The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-10-19
The Great Fire in Chicago.

losses, but q. faint idea may be formed when it
is stated that every bank in the city, except
two savings institutions on Twenty second
street, in the South division, and one on Ran
doph street, in the West division, are destroyed.
All the Wholesale stores, all retail establish
ments, the post office, Court House, Chamber
of Commerce every hotel in the South divis-
ion, except the Michigan Avenue Hotel, which,
standing on the extreme Southern limit, es-
capped though badly scorched, and every news
paper ofhceNthe Tribune building, which was
supposed to befre-proof succumbed- every the
atre, six of the largest elevators, the immense
depots of the Michigan, Southern and Illinois
Central Railroads; both the passenger and
freight depots of the latter more than score
of churches, and much of the shipping in the
river-all destroyed. Men who were millions
ries yesterday are nearly penniless to-day, but
more terrible than all is the certainty that many
perished, in the flames. How many, no one can
tell; perhaps no one will ever be able TO tell,
but it is known that several perished and there
is only heart-sickening fear that the victims
will be counted by scores Hundreds of horses
and COWS have been burned in stables; and on
the North side, numbers of animals, though re-
leased from confinement, were so bewildered
and confused by the sea Of fire which surroun-
ded them that they rushed wildly to and fro,
uttering cries of fright and pain, until scorched
and killed. Any attempt at q description OF
the scenes of the appalling calamity would be
idle. The simple fact that the once great city
of Chicago is destroyed that hundreds of mil
lions of active capital here has vanished, and
nearly one-third of Chicago's inhabitants are
homeless and dependent attempt to en-
bellish would be ,mockery. As this awful day
draws to close thousands of anxious eyes
watch the clouds of smoke which still roll over
the burnt district with evident dread that asud-
den change of wind may turn the flames on that
portion Of the city yet spared. There seems,
however, little cause of apprehension OF 1T, and
firemer from other cities are constantly arriv-
ing. ''''
CHICAGO, October 10.--One of the most pit
ifil sights was that of a middled aged woman,
on State street, loaded with bundles, struggling
through a crowd and singing the Mother Goose
melody, "Chickery, chickery, crany crow, l
went to the we'll to wash my t0e," &c. There
we're hundreds of others likewise distracted,
and there were many made desperate by whis-
key or beer, which, from excess of thirst, they
drank in the absence of water in great quanti-
ties, and spread terror in every direction. It's
fearful to think of the loss of life. tits con-
iectured, with good cause, that near 500 have
burned to death. We saw four men enter a
burning building and in moment they were
overwhelmed by falling wall. There was a
crowd of men around the corner of building
trying to save property, when the wall yielding,
some of them were buried beneath 1t. About
twelve or fifteen women and children rushed
into the building of the Historical Society, or
fire:proof building, for safety. but in a few
minutes the flames burst through and they were
xolontl, Anono fhnsa ryhn fn0ly rn-
fuge in this building was the venerable Col.
Samuel Stone, eighty years of age, and for a
long time connected with the society also, John
B. Gerard and wife, and Nine. Depelgrove, a
noted teacher of music. 1t is feared that Dr..
Frear and family were also burned, as they
were in the building and have not been seen.
Mrs. Edsall, whose husband was murdered last
week and who was suffering from an illness,
was carried away for protection to building
which was afterwards consumed and it is feared
she also perished. All the books and papers Of
the Historical Society, including an original
copy of the famous emancipation proclamation
Of President Lincoln, for which the society
paid S25, 900, were destroyed. 1t is feared that
a large number of children, inmates of the
Catholic Orphan Asylum, on State street, were
also burned, as many of them are missing. On
Chicago avenue, father rushed up stairs TO
carry three children away, when he was overta-
ken bv the flames and perished with them
The mother was afterwards seen on the street
n raving maniac In the same neighborhood a
family of five persons persisted. The list of
such fatalities is very long, and can only be full
-ly verified after the smoke shall have cleared
away. ' ''.'i''
A special session of the Illinois Legislature
has been called to aid business men and to pro-
vide employment for the poor.
Apprehending that suffering may cause crime,
additional Federal troops have been called for.
:. 4 careful survey of insurances, to-day, shows
that there were written on property DESTROYED
over 100000, 900; add another Sl00, 1000, 600 to
this sum and fair estimate can be reached OF
the loss. All leading merchants who have been
seen express a determination to resume busi-
ness at once
From the Baltimore Gazette.
The heat was 80 intense at times that the
burning buildings could not be approached
within $50 feet. The fire, after reaching the
business part of Randolph and South Water
streets, leaped the river to the north side in an
incredible short space of time, and thence
among the wooden buildings on that side,
reached the lake shore, after reducing block az
ter block of dwellings to ashes.
A scene of such utter powerlessness, in the
face of an enemy, was never presented than
that of this people trying to combat the lire, for
the combat was not OF long duration. The peo-
pie bowed their heads in anguish Of spirit, and
allowed the fire to have untrammeled sway.
While there are many instances of generous
devotion on the part of the rich and poor, in
dividing with the destitute, there are painful
instances of meanness and selfshness. One
person was trying to remove valuable papers
from an office, and he asked two 6remen to help
him, but they refused unless he paid them fifty
dollars The papers we're destroyed. 49,.
Drivers of express wagons have taken SlOO
and even $500 for an hours use of their vehi-
cles in getting the distressed people away from
danger. Among the sad scenes was the. ap:
pearence of mon and boys beastly intoxicated
around the streets of the north division, where
the saloon keepers stocks of liquor were turn
ed into the. streets. There can hardly be any
donht that many of these MretcheS found their