The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-13

and freight depotS Ol thc iatterl, more |
than score of churches, and much of
the shipping in the rivcr-all arc de-
stroyed.
Men who were millionaires yesterday !
morning, are nearly pcnnilcss to-day |
but moro terrible than all is tho awful
certainty that many human beings have
perished in the names-hoW many, no
one can tell. Perhaps no ono will ever
be able to tell but it is known that
some have pcrished, and there is only
a heart. .sickening fear that the victim
of the fiery monster may be counted by
scoses.
Hundreds of horses and cows have
been burned in stables, and on tho north
side numbers of animals, though re-
leased from confinement, were so be
wildered and confused by the sea of fire
which surrouned them that they rushed
wildly TO and fro, uttering cries OF
fright and pain until scorchod and
| killed.
Any attempt at a description Of the
scenes of this appalling calamity would
be idle. The simple fact that the once
great City of Chicago Is nearly destroy
cd, that hundreds of millions Of active
| capital hero have vanished, and that
nealy one.third Of Chicago's inhabit-
ants are housplcSs, il enough. Any at
| tempt to embelish would be mockery.
AS this awful day draws to close
thousands of anxious eyes watch the
clouds OF smoke, which still roll over
tho burned district, with evident dread
that sudden change OF wind may turn
| the flames upon that portion Of tho city
yet spared. There seems, however, lit.
tie cause for apprehension, and roen-
forcements of firemcn from other cities
are constantly arriving. Col. L. f.
| Wilson, Superintendent of the Tole-
graph, as in receipt of dispatches from
leading cities announcing that aid will
soon be provided for the sufferers. Col.
Clowry of st. Louis telegraphs that $70,-
600 have been subscribed by the mer.
chants there. Cincinnati promises $780,
and Cleveland is proportionatcly gen.
erous. All this and great deal moro
will be needed to relieve the immedi-
ate pressing wants.
Everything is doing by Gen. Stager
and his assistants to keep up communi-
cations for the citizens and press with
the world outside. Col. Geo. T. Will.
Jams, Superintendent at Cincinnati,
reported promptly for duty this morn
ing. About thrce.fourths of the United
States mail was saved and taken charge
of by Col. Wood of the Postonicc SER
| vice.
LATER.-The flames of the South Di-
vision were finally arrested by blowing
up and demolishing several buildings
on Wabash avenue and Congress street,
by Lieutenant-G General Sheridan. The
District burned over in the South Di-
vision embraces everything from the
main branch of tho Chicago River to
the Lake, and covering about one hun
dred blocks. This district contained
all the leading business houses, the
banks, insurance offices, hotels, &c.
also large number of churches, includ-
ing st. Mary's, Trinity, First Presby-
ierian, Second Presbyterian, st. Paul,
Swedenborgiap, &c. The Methodist
Church, on the corner of Wabash av-
1Giehigah NpeTGSS firfGt III IL isXSHsg9tv vac 9tvrTnheff Tnheff
of Michigan avenue and Congress street,
and the Congress Hall, directly adjoin-
ing, on Congress street, are saved.
Michigan-terracc, on Michigan avenue,
embracing the residence of Gov. Bross,
the Hon. John Young Scammon, S. G..
Griggs, Peter l.. Ross, and other lead
ing citizens, is completely destroyed.
All the newspaper establishments are
totally wiped out. The Tribune build
ing resisted the fire for several hours,
but finally yielded, when M'Vicker's
Theater, Immediately adjoining, which
also withstood the raging element,
wholly succumbed. In fact all the
buildings in the district which claimed
to be fire.proof shared the same fate of
those which could makeno such claims.
The great Central depot at the foot of
Lake street, became heap of ruins.
About 0 O'Clock this morning most of
the passenger cars Ofthc Mishigan Cen
tral, Burlington and Quincy, and Hi
noi5 Central Railroad were moved on
the breakwatcr and saved. West of
Clark street, in the southern division,
the fire extended south as lar as Polk
street, sweeping everything before it.
The distance burned over here is some
three blocks wide and over half mile
in length, numbering about 20 blocks.
The buildings were generally Of the
cheaper character, embracing saloons,
small shops, poor residences, etc The
district burned over on the west side
commences at Taylor street, running
from De Koren to Jefferson. The fire
ran thence four or five blocks north, and
then moved diagonally toward the
river, and, finally, the west limit was
established on Clinton street, and reach
ing thence to the river. 1t moved in
this line northward until it reached the
North Western and West Side depOts,
where it stopped, a distance Of nearly
tWO lillc5 rum NIltIc IL oldIlSu' L lIc
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago
and Chicago and st. Louis Railroad,
depots were in this district, and are de.
stroyed.
Almost the entire Northern Division,
from the main branch of the Chicago
River to Lincoln Park, nearly two miles
i'll length and one mile in width, is COM
plctely destroyed, including the water
works, a large number of elegant
churches, &c. This district embraces
almost the entire business portion of the
city.
The territory south of Harrison street
in the south division, reaching out
many miles, and covered almost entire
ly with dwellings, mostly of the better
class, is untouched, and may not be re-
garded as safe from injury.
For miles and miles, in every dlrec-
ton, the sidewalks, lawns, vacant lots, |