The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-26
THE CHICAGO FIRE
STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS.
The Origin of the Confiagration
a Mystery.
.-F>~~,r+N
WAS TT INCENDIARISM /?
The Newspapers and the
Banks.
A ROMANCE OF THE FIRE.
Increasing Confidence and Re-
viving Business.

painful feeling OF anxiety and apprehension
has been excited here by the astounding revelations
of the past few days. The stories which were in
circulation during the progress OF the nre relative
10 incendlarism at that time generally dis
credited but the researches OF the last week have
given them a coloring OF truth which they had
hitherto lacked. As you know. the kick OF q COW
and the explosion OF Kerosene lamp have peen
generally received as the causes which led 10 the
IRE; but the truth OF this story has been denied
upon oath BY the parties VINO were supposed to be
concerned In IT, and we sre now told no such cir
cumstances have ever taken place. This leaves the
origin OF the fire entire mystery and speculation
has IN consequence become very busy. Every one
now has theory OF his own, more or less improba.
ble; but. amid them ALL the opinion is fast gain.
ing ground that
INcENDIARIsN
originated the connagration which destroyed the
city. The circumstances prece ling the fatal Sunday
night, the district In which the fire started and
subsequent acts OF punderers, are cited proofs of
the existence OF organized and matured plot
which finally accomplished the premeditated work.
These assertions II they can he substantiaied by
facts are extremely alarming TO US people,
showing as they do, that our large cities In a
great measure at the mercy OF the criminal classes
who form 50 large part OF their population. I
must In justice say that the theory has not met
much encouragement here, either from the
press or the prominent citizens; but. never.
theless, large portion OF the most r-seeng
sensible and shrewd people firmly believe that the
fire was the result OF well planned scheme OF the
city desperadoes. The proofs they adduce as you
Will shortly see, are strong ana plausible, and 60
far to prove the correctness OF the views they hold
ana, In the absence OF the COW and lamp story, are
deserving OF every consideration. am no alarm
ist: but Judging from wrat have heard and seen,
] should say it seems impossible 10 suppose that
the fires OF both Saturday and Sunday were the
result OF accident they were SO alike IN their origin
aud deStructiveness. With the story OF the Com
mune the destruction OF Paris and the history OF
International fresh IN our MINDS, no revelation
however strange and outrageous 1t may appear,
should be hoOted at as an improbahiity
In our own large cities there are bands OF crlmi-
nails TO be found fully as dangerous reckless ana
boodthrsty as any that can be found In London or
Paris, and need not be astonishei at any charges
brought against them, provided they can be sub
stantiated by proofs 1t may be remembered that
the fire
OF SATURDAY NIGHT
was only prevented from becoming general con-
nagrauon by the determined and united efforts or
the iremen and citizens, who after immense dl IN
Guilty. stayed Its progress and confined the dis
trict In which II originated. Those who hold the In
ccndiary theory here claim that this was The nrst
maze 70 oun as CITY, only Ealing 0r the
however, no obstacle stood In tho way Of the deS
peradoes. Ihe hrencn were
the citizens were worn out. aud a favorable wind
ctyrwards was as sharply BLOWING In the portlop
misery ana crime. the dwellings were frame
snantlcs, used for tue vIest purposes and The in
habiants were without exception the most
CRIMINAL
70 be found In any city OF The land Such people
had much 10 gain and nothing to lose from what
would be 70 others a general calamity, and their
SUB e1uant conduct has proven that whether they
started the fire or no, they cert anly showed them
selves delighted with the opportunity 1t presented
,or rapine and pillage. Another reason which
by those who favor these views. The great bust
ness blocks Of the city were rapidly ehcroachlng
cean II out Is not natural TO expect that lawlcss
,uflans, such as they were, would strike parting
bow prior TO ther nnal rout from The naunts with
!, eich they had been so long familiar The drec.
Ion vat botn the fires OF Saturday and sunday took
can sc,, ely be called
even by me CON, q reasoners and If So then the
inference IS PLAIN ave peen askes p "esg IN
gent partes How - m. scenes or raplne and pl-
iage, which, abounded all .se I'M uhe en,ire
,,,,,,. 100. the men VINO were en- ssea III them
had kindled the flames winch gave ties S , .oa
oresnizea banos OF pIunderers were every where
at WORK, who actually reJoiced al the awlul seeh
uo, e witness to scenes myself which, If had NOT
seen would never believe 10 nave occurreo. o.ny
from San Francisco stating tnat an attenps .sas
Last nlgnl made to nre the city in,nNe Ipierent
paris ny PLOT TuIcKEss,
and the case against the incsddiariss Of Chicago
increases 80 mucn that numbers WJ.o before secuted
TIE IDEAS OF the few who believe IN Their guilt are
becoming converts TO the sine views and every one
on the ga r ~ urner dsye9pmeq, aii such sr
relative TO ,ne origin OF the lire, aud u cannot oe
denied that they carry about them an air Of proba-
bul,y IL Is not easy to overlook hope they may
be proven false; but true, the condition OF things
y truly alarming to the country al large anu your
own city IN particular. New York Is to-day almost
the long course OF theving and corruption m,
the former In tneir abandoned courses by leading
them to believe they were above ali Jaw. Stringent
dangerous element and bring 1t INTO subsection, or
T 9yo Sssos ay %s ssSur
treating OF ms matter. but It's importance and the
Interest IL excites here must be my only apology.
THE NEWSPAPERS.
Tue newspapers are beginning 10 resume them
wonted look, aud were II not that the paper they
ARE printed upon s not so good as formerly and the
peculiar nature OF ,neir contents no one would
imagine that great calamity had overlasen them
M, nard l 70 XII great newspaper and ne tenaey
dinculty was never more signaly illustrated than
IL has been FOR the past two weeks In Chicago.
REvIvISG TRADE.
Business Is pucking up nooly ana an air OF ac
nwity eyerywhere prevails winch Is extremely en-
s 20. sna was astonsned TO mud such
about Tue business men There are no more am mem
tations about what was; bat instead strong deter
met one enthusiastic individual, VINO had been one
OF the heaviest losers by the ie aud ne tod me he
was confident that three years the city would re-
gain al she had lost in wealth, commerce ana nfu-
cnce. THIS may seem rather Wild statement; but
from what know OF the undaunted energy enter
prise and perseverance whicn characterize tue PEG.
pie here, would DC the last 10 pronounce 1t an I'M.
possibility. On going down wabash and Michigan
avenues was bolpewhat amused 10 the display
MADE IN many Of Iis windows Of the palaila
residences ] passed on my way. The en-
icfprslng owners, who were IN most instance
merchants, have moved whatever STOCK ssey saved
80 their homes, and have displayed the Wares Tor
sale, previously advertising IN the papers their In.
lentlon continue business "a usual al the former
prices. city that boast Of like these
ueed have no fears fol the future Tor they are able
win their pluck anu daring. To MAKE IL - greater
La before.