Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-10-12
CHICAGO I'M ASHES
Hundreds Of Lives Lost
A TERRIBLE CALAMITY
$50. 100000 Worth OF
Property Destroyed.

| Property Destroyed.
CHICAGO, Oct S-12 80 A. M-The
most terrible conflagration that ever
| occurred in this city broke out abo;.t
4 an hour and halt ago, and haviving
( already swept over six entire blocks,
il still raging with almost undated
fury. The fire started in large
planning mill situated between Clinton
and Canal, and VanBurcn and Jack
son streets, about the center OF the
block formed by those streets. The
wind was blowing very fresh, and
the flames spread with almost incredi-
Bile rapidity, and in a few minutes the
entire structure was a mass of fire.
The immediate vicinity is built up
mainly with small wooden tenement
houses and two story frame buildings
occupied as groceries, saloons, etc.
The inmates of many Of these houses
startled from slumber, had barely
time to rush from their houses in the
scanty attire of night, leaving their
household goods to destruction. In
several instances children were hastily
wrapped in blankets and quilts to
break the force of their fall, and
thrown from second story windows
to the ground. When the alarm
sounded for the fire, another of con-
siderable magnitude was burning on
Wells street, near Adams, and several
engines were necessarily kept at work
upon this. The rest of tae engins in
/ this city were soon on the ground,
but before thes arrived the fire had
epread over so large an area, and was
so rapidly spreading, that their efforts
seeme1 of little avail Between Canal
street and the river were several lum-
| Der yards, which are entirely destroy
ed at this hour. The fire has made
a clean sweep srom Van Buren street
north two blocks from the river. The
wharves between Van Buren, and
Jackson streets are burning, and the
wood work of the western approach
to Adams street Bridge is destroyed.
A large coal yard yard, containing
thosands of tons of soft coal. and
situated between the tracks of the
| Chicago and Alton and Pitts6urg and
Fort Wayne Railroad and the River
is on fire and burning furiously. The
immense grain elevator of Vincent,
Nelson & Co., one of the finest in the
city, is Immediately adjoining, and
though intended to fire prof, there
seems little doubt that it will be de
stroyed, as the intense heat to which
it is subjected will crack the slate
with which it is covered, both roof
and sides. 1t contains many thous
and bushels of gram of all kinds. The
depot of the Pittsburg and Fort
Wayne, Chicago and Alton and St.
Louis Railroad, and between Canal
street and the river, one of the build
ings a light wooden structure. occu-
pied by an express office, was in
flames during the night, and is un-
doubtedly destroyed.
The scene in the vicinity Of the
| confiagration is indescrible. Half the
population of the city seems gathered
there. The tugs in the river are en-
gagged in towing to places of safety
the vessels moored in the naborhood.
The locomotives are hastily pulling
out the great number Of cars stand
ing on the tracd in the path of the
flames.
At this writing it is impossible to
give an estimate of the losses, but
they are already very large, and the
fire is scarcely checked. So far as
could be ascertained when the report
er left the scene of the fire, no lives
are known to be lost, yeti will be
| miraculous should such prove to be
the case.
CHICAGO, Oct. 81 80 A. M-The
fire is apparently raging as fiercely as
ever. The block of buildings on the
nolth side of Van Buren, street, which
it was thought an hour ago would be
suved, is now wrapped in flames. The
| elevator is safe so far, and the fire
seems to be spreading south and west,
notwithstanding the wind is now
directly from the south and blowing
hard. The glare from the blazing
buildings lights the streets half mile
away SO that one may see to read
Fhe entire fire department is now on
the grounds and making almost su-
perhuman efforts to stay the flames.
The losses probably already run
in the millions, and the end is not
yet.
Especial Dispatch to the Herald
+ CHICAGO, Oct. % :25 A. NAH
the business portion of the city is
burned. The Lake Shore Railway
passenger depot and all its contents
ara destroyed, Nearly all the coach
es are burned and the fire still raging.
| CHICAGO Oct 80 80 A. M.-One-