Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-10-12
TERRIBLE CoMFLA-
cRATfoN IN cHiCAc o,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ONE WOMAN BURNED TX
~ DEATH.
Loss From ss5o.oso to $4,000

CHICAGO, October s-The most dis
astrous confagration that ever occur
red in this city commenced about II
O'Clock last night. The wind was blow
ing very fresh, and the flames spread
with almost incredible rapidity. When
the alarm sounded for the fire, another,
of considerable magnitude, was burn
ing on Wells street, near Adams.
Several engines were necessarily kept
at work at this fire. The rest of the
engines were soon on the ground, but
before the arrived they fire had spread
over so large an area, and was SO rapid
ly spreading, that there efforts seemed
of little avail.
The space burned over embraces four
blocks, bounded on the north by Adams
street, west by linton, south by Van
Buren, and east by the Chicago river.
Some tour or five buildings. within the
limits named remain uninjured, among
them Vincent, Nelson & Co.'s grain
warehouse, one of the largest in the
city, which escaped any serious dam
age. This was due to the fact that piles
of anthracite coal lay between the burn
ing buildings and the Elevator, and by
the continued application oflarge guam.
titles of water on the coal piles they
were prevented from burning.
The grounds burned over were cover
ed with lumber yards, coal yards and
x,I.,frsv,r- ~,
factory, vinegar factory, ETC., and a
large number of dwellings and saloons
of the poorer class. A close estimate
of the entire loss places it ut from $780,
1000 TO 1900, 900, with probably one halt
of that insured. I" @-
The fire had its origin in Lull &
Holiness planning mill on Canal street,
and as the wind was fresh from the
lsouth, the flames spread north with
tgreat rapidity. For space of hall. an
hour the whole district named was al
ablaze, and by one O'Clock, or within
two hours alter the fire commenced,
the work was ended :
The following are the leading suf-
ferers by the fire on Canal street. AS
stated, the fire originated ] In Lulf &
Holiness planning mill; loss $4,000
with an insurance of about Sl2,000. In
the rear of the mill was Fortie's box
factory, loss $1,000; insured one half.
The next following was the Excelsior
vinegar works, belonging to j. Weigh;
loss $4,000. Next came the Racine
House; loss small Then followed the
Union wagon works; loss $4,000, in
Esured for $1,000; John Snuff & Sons
humber yard, loss S65, 900, insured for
$35, 600; Foss's shingle works, loss $780,
0C0; insurance $4,000. B. Holbrook' Is
coal yard, loss $36, 900; insurance $25,.
900. Wilmington Coal Co., loss $780,
600; insurance 10000. Blacksmith
shop Of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne
and Chicago Railroad company, 1900.
With q single exception the buildings
destroyed on Clinton street were of the
poorer c. ass, owned by Holt, Lander 4
Randall, Hon. B. G. Farwell and A.
4 Watson. The most serious loss on this
street was that Of Boltzer & Co., wagon
makers, who suffer about 5000 with
1 light insurance. ...s.;,. u q
fby AlonzO Watson, and occupied by
twenty-eight families, were DESTROYED.
who lost all they had. The balance ol
the losses on this street embraced
dwelling houses and shops numbering
from 81 to 67. The total loss on this
street will not probably exceed $20, ,00G--
with not over one-quarter of that in
sure6. s .s
r. Only three or four buildings were
lbnrned on Van Buren street, of small
value.
The iron viaduct leading to the
Adams street bridge was damaged to
| the extent of $1,000, and the tracks OF
the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne an
Chicago and Chicago and st. Louis rail-
roads, which run through the burnt
district, were damaged probably to the
extent Of $4,000 or $1,000.
The saddest result of this fire was the
burning to death of Mrs. Margaret
Hadley, living on the north side of
| jackson street, who being suddenly
surrounded by the flames was unable
to escape. Her remains, burned to q
cinder, were found this morning In the
place where she was last seen in her
house.
It is impossible to learn tonight the
exact amount OF Insurance and all the
names Of the companies that are vic
tins. The Insurance will probably
fall below $3.50, 900; probably two thirds
OF the amount is In Chicago offices.
LATER.-A fire Is now raging in the
West Division which appears to be as
large as the great fire last night. The
alarm was given at 9:45 p. M, from the
corner Of Halstead street and Canal
Port avenue, a distance of about two
and half miles from the Court House.
1t will necessarily be late before any
particulars can. be obtained. aR .viaf
Later News. e.
One thiId Of the city is in ruins. One
hundred blocks have already been
consumed. The loss is beyond .esti-