South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-10-13
CHICAGO in RUINS!
FIVE MILES OF FIRE /,
Ten Thousand Buildings Burned
100000 People Homeless !
THE Loss ESTIMATED AT s200,000,00O.



About IL o'clock last night fire started
in Sail & Holmes large planning mill, be-
tween Clinton and Canal, and Van Buren,
and Jackson streets. The wind was blow
ing very fresh, and the flames spread with
almost incredible rapidity, aud in few
minutes the entire structure was a mass of
fire, and in half an hour the whole district
was ablaze. The immediate vicinity is
built up mainly with small wooden teue-
ment houses and two story frame buildings.
occupied as groceries, saloons, &c The
inmates of many Of these houses, startled
from slumber, had barely time to rush out
IN their scanty night attire, leaving their
household goods To destruction. la sever
al instances children were hastily wrapped
III blankets and quilts to break their fall
aud thrown from the second story window
to the ground. When the alarm sounded
for this fire another Of considerable magui-
tude was burning on Wells street, near Ad-
ans. Several engines were necessarily kept
at work upon this fire. The rest of the en-.
gnes soon arrived npon the ground, but
the fire had spread over so large an area
aud was so rapidly extending that their eff
forts seemed of little avail. Between Ca
nal street and the river were several lum Der
yards, which were entirely destroyed. Ia
an hour the FIRE haG made a clean sveen
from Van Buren, street north two blocks TO
Adams, and west to Clinton Three blocks
from the river, between Van Buren, and
Jackson, were burning, and the wood W ork
OF the western approach to Adams street
bridge was destroyed. a large coal yard
containing thousands If tons Of soft coal.
and situated between the tracks of the Chi
cago and Alton and Pittsburgh and Fort
Wayne Railroads and the river, was burn
ing furiously. The immense grain eleva
tor of Vincent, Nelson x Co., one of the
finest in the city, is Immediately adjoining.
and though intended to be fire proof, it was
feared the intense heat would crack the
slate with which it is covered. The depot
of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chica-
90, Alton aud ST. Louis Railroads, is north
OF Adams, and between Canal street and
the river. One of the buildings, light
wooden structure, occupied as au express
oihee, was destroyed. The scenes in the
vicinity Of the confagration were udiscrib-
able. Half Of the population Of the city
seemed gathered there. The tugs in the
WIZ cHe"Ecu III towing 10 PAGES OF
safety the vessels moored in the ucighbor.
hood, while locomotives we're hastily pull.
ing out the great number of cars standing
on the track in flames. The glare from
the burning buildings lighted the streets
halfa mile away so that one could see to read
About ] o'clock this morning the flames
were arrested and under complete control
OF the Fire Department. The space burn.
ed over embraces four blocks bounded on
the north by Adams street, on the west by
Clinton street on the south by Van Buren,
street, on the east By the Chicago river 1t
Is impossible to give the loss at present,
but II must reach hundreds Of thousands Of
dollars