The Portland daily press., 1871-10-11

tioh remained at daylight, viz: The Tribun
BLOCK. The custom House and Honors Block
In dearborn street, had burned aud those VIII
fought the flames here thought at last that thi
BLOCK could be saved.
| The patrolmen under Samuel Medill swep
on the live Goals and put out the flames in tn,
sldewalks,and another lot under Joseph Medil
watched roofs At MALT past seven this ap
peared safe and most of the men went to ge
rest or food. A number went to sleep in tn,
tribune building. But there was a change o
WIND and the flames reached Wabash and
state streets and Michigan Avenne, and soor
the McVlckers theatre caught fire. In few
moments the tribune was in flames and at the
iast moment the sleeping men were aroused
ana rescued. By 10 o'clock in the forenoon
tnls remaining block was in ashes.
| Wen sad W omen Ely for Life.
| From $4,000 to $4,000 men, women and chill.
dren Were now fleeing by every available street
ana alley to the south and westward, attempt.
| Ing to save their lives
Five Hundred Burned 20 Death.
Livery vehicle was brought into requisition
for the use of which enormous prices were
paid.
thousands of persons and horses were mex
'f'caoiy commingled Poor people of all col
ors and shades and nationality, mad with ex
citement, struggled with each other to get
away. 1t is estimated that 500 people were
burned to death.
RumOrs of New Fi,e-.Fiends Propose
to Destroy the Whole . i,y.
$3.50 p. M.-Word is just brought that a
fierce fire is raging on 3tst street, two miles
south of the southern fire limit on south side
and little less than that from the limit on the
west side. This has been set on fire for the
purpose evidently of dest. .oying the remainder
OF the city. 1t is largely occupied by wealthy
residents.
1t is also known that two men caught in the
act OF firing buildings have been shot and two
others let of with ropes round their neeks. As
the wind is blowing perfect gale the ehd can
not be foretold.
second Report
New YORK, p. ma despatch from Gen.
Palmer, Vice President of the w. u. Tele-
graph Company elicits:the following reliable
response from Gen. Stager, Superintendent at
Chicago. A fire started in small building on
31st street, but was speedily put ont. Incen-
diaries arc busy. Seven or eight have been
hung or shot at sight.
Terrible Scenes.
Hundred were trampled under foot, men
and w.men loaded with bundles and house
hold goods, to whose skirts were clinging ten
der infants, half dressed and barefooted, were
all seeking place of safety. Hours after
these might have been seen in vacant lots or
on the streets far in the suburbs stretched in
the dust
The Loss of Life. tf.
1t is fearful to think of The loss of lfe 1t lis
conjectured with coed cause that nearly 500
have been burned to DEATH We saw four men
enter a burning building and in moment
they were overwhelmed by falling wall.
There was crowd of men around the Cou-
yer building trying to save property when
wall Yielding, some were buried beneath it.
Men, women and children rushed into the
building of the Historical Society, fire proof
building for safety. Iu few minutes the
flames burst upon them aud they were burned
to death. Among those who took refuge in
this building was the venerable Col. Samuel
Stone, 80 years old, also j. b. Girard and wife
and Madame Depelgrame noted teacher of
music. 1t is feared that DIR. Tererara and fam
lily were also burned, as they were in the build
ing and have not been seen since. .4t. 4
Mrs. Edsall, whose husband was murdered
last week, and was suffering from illness, was
carried away for protection to building which
was consumed, and it is feared that she
also pershed. +
All the books and papers of the Historical
Society, including the original copy of the ia
nous emancipation proclamation OF President
Lincoln, for which the society paid $4,000
were destroyed.
1T is feared large number of children, in
mates of the Catholic orphan Society, on State
street, were also burned as many of them are
missing.
In Chicago Avenue farther rushed mp stairs
to carry three children away when he was
overtaken by the flames and persisted with
them. The mother was afterwards seen on the
streets perfect maniac. In the same neigh
borhood family of five persons persisted. The
list of such fatalities are very long and can only
be fully verified after the smoke is cleared.
Great Destttniion.
There are hundreds of families on the north
west side who saved no clothing, but barely
their lines, among these are the family of Perry
Smith, formerly President of the Northwestern
Railroad Co.
The Loss of Property.
A careful survey of insurance to-day shows
$200,OO0,0 600. Add another $10O, 900, 900 and a
fair estimate can be reached OF the loss.
Plucky Merch snts.
All the leading merchants who have been
seen express determination to resume busf
ness at once. This includes heavy houses, such
as John V. Farwell, Field Letter g. Co, aud
Sprague Warner & Co, Farwell & Co., and
Field Letter & Co. saved from $3OOO to
$500 900 worth of goods. Both firms have al
ready established headquarters on the west
side.
A Graphic Descripsisn.s
The following reliable and graphic descrp-
ton of the fl is furnished by gentleman
who partici pated in the work of suDduing the
flames. None but al eye witness can form an
idea of the fire fiend as he reveled in palatial
buildings and warehouses on the south side,
with the wind blowing hurricane at times
1t seemed but the work OF moment tor fire to
enter south ends Of buildings fronting on Ran
dolph, Lake and Water streets, and reappear-
| ing at the north doors and windows, belchUg
! forth in fierce flames which often licked the
! opposite buildings and then the flames issuing
| forth from the buildings on both sides of the
street would unite and present solid mass of
| fire completely filing the street from side to
side. ami shooting upward a hundred feet into
| the air above the hOuset0ps in their mad ca
| reer. Thus was street after street filled with
| flames Huge walls would fall without appar-
eutly giving any sounl in the roar of the fierce
| flames.
Terrible Suffering.
All the reports indicate the most intense
suffering of thousands of people, They have
neither food or shelter, nor the means of pro
| curing either. Food is very scanty There
are serious apprehensions lest this stlte oi
| things may lead to general pill age on the rest
| Of the city. A special session of the Legisla-
| ture will be called at once.
Will Rebuild.
| At meeting of business men, it was decid-
| ed to take measures to commence rebuilding
at once.
MAINE.
| The Fast Horaes.
| Especial by Western Union Linel
LEWISTON, Oct. 10.-The races this Afternoon
| at the Riding Park were for horses that never
beat 2 40, for purse of $3.50 $50 to first, $2I
| to second, $15 to third. Butter Ball, Phi
Sheridan and Bull of the Woods were entered
and the first prize was won by Butter Ball
time. 242 IL, 2 40, 2.42. The next race was fo
purse of $50. to horses that never beat As
$35 to first, $15 to second, $40 to third Th
contestants were Bella, Telegraph and Range
ly Boy Telegraph won the first prize in thre
straight heats; time, 2.44, 2.45, 2.45.
| ITO Associated Pressl
Aid for the Bufferers.
BANGOR, Oct. 1O.-The calamity at Chicag