
train is obliged to leave five times as many passen
gers as they take away. Every precaution has been
taken by the authorities to guard the people tonight
and if tho morning comes without robberies and
murder they all will thank God aud go forward with
courage.
TIE FURY OF THE FLAMES.
None hut an eyewitness can form an idea of the
fury and power of the fire among the buildings and
warehouses on the south side with the wind blow
ing hurricane. At times it seemed but the work Of
q moment for the fire to enter the south ends of
buildings, fronting on Randolph Lake, and Water
sts. and rcappear at the north doors and windows,
belching forth in fierce flames which often reached
the opposite buildings. and then the flames issuing
forth from the buildings on both sides OF the
street, would unite, and present a solid mass of
L H. 4. - 10
side, and shooting upward a hundred feet
into the air. Thus street after street filled with
fame. Huge walls would topple and fall into the
sea of fire. without apparently giving sound, as the
roar of the fierce element great that all minor
sounds were swallowed up, and the fall of walls was
only pcrccptbc TO the eyes. Many of the buildings
situated along South Watcr-st. buried their red hot
rear walls in the water of the river into which they
plunged with q hiss. The heat intense at
times from some of the burning buildings that they
could not be approached within $50 feet, which ac-
counts for the manner in which the fire worked back
and often against the wind. The fire, after reaching
the business portion Of Randolph and South Water
sts leaped the river to the north side in an ncredi
bly, short space of time, and thence among the
wooden buildings on that side, reached the lake
shore after destroying block after block of happy
dwellings scene of snch utter powerlessness in
the face of an enemy was never presented than that
Of this people trying to combat the flames.
sELFIsHNEss AND DEBAUCHERY
While there are many instances of generous devo-
ton on the part of rich and poor in dividing with
the destitute there are painful instances of mean
ness and seltshness. One person was trying to re-
move valuable papers from Office and asked two
remen to help him, but they refused unless he paid
them $50; the papers were destroyed. Drivers of
express wagons have taken 800 and even $500 for
an hours Of their vehicles, in getting distressed
people away from danger Among the saddest scenes
of the calamity was the appearance OF hundreds OF
men and boys in beastly intOxication, around the
streets of the North Division the saloonkeepers
stocks Of liquors were emptied into the street, thus
furnishing convenient opportunity FOR the gratifi-
cation of their slavsh propensities and there can
hardly be any doubt that many Of these poor
wretches found their death in the flames, from which
they too helpless to escape. One poor man had
crowded for refuge into the water main, near the
Water Works, bnt the fire found him even there and
he was burned to death.
THE LOSSES.
A careful survey of the insurances, to-day, shows
that there were policies on the property destroyed
amounting to over $500 OOOOOOOO add another $780,
100000 to this sum and fair estimate can be
reached of the loss. All the leading merchants who
have been seen express their determination to
resume business at once. This includes extensive
houses such as John V. Farwell, Field, Letter &
Co., and Sprague, Warner & Co. Farwell & Co.
and Field Letter & Co. saved from $4,000 to $780,,
600 worth of goods. Both firms have already estab-
lisbed headquarters on the West Side. Field Letter
& Co. have just issued the following circular:
To Our Patrons-we have saved all our books and pa
per and have opened On once az 40 % m ave
indebted to us will make 1mmediate paylnent we
shall never cease to thank you Tor past actions, IN
business soon. FIELD LETTER co.
The Ercniuo Journal and tribune hope to publish
small sheets tomorrow.
THE CITY TO BIZ REBUILT.
Al meeting of the business men, to-day, spirit
was manifested to at set to work to rebuild the
city and restore business. special meeting of the
Legislature to be held to provide means for aiding
the business men and provide employment for the
poor.
The Commercial National Bank will commence
rebuilding on their old site tomorrow, meanwhile
they reopen for business on West Westinghouse.
They opened their vault this afternoon, and all their
books, papers, money, and securities were in perfect
order.
The large hotel in the West Division, jnst com
n,eted has been taken by Gage Bros. & Rice late of
the Sherman House, and they will open 1t III III days.
II will he known as the Sherman House.
An order was sent to Buffalo to-day from mer-
chant here for $4,000 bricks to commence re-
building.
The temporary Office of the Western Union Iele-
orapb Company is thronged by thousands anxious to
advise friends The operators are busy every moment
but as the number of wires available are few, and
the fires in the country threaten these Gen. staser
has directed that private family messages aud AS
sociated Press dispatches shall go first.
Arrangements have been made BY the Post-Otfice
authorities under direction Of Col Wood for send