The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-11
THO Great CaIamssy-ssccor FOR tho Uu-
fortsuate.

On0 eupJect aOSorpo sne JnOugntS OF the
American people and Il the theme of sympa-
thetic conversation from one end OF the coun-
try 10 the other. The destruction Of Chicago
touches all hearts. The devouring element
that has laid the proud city in ashes may
well be called the fire king. for it has done
more damage in forty-eisht hours than the
armed hosts Of the most powerful monarch
could have done. Four days ago the three
hundred thousand Inhabitants were reposing
In security, little imagining such q dreadful
calamity as that which began at eleven
o'clock on Saturday night and increased
in fury on Sunday evening would make half
the population homeless. True enough it is
that We know not what day may bring forth.
No such calamity by fire, nor by any other
cause 80 suddenly and within such few
great FIRE in London, 10 1866, the year after
the plague, might have been more disastrous.
Thirteen thousand two hundred houses were
burned down then. The fire In Chicago has
destroyed, according to report, over twelve
thousand houses. It is not known yet what
property destroyed in Chicago. The loss and
suffering we know are very great. Happily,
the last news that comes by telegraph informs
us that copious rain had fallen upon the
devastated city and extinguished the fire so
far as to give hope that there will be no fur
Their destruction. We pray this hope may
prove well founded.
We can hardly realize in thought the men
tai anguish and bodily suffering Of such
vast mass Of people as have been driven out
Of their homes, stripped Of all they possessed,
and not knowing where to find food, raiment
and shelter. II is bad enough when few
families or a few hundred people lose their
homes by fire and are driven for protection to
the charity aud under the roofs of others. But
in this case all alike are made homeless and
destitute. A hundred thousand to hundred
and fifty thousand people make vast crowd.
Broadway, when crowded from one end to the
other, on some great gala day, scarcely pre-
sents such a mass Of humanity. Imagine,
then. the numbers we see on such occasions
thrown destitute and homeless upon the world,
now can be realized iu part. Imagine the
thousands Of delicate women. helpless chill
dren, feeble old people, and the sick, as well
as the multitude Of men without shelter,
and suffering from hunger and cold
1t is heartrending scene. Thousands
of rich or well-to-do people have been made
poor and tens of thousands of the poor have
had their little domestic accumulations swept
away. Fire is memorable. 1t leaves nothing
but ashes.
1t must be some time before all the dread
full consequences will be known. Many valu-
able and important documents belonging to
individuals or institutions, affecting their
property and business, as well as records of
the city, State and federal government, have
been destroyed, probably, which cannot but
lead to much trouble hereafter. The loss to
insurance companies will probably overwhelm
many of them, and, as consequence, other
institutions may 60 down with the general
wreck. Bankruptcy, suspension and great
financial embarrassment of merchants must
follow the destruction of such an enormous
stock of goods and produce and the inability
of creditors to pay. The total loss
of property of all kinds is variously
estimated from a hundred and fifty
millions to three hundred millions This
must affect financial matters beyond the limits
of Chicago. We see the effect already in New
York. Then the interruption to trade in and
through that great commercial emporium
of the West will be seriously felt. Besides,
vast capital will be required to rebuild Chicago,
if il should be rebuilt. With ell the recupera-
tive power of the people Of that city of the
West and of the country generally this disas-
ter must have no small influence upon the
money market and financial operations.
The first thing to be considered, however,
is to afford immediate relief to the Chicago
sufferers. Food, clothing and the means for
temporary shelter are first needed. Happily,
in q case of distress like this, the American
people do not need to be stimulated. They
are large in their charity on such occasions.
Whether the call be from home or abroad for
those who suffer the response is the same.
And New York, always remarkable
for its large liberality,. is subscribing
grandly for the sufferers of Chicago.
Our rich merchants are acting princely and the
citizens of every class are moving generously.
Throughout the country, and in other cities,
too, there is general movement to afford
relief. Our railway magnates are giving their
roads and as many trains of cars as are neces-
sary for transporting, free of charge, the sup
plies that are furnished. The first necessity,
then, is likely to be relieved soon. Here the
value Of railroad and telegraphic communica-
ton is worthy Of notice Had there been no
railroads and telegraph to communicate rap
idly the state of things at Chicago and to
transport supplies promptly the suffering
would be much greater. These mighty agents