The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-10-14

near VS3 00roo 0Gt0oS U8t08ob Wooto toe rows OF
wocd-a buildings On Market street and the ~
ans street, formed rapid route for the progress
of the devastating element What the frst fire
on the South SiAs had lett 6shind the aecond one
took up. and, working eastward even more Rap.
idly than the other had done, 30 that BY o'clock
it also had reached La Sale street. A coalition
was effected between the two departments of
fame at about this time, and there the awful
work vsat On moss furiously than ever.
FASTER THAN IT COULD BE TRACED
for, at least, faster than from any position Of OBJ
the lOoker.on could accurately note
the precise buildings which were overtaken in
their order, the flames now ragged toward the riv-
er and the lake. The finest OF Chicago's business
architecture-aud this is the marvel OF all Amer
ica-was included included in the ravages of the
fire. At o'clock in the morning the line of
fame and ruin in the South Division extended
from above HARRISON street, northward to the
main branch of the river, distance OF about one
mile. To the eastward it had reached Dearborn
street, having included the Michigan Southern
Depot, the mammoth Ogden House, covering an
Bigclow house. both of Honore Blocks, Lombard
and Reynolds Blocks, Farwell Hall, all the line
OF seven story marble buildings on La Sail street,
the Chamber of Commerce, Court House, Sher.
man House, Briggs House, fremont House,
Crosby's Opera House, Woods Museum, Hoo.
ley's Opera Honse, the Dearborn Theatre the
Post, Mail, STATS Zeitung, Volts Zei1,ng, Times
Republican, and Journal offices, so that the Trio.
une was the only daily newspaper in Chicago
left untouched, McVicker's the only theatre, and
the Palmer House the only first class hotel The
fire had not crossed
DEARBORN STREET, SOUTH OF MADISON, "
and it was confidently hoped that the end Of the
destruction could now be predicted. People be.
gan to lift up their heads and thank God that
something was to be left of Chicago, and at half
past o'clock in the morning there was good rea.
son to believe that the conhsgration had spent
itself. Thankful and contented in this belief
large numbers of tired watchers went to their
homes-if they had any-to get little food and
rest 1t was as we'll that they went, for they
so soon afterward. At about o'clock in the
morning sudden gust of wind,
A PERFECT WHIRLPOOL,
swept and eddisd through Dearborn street, be.
ginning at Jackson strest, where, at that time,
the fire had died down to embers Beds Of hvid
Goals were caught up bodidly by the hurricane
and hurled against and upon the wooden struc.
tyres across The street, and in moment the fire
to the norshward and eastward. All that had
been left untouched between Jackson and Mad.
ison streets, and between Dearborn street and
the lake shore, wa. now doomed to destruction
and as the fury of the first hurricane Of wind
subsidized, there came almost lull, 80 that the
fire began to work southwark aud westward
WABASH AVENUE AND STATE
STREET.
As the fire progressed up Wabash avenue and
State street, it seemed as if 1T would be impos-
sible to stop it. Only two engines were in that
section OF the city, and these were powerless
from want of water. After the confagration had
successfully passed Adams, Jackson, and Van
Buren,, and had arrived at Congress street, de.
termined and vigorous effort was made at Har.
son street on the west line. Leaving the block
between Congress, Harrison. State, and Wabash
avenue, as certain prey for the flames, effort was
concentrated on the line of buildings on the north
side of Harrison. On the corner Of State was
wooden building which was too infammable to
be allowed to stand. The proper method OF stop.
ping was here adopted, and the principal actor
in the contest was thereafter . red.capped chap
in square-box wagon in which were also placed
several hundred pounds of powder The wooden
building on the northeast corner of State and
Harrison streets, was first to 90, and was laid
fat by two charges ofpowder.
Next to this On the east was a three.story
double brick which met the same fate as its
neighbor, and in moment only the front walls
The effect of this was seen in mo-
ment, and the fire was effectually checked, at
least as far as the high reaching dangerous flames
were concerned. Between the brick house. inst
and the church which occupied the
corner of Wabash, was q small frame building,
which was an extremely dangerous customer,
and partook of the same treatment which cured
the next house; but not until after it had so far
been enveloped in flames az to seriously endan.
ger the church.
This last building was in reality
THE HOPE OF THE FIREAEN, ,r
and it stood it's ground nobly. It was commonly
called the Wabash Avenue Methodist Church,
and was Que of the oldest churches in the city,
having been dedicated IN 1857. The blowing up
If the building on the west proved the salvation
Of that end, and tho church resisted the attack
from that side. On the north side of tho church
was the real danger, though, fortunately, there
was vacant lot between the nearest house and
the church. The heavy, honestly.built walls of
The latter and the intervening distance 70 far
protected 1t chat nothing took FIRE except the or.
tower on the northeast corner. This
Was extinguished by a citizen volunteer, who
bowed most woRerful indifference to danger aud
efficiency in work.
Here then was the real turning point of the
disaster, and over tho barrier formed by the
church and the overthrown houses the flames did
not succeed in passing.
Between Wabash Avenue and the lake the
firemen we're even more fortunate. An attempt
was made to arrest progress on the line of Con.
gress street, and 1t was partially successful The
east three buildings were protected by tho va.
can't ground between Terrace Row and the street,
and did not ignite. On the Wabash avenue cor.
ner the fire succeeded in passing the boundary
Of Congress street aud attacked the brick block
on the south.west corner Here again gunpow.