Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-10-17

whole city might be destroyed.
Of course large number Of lives
have been sacrificed, but how many
and who cannot be known until the
progress of the flames has been arres
| ted.
The alarm bell has just commenced
ringing an unceasing peal, which il
intended to call every sleeper from
his bed. The panic is increasing, ant
the people seem almost crazy will
alarm. Vessels in the river are catch
ing fire in every direction, and all il
the south river will probably be de
stroyed.
STILL LATER-1:45 A. NJ.
The fire envelopes twenty blocks O.
the city. 1t is already within BLOCK
of the telegraph Office where this dis
patch was written, and sweeping on
ward a whirlwind of fame against
which human efforts are powerless, and
it is impossible to tell where it will
stop. The bridge across Van Buren,
street is burned. Shipping in the
river, cars on the track of the Chica-
90 & Alton & Fort Wayne railroad,
with the immense freight houses there,
are swept away. No language can de-
scribe the awful scene. The flames
swept through the blocks of wooden
houses with the rapidity of prairie
fire. Thousands of people fill the
streets, rushing out of dwellings in
many instances barely in time to save
their lives. .
Nearly all the business part of Chi
cago and most of the resident terri
tory has been burned and the fire is
still raging northward.
The water works have been burned
and the city is without water, except
from the lake, to arrest the flames.
All Of the city north of Twelfth
street on the east side of the river,
east to Wabash avenue, and west half
a mile from the river is destroyed, and
the fire is spreading rapidly to the
lake.
1t crossed the river to the North
Side at 4 o'clock this morning, and
the entire North Side seems to be in
flames, with strong wind from the
south.
All the hotels, the Court House
and Chamber of Commerce have been
destroyed, and the fire has just ar
rived at our depot buildings, it having
swung around to the east from Wa
bash avenue to Washington street.
Oct. o, 10 A. M.-There is no
water. The fire is now coming south
on Wabash avenue, and will probably
reach here before night.
CHICAGO, Oct. 0 10 A. M.-The |
entire business portion of the city is
destroyed, all the banks, the express
'fiices, all the newspaper offices except
hat of the Tribune, six elevators and
he water works. r,j
There is no water in the city.
Not less than 10000 buildings have
lrcady been destroyed, and the fire
as burned a distance Of FIVE miles,
nd is still raging.
The wind is blowing a gale.
The advices from Western Union
telegraph sources up to / o'clock this
ftcrnoon are to the following effect
The entire. business portion of the
ity between Harrison street and lin
oln Park is in ruins.
All the banks and all the railroad
lepots have been destroyed.
No trains have left Chicago to-day
or the east.
The Superintendent of the West
,rn Union Company tclegraphs that
he has temporarily located an Office on
Dearborn street, but he expects to be
compelled to move soon. He has one
wire in use, aud this is being taxed to
its utmost capacity.
CHICAGO, Oct. Q, 5 p. M.-The
awful work of destruction goes on
with relentless fury. From Harrison
street south to Division street north,
and from the river to Lake street,
four miles long by one wide, the flames
have swept everything before them.
1t is estimated that at least 100000
people are homeless and in a suffering
condition. The streets in the districts
still unburned are lined for miles with
such household goods as have been
saved from destruction. The most
offers of assistance in money,
food and anything wanted are coming
from every city and town possible by
telegraph. The Mayor has responded
to several offers, asking that cooked
food be forwarded as soon as possible.
Firemen are ON the way here from