The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-13

the greatest calamity that ever befel al
American City.
OncAao, Oct. 8. 1880 A. M.-Tht
most terrible confagration that ever oc
CURED in this city broke out about an
hour aud half ago, and having already
swept over six entire blocks, is still rag
ing with almost uDabated fury. The
fire started in the large planning mill
situated between Clinton and Canal and
Van Buren, and Jackson streets. about
tho center of tho block formed by these
streets. The wind was blowing very
fresh, and the flames spread with almost
Incredible rapidity, and in few min
utes she entire structure was mass of
fire. The immediate vicinity is built
up mostly with small wooden tenement
houses, and wo-story frame buildings
occupied as groceries, saloons, etc. The
inmates of many of these houses were
started from slumber, and had barely
time to rush from their houses in the
scanty attire of night, leaving their
household goods to destruction.
In several instances children were
hastily wrapped in blankets and quilts.
to break the force of their fall and
thrown from second story windows to
the ground.
When the alarm sounded for this fire,
another of considerable magnitude was
burning on Wells street, near Adams,
and several engines were necessarily
kept at work upon this The rest of
the engines in the city were soon on the
ground, but before they arrived the fire
had spread over 50 large All area and
was SO rapidly spreading that efforts
seemed of little avail.
Loter-1:30 A. M.-The fire is ap.
pareutly raging as fiercely as ever. The
block of buildings on the north side of
Van Buren, street, which it was thought
an hour ago would be saved are now
wrapped in flames The wind is now
directly from the south and blowing
hard
CHICAGO Oct s liz p. NJ. "A fire
tonight in the West Division is now
raging with undated fury. The fire
commenced near Taylor street, midway
between Delevan and Jefferson streets
and is spreading in every direction. 1t
covers at least four blocks ut this hour,
and stjll seems beyond control. The
blocks are built up solidly almost en-
tirely OF two story frame houses, occu.
pied as residences boarding houses, sa.
looms, groceries, etc The loss is al.
ready large, aud it is Row feared that
It will prove more destructive in It's
character than the one last night. It is
impossible to learn bat very few NAMES
Of the sufferers ilc entire list vii.
probably embrace several hundred --
No approximate estimate can yet be
made Of the total loss, as the progress
oi the flames have not yet been arrested.
12:4j A. Mo night is the most
awful in the annals Of the city. The
fire which commenced at 10 p. NJ. has
already swept over a space three times
as large as that of last night, ard is
still rushing on its path of destruction
with greater fury than has marked any
stage of its progress, the engines ap
pearing almost powerless. Fire Mar.
shall Williams has just telegraphed to
Milwaukee for all the steamers they can
spare. The confagration has already
devastated at least 20 blocks, mostly
composed of the smaller class of dwell
ings, inhabited mainly by poor people.
Not less than 800 buildings have been
entirely destroyed, and more than that
number of families rendered homeless
The winds are blowing almost gale
from the South, and showers of sparks
and burning brands are sweeping over
the city threatening destruction on ey.
cry hand. Since this report commenced
two additional alarms have been struck
and the tower of the Court House caught
from a flying brand, but was extinguish.