The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-13
WHOLE NO S63.

city Is evidently doomed TO utter de-
struction, and there are grave tears that
the flames may spread to the west side
of the north branch of the river, and
| the inhabitants of the streets nearest
! the river are already moving to places
of supposed greater safety. The West
ern Union Telegraph Co., have now six
wires working east and south, and run
ming into temporary office on the cor
ner of State and Sixteenth streets. Tho
Northwestern Railroad is running trains
on both its branches, which are crowded
with fleeing citizens. It is now posi-.
lively asserted by some that the water
works are still intact, but that the water
has been shut off from the south and
west divisions, on account of the quan.
tity being used on the north side A
reliable gentleman just arrived from the
north division brings the joyful intelli-
gence that the water works are uuin.
jured. God grant that it may prove
true. 1t is impossible now to give even
IN approximately correct statement of
the losses, but faint idea may be
formed when it is stated that every
bank in the city, except two small saw
ipgs institutions, one on Twenty second
street in the south division, and the ouc
on Randolph street, in the west, are de.
stroyed; all wholesale stores and all
large retail establishments, the postoffce,
COURTHOUSE, Chamber of Commerce,
every hotel in the south division, except
the Michigan Avenue Hotel, which,
standing on the extreme southern limit
of the fire, escaped, though badly
scorchedi every newspaper office, the
Tribune building having finally sue
cumbed; every theatre; six of the
largest elevators the immense depots
of the Michigan Southern and Illinois
Central Railroads, both passenger and
freight depots of the latter more than
score of churches, and much of the
shipping in the river are destroyed
Men who were millionaires yesterday
morning are nearly penpiless to-day;
but more terrible than all is the awful
certainty that many human beings found
fiery graves. How many no one can
tell. Perhaps no one can ever tell
but some are known to have perished,
and there is a heart.sickening fear that
the victims of the fiery monster may be
counted by scores. Hundreds of horses
and cows have been burned in the sta
bles, and on the north side nu nbers,
though released from confinement, were
so bcwildered AMI confused by the sea
of fire which surrounded them, that they
rushed wildly to and fro, utteriug cries
of fright and pain, until scorched and
killed. Any attempt at description
of the scene of this appalling calamity
would be idle. The simple facts that
the once great city of Chicago is de-
stroyed; that hundreds of millions Of
her active capital have vanished aud
that nearly one-third of her inhabitants
are homeless dependents, are enough.
Any attempt to embellish would be but
mockery. AS this awful day draws to
a close thousands of anxious eyes watch
the dense clouds Of smoke which still
roll over the burnt district with evident
dread that sudden change of wind
may turn the flames upon the portion
of the city yet spared There seems,
however, little cause for apprehension,
and ,einforcements of firemen from other
cities are constantly arriving. Col j.
S. S. Wilson, superintendent of the tel.
egraph, is in receipt of dispatches from
leading cities, announcing that aid is
being provided for the sufferers. Col.
G. Lowry, of st. Louis, telegraphs that
$4,000 has been subscribed by mer-
chants. Cincinnati promises 100000,
and Cleveland is propor6onately gen.
erous. All this and great deal more
will be needed to relieve the immediate
pressing wants. Everything is being
done by Gen. Stager and his assistants
to keep up communication for citizens
and press with the world outside. Col.
Geo. T. Williams, of Cincinnati, reported
for duty this morning. About
of the United States mail
was saved and taken possession of bv