The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-10-14
CHICAGO IN RUINS !
AN UNPARALLELED CALAMlTY!l
The Host DisnsfrOUs Fire of the Age
Fourteen Thousand Houses Burned
Great Number of Lives Lost.


coufagr ton that ever occurred in this city
broke out about IL O'Clock tonight; and
having already swept over six entire blocks.
is still raging with almost undated fury.
The fire started in large planning mill, sit
uated between CIiuton and Canal, aud Van
Bureu and jackson streets. The wind was
blowing very fresh, and the flames spread
with almost incredible rapidity, and in
few minutes the entire structure was mass
of fire. Tine immediate vicinity is built up |
mainly with small wooden tenement houses. !
aud two story frame buildings occupied as
groceries, saloons, etc. The inmates of many |
of these houses, startled from s!umber, had |
barely tine to ruth out in their scauty night |
attire, leaving their household goods 10 de |
structiou. In several instances children
were hastily wrapped up in blankets and
qnilts to break their fall and were thrown
from windows to the ground. When the
alarm sounded for the FIRE, another of con-
siderable magnitude WAS burning on Wells
street, he ar Adams. aud several engines were
necessarily kept at work upon the fire. The
lest Of the engines in the city were soon on
the ground, but before they arrived the fire
had spread over wide an area, and was
SO rapidly spreading, that eff Jrts seemed of
little avail. Between Canal street and the
river were several lumber yards, which are
entirely destroyed. At this hour the fire
has made clear sweep from Van Buren,
street North two blocks to Adams and West
to Clinton. Three blocks from the river be
tween Van Buren, and jackson are burning.
and the woodwork of the Western approach
to the Adams street bridge is destroyed. 4
large coal yard. containing thousands Of tons
of coal. situated between the Chicago and
Alton and Pittsburg and Fort Wayne Rail
road track and the river, is on fro and
burning furiously. The immense grain ele-
vator Of Vincent. Nelson & Co., one of
tn. finest in the city, is Immediately adjpin>
ing. and though intended to be proof,
there seems little coubt that it will be de-
stroyed, as the intense heat to which Dit is
subjected will crack the slate. with which it
is covered, both on the roof and sides. 1t
contains many thousand bushels of grain of
all kinds. The depot Of the Pittsburgh,
Fort Wayne. aud Chicago. and Alton aud
st. Louis Railr, ads. is situated nurth of Ad-
ANS and between Canal street and the river.
One of the buildings. light wooden struc-
ture occupied as an express office, was on
FIRE at midnight, and is undoubtedly destroy
ed.
The scenes in the vicinity of the confa-
grafton are indescribable. Half Of the pop
ulatiou of the city seems gathered there
! Tugs on the river are engaged in towing to
! places of safety the vessels moorsd in the
| neighborhood, while locomotives are hastily
| pulling out great number Of carr standing
on the track in flames.
LATER-1:3O a. M.--The FIRE is appa-
reDtiy raging fercelv as ever. A block
of buildings on the North side OF Van Buren,
street, which was thought an hour ago could
be saved, is now wrapped in flames. The
elevator Is safe, so far, and the fire seems to
be spreading South and West, notwith stand
ing the wind is now directly from the South,
and blowing hard.
CHICAGO, October 8.-Sbortly 6. after send
ing the last dispatch this morning, detailing
the progress Of the fire in the western divi-
sion, the haInes were arrested. The space
| burned over embraces four blocks bounded
north by Adams street, west by Clinton
! street. south by Van Buren, street, and east
! by the Chicago river. Some four or five
buildings within the limits named, remain
uninjured. Among them Vincent, Nelsou,
u Co.'S warehouse, one of the largest in the
city, which escaped serious damage. The
space burned over was covered with lumber,
Coal and wood yards. plauing mill. vinegar
factory, aud a large number of dwellings and
saloons Of the poorer class. close estimate
of the loss places it at $3.50 900 to $500 900:
half probably insured. The FIRE originated
in Lull & Holmes planning mill. on Canal
street, near Van Buren,, and as the wind was
fresh from the South. the fire spread North>
ward rapidly and thence East. In thirty
minutes the whole district was all ablaZe.
Mrs. Margaret Hadley. living on the North
side OF Jackson street, was burned to death.
1t Is impossible TO learn tonight the exact
amount OF insurance and all the names of
companies that are victims
CHICAGO, October 8-l:45 A. Mo
night is the most fearful in the annals of the
city. The f:e which commenced at 10 d.
N. has already swept over a space at least
three tines As large as that OF last night and
is still rushing on with greater fury than
has marked auy stage of its progress. The
engines appear almost powerless. Fire
Marshal Williams has just telegraphed to
milwaukee, TOR all the steamers they can
spare. The conhagration has already devas-
tated twenty blocks. mostly composed of the
smaller class of dwellings inhabited by poor
people. No less than 800 buildings have
been entirely destroyed. and more than that
number Of families rendered homeless The
wind Is blowing gale from the South and
carrying showers Of sparks to every part of
the city, threatening destruction on every
hand.
Two A M.-The fire is still raging with
increased fury, and has spread a distance of
more than mile from where it started, and
covers breadth of nearly half a mile.
CHICAGO. October 8-11 P. MA fire is
now raging in the Western division, which
appears to be as large as that of last night.
The alarm was given at 9:45 P. n
CHICAGO, October 9.-The fire is still rag,
ing. with heavy Southerly gale. The
Water Works are destroyed. The firemen
can get no water, and the fire has full sway.
Nearly five miles of the city are in ashes
Express and newspaper ofices. banks, court
house, six grain elevators, and other impor-
tant buildings in ruins The loss will ex
ceed sixty millions. Assistance is badly
needed. Food and water are wanted for
thousands of homeless people. The suffering
Is intense. and there is no telling when the
flames will be subdued.
ONE HALF OF THE CITY DESTROYED.
EDGEwooD, ten miles from Cbicooo n,to.