Smyrna times., 1871-10-18
m SSce eIIuW e0MS.
The Chicago Fire.


lhe following is the substance of the dispatcbes
ieIatlVe TO the great fire in Chicago:
Late on Sunday night, boy went into a stahlo
Oh DeRoVen street, near the river on the west sida
10 10 miIK COW, carrying with him a kerosene la,nn
i ms was kicked over by the cow, aud the burning
hu'd was scattered among The straw. This was
'''e "eSNhhlng OF The great fire A single extrn-
su'SitI on lhe ground would have prevented the
SPreAulhg OF the flames; but the engines were
waited r. and when they arrived, the 6remen
StuPehed by their exertlons at the fire ON Saturday
night' worked slowly and cumsily and their ef
forts were unavaIng. The wind was from the
southwest blew gale, and the flames shot RAPIDLY
from mouse TO house. Those who saw The flames
supposed 1t was the remains of Saturd,v nigh,,s
hre, and having confidence in the FIRE Denar,ment
were unconcerned; but between IL and l2 O'clock
ruor got abroad that the fire was IN the business
Potuoh OF The city, and the people commenced
moving, and what scene met their gaze!
ine mayor and CITY government, that had su.
plnely rested, now began to exert themselves hut
the opportunity had been lost. and the time when
thorough organization could have blown up build.
lheS or prepared for that emergency was neglected
and 1t was nov a fight for life.
IL seemed that no sooner had the flames struck
wall, Than II went directly through and a yerv few
minutes suihced to destroy the most elaborately
oullt structures. The walls melted awav and Il e
very brlcks were consumed. The wooden pave.
ments took fire, making continuous sheet of
n
name Two miles long by a mile wide and no hu
man oelng could possibly survive many minutes
Block after block tell, and the red hot Goals was
| vast shcel OF Hames from the river to the Lake
Al one Time It so hemmed the people, that it was
expected that thousands mnst perish. The Sher
man and other hotels emptled of their guests
Now was to be seen the most remarkable SIGHT
ever boheid IN this or any other country There
were from $4,000 to 10000 men, women and child
-" 1T ENG Dy every available street and alley, TO
the southwark and westward, attempting to suve
their clothing and their lives.
Every available vehicle was broupbt intn reoni
siton Tor use, for which immense prices were paid
and the streets and sidewalks presented a fearful
sight Thousands OF persons and horses in mex
'rlcaoie confusion, poor people all colnrs and
Shades and OF every nationality, from Europe, Chi.
ma and Africa, mad with excitement, struggled with
each other to get away. Hundreds were trampled
under foot. Men and women loaded with bundles
and their household goods, to whose skirts were
cngIng tender lnfAnts half dressed and ba re foot.
ed all seeking places uf safety. Hours afterwards
they might have been vacant lots and in the
streets FAR out IN the Suburbs stretched N the dust
There were hundreds distracted, and MANY made
desperate by whisky beer, which from excess of
thirst theV drank in the absence of water in great
quantities.
IL IL fearful TO think the loss of life II is con-
Jectnred, with good cause, thai neurly 500 people
have been burned to DEATH We saw four men en-
Ter burning building, and in a moment they were
overwhelmed hy falling wall. There was a crowd
OF men around the corner of building irving TO
save some property, when the wall Welding, some
of them were buried beneath it About twelve or
htteen men and children rushed into the building
OF the Historical Society, fire. proof building for
safety In u few minutes the flames burst up, and
they were burned to death. 1t is feared that
large number of children, inmates Of the Catholic
Orphan Asylum, in State street were also burned,
n mis A ebaI,
stairs to carry these children away when he was
Overtaken by the flames and pershed with them.
There are hundreds of families who saved no cloth.
ing, but barely their lives. Fears are entertained
that the desperate distress OF so many will create
squads of piIagers, and that life will not be safe
To relieve these General Sheridan is teegravhjnp
for more troops, and special police force is being
organized by the citizens. The only effective
remedy Is to hnd employment for the thousa nds
who would work if they could. None but eve
witnesses can form idea of the fury and power
Of the fire among the buildings and warehouses on
the south side. The wind blowing hurricane st
the time, it seemed but the work of a moment for
the fire TO enter the south ends OF the buildings
and reappcar at the north doors and windows
shooting up "a hundred feet above the house tons
Thus was street alter street filled itl fame Huge
walls would toppe and TALL into the sea of fire with
out audible sound The roar cf the ferce element
was so great that all minor sounds were swallowed
up. While there are many instances Of generous
devotion on the part of rich aud poor in dividing
with the destitute there are painful instances of
meanness and seltshness. One person was trying
to remove valuable papers from his Office and ask
ed two firemen TO help him. btu they refused unless
he paid them $50. The papers were DESTROYED.
Drivers of express wagons have taken 500, and
even $5O or an hours of their vehicles in pet.
ting distressed people away from danger. Among
the sad scenes was the appearance of hundreds of
drunken men and boys around the streets of the !
North Division, where saloon keepers Stocks of
liquor were turned INTO the street. There can |
hardly be any doubt that many of these wrrtches
found their death in the flames. One poor man
crawled for refuge into a water main lying in the
street near the water works, but the fire found him
even there and robbed hun of life Women and
children are going around the burned district vain
ly seeking something to satisfy their hunger. They
ask for relief, but there is none to give them. No
one has provisions money. The suffering on the
north side is heartrending to witness. Fifty thou
sand men, women and children re hudded toeeth.
or like many wild animals. Helpless children
are asking for bread OF heart broken parents who
know not which way TO turn, or what to say, and
nothing to do but await the distribution of supplies
which at the best must be n slow proceeding. All
were exposed to the rain of Monday night and the
cold raw winds of TO day. Several deaths have &C.
Cured at Lincoln Park, and three women brought
children into the world, only 10 die. There are
people who, in the bitterness of their souls ascrbe
the calamity to Gods judgment. Each train and
extras are loaded to their fullest capacity taking
people away, who in many instances have no place
to 60 to, yet they cannot stay here and every train