The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1871-10-13
THE GREAT FIRE AT CHICAGO.
One, Quarter Of the City Laid in Ashes.
Fearful Loss of Life and Property.
100000 Persons Homeless and
without Food.
KEROSENE LAMP THE ORIGIN
OF THE DISASTER.


tory of this devouring element.
1t is not little singular that this great
fire should have been preceded by another,
also of most fearful magnitude, there hav-
ing been, apparently, no connection be-
tween the two.
In regar! to the first of these terrible Wis
stations, NC learn that about l 1 o'clock, on
Saturday night, the flames broke oot in
planning mill, and before they could be
checked had burned over four blocks, leav-
ing only four or five of the houses in the
burnt district uninjured The fire was not
arrested until 3 or a o'clock Sunday morn
ing.
In this fire one woman is known to have
persisted, and upwards of $250,00O in prop
erty was swept away.
/ THE GROWING DISASTER.
The fire of Saturday night, terrible as it
was, in the destruction ofproperty and the
turning out of house and home of hundreds
ofunfortunate families, was as nothing COM
pared to what followed.
The citizens of Chicago were yet weary
with excitement under the effects of a fiery
visitation on Saturday night, which swept
away four blocks of buildings and involv-
ed loss of 100000, when on Sunday
night, about nine o'clock, the alarm was
again sounded. No one imagined that
fresh disaster of even so great extent rs
that of the night before awaited the city.
The new fire originated in the western part
of the city, and in the course of two hours,
during which the efforts of the already over
worked tiremen were completely baffled,
the flames spread over several blocks, and
taking the course ofthe wind, made path
of fire in a northwesterly direction through
the central part of the city.
Tho flames continued to rage until about
3 o'clock Tuesday morning, when heavy
rain fell, aided by which the fire was got
ten under control.
About one fourth of the city is now but
heap of smouldering ruins, the loss of
property being estimated at two hundred
and fifty million dollars.
AN APPALLING Loss OF LIFE
has undoubtedly taken place, but the num-
Der who have persisted can only be coniec-
tured.
The following brief account is made up
from the reports of those who witnessed
the awful scene, and fought the flames
throughout: ~~'-- =,
TIE ORIGIN OF TIE FIRE.
Late on Sunday evening boy went into
a stable on De Koven street, near the river,
on the west side, to milk COW, carrying
with hin, lyorocnpn lopn
This was kicked over by the cow, and
the burning fluid scattered among the straw.
This was the beginning of the great fire.
Rapidly the flames shot from house to
house, and from board yard to board yard,
having meanwhile crossed the river north
of Twelfth street to the south side, and
made for the brick and stone business
blocks, the railroad freight depots and
manufacturing establishments. The full
extent of the danger was now realized for
the first time
The wind blowing a stiff gale had pos
session OF the flames, and the beautiful,
buildings, Chicagos Glory, laid before them.
Ihree-quarters OF mile of brick blocks
were consumed as if by magic.
The air was filled with live Goals, which
were hurled to north and east bosom of
destruction. Fire engines were powerless
for saving. All that the men could do was
to blow up buildings, but this availcd but
little
QUICK DESTRUCTION.
1t seemed that no sooner had the flame
struck wall than it went directly
through, and very few minutes sut1iced to
destroy the most deliberately built struc-
lures. The walls melted and the very
bricks were consumed. The wooden pave
ments took fire, making continuous sheet
of flame two miles long by mile wide
No human being could possibly survive
many minutes. Block after block fell, and
red-hot Goals shot higher and higher, and
spread further and further, until the north
side was vast sheet of flame from river to
lake.
FLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE.
Now was to be seen the most remarkable
sight ever beheld in this or any other coun-
try. There were from 1000 to $4,000 men,
woman and children fleeing by every avail
able street and alley, to the southwark and
westward, attempting to save their cloth
ing and their lives.
Every available vehicle was brought into
requisition for use, for which from 800 to
$500 an hour was paid, and the streets and
sidewalks presented fearful sight. Thous-
ands OF persons and horses, inextricably
commingled; poor people, of all colors,
shades and every nationality, from Europe,
China and Africa, mad with excitement,
struggled with each other to get away.
SCENES OF DISTRESS AND DISTRACTION.
Hundreds were trampled under foot, men
and women loaded with bundles and their
household goods, to whose skirts were
clinging tender infants, half dressed and
baretooted, all seeking places of safety
Hours after they might have been seen in
vacant lots, or on the streets far out in the
suburbs, stretched in the dust. These are
the suffering lambs whom Christ calls on
the rich world to feed and clothe. God
help them, if the heart of man should prove
obdurate. One of the most pitiful sights
was that of middle-aged woman, on State
street, loaded with bundles, struggling
through crowd singing the Mother Goose
melody, "Chckery, chickery, cranery crow,
went to the well to wash my toe," &c.
There were hundreds of Others likewise
distracted, and many made desperate by
whiskey, which, from thirst, they drank,
in the absence of water, in great quantities,
who spread themselves in every direction,
terror to all they met. 1t is fearful to
think of the
Loss OF LIFE.
1t is conjectured, with good cause, that
near five hundred have been burned to
death.