Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-10-18
HISTORY OF THE FIRE.

the river, on the west side, 30 milk II
COW, carrying with him Kerosene
lamp, This was kicked over by the
COW, and tho burning fluid was scat
tered among the straw. This was the
beginning OF the great fire. A single
oxtinguisher on the ground, or the
active work of the police in tearing
down one or two shanties, would have
prevented tho spreading of the flames,
but tho engines were waited for, and
when they arrived, the fircmen, stupc.
tied by their cxertions, at the first fire,
on Saturdy night, worked slowly and
clumsily, aud their efforts were una
vailing
The wind was from the southwest,
blew a gale, and the flames shot rap.
idly from house to house, and from
board.yard to board yard, and mean.
while had crossed the river north of
Twelfth street to the south side, and
mado for brick and stone business
blocks, railroad freight depols, and
manufacturing establishments.
The wind, blowing stiff gale, had
possession of the flames, and the beau
tifuI buildings of Chicago's glory lay
before them. Harrison, Van Buren,
Adams, Monroe, and Madison streets
were soon reached, and tho intcrvcn.
ing blocks from the river to Dearborn
street, on Eastbridgc street, were con-
sumcd.
Three quarters Of mile of brick
blocks were consumed us If by magic.
1t being Sunday, the proprietors and
employees were ut home, utterly un.
conscious of what was transpiring -
Those who saw the flames supposed it
was the remains Of Saturday nights
fire, and, having confidence in the fire
department, were unconccrned, but
between | ] and II o'clock rumor got
abroad that the fire was in the busi
ness portion Of the city, and the peo
pie commenced moving. Horses were
brought into requisition 10 take pro.
prietors and others to the conhagra.
lion, and what n scene met their gaze
The Board of Trade, Court house, Yves.
tern Union Telegraph, and Associated
Press Offices, and hundreds OF other
buildings, were all in flames.
The air was filled with live Goals,
which were hurled to the north and
east, II bosom of destruction. The en-.
giues were powerless for saving, and
all that could be done was blow up
building, but this availed little.
The walls melted away and the very
bricks were consumed. The wooden
pavements took fire, making contin.
uous sheet of fame two miles long by
mile wide, and no human being
could possibly survive many minutes
Block after block foil, and the red-hot
Goals shot higher aud higher until the
north side was vast sheet of fame
from the river to the lake. AT one
time ii so hemmed the people that it
was expected that thousands must
perish.
One block in all the vast business
section remained nj daylight, viz the
Tribune block. The Weston House
and Monroe block, in Dearborn street,
had burned, and those who had fought
the flames here thought at least this
block could be saved But there was
a change of the wind, and the flames
reached Wabash and State streets and
Michigan avenue. Soon McVicker's
Theatre caught fire, and in few min
u,os the Tribune building was in flames
and at the last moment the sleeping
men were aroused and rescued from
the flames.
By 10 A. NJ. tho remaining block
was in ashes Now was to be seen the
most remarkable sight ever beheld in
this or any other country. There
were from 10000 to 10000 men, wo.
men, and children fleeing by every
available street and alley, 10 the south
ward and westward, attempting to
save their clothing and their lives.
1t is fearful to think Of the loss Of
life. 1t is coniectured, with good
cause, that nearly five hundred people
have been burned TO death. We saw
four men onter a. burning building, and
in moment they were overwhelmed
10y falling wall. There was q crowd
of men around the corner of build
ing trying TO save some property
when the wall yielding, some Of them
were buried beneath it, About twelve
or fifteen men, women and children
rushed into the building of the Histo
rical Society, firc.proof building, for
safety. In IA few minutes the flames
burst up, and they burned to death.
Among those who took refuge in
this building was the venerable Col
Samuel Stone, aged 50 years, for 0
long time connected with the society
Also, John b. Gerard aud wife, nnd
Nine. Depclgrove, noted teacher o.
music. 1t is feared that DR.. Feat and
family were also burned, as they were
in the building and have not been
seen. Mrs. Edsell, whose husband
was murdered last week, and who wa:
suffering from illness, was carried
away for protection to building which
was afterwards burned, and it is feared
she also perished.
All tho books and papers of the
Historical Society, including the orig
inal copy of the famous emancipation
proclamation of President Lincoln, fol
which the Society paid $4,000, were
destroyed.
1t is feared that large number o
children, inmates of the Catholic Or
phan Asylum on State street, were alsC
burned, as many Of them are missing
A father rushed up stairs TO carry
his children away, when he was oyer
taken by the flames and pershcd will
them. The mother was afterward,
seen on the streets n raving maniac.
In the same ncighborhood a family oI
five persons pcrished. The list o
such casualties is very long, and car
only be fully verified after The smoke
shall have cleared away. There arc
hundreds of families on that side who
saved no clothing, but barely thoil
lives Among these is the family o
Perry Smith, formerly President o