Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-10-12
THE FAIR.
--awded in our

Is i THE FAIR.
--nwded in our
unceasing peal which is intended to
call every sleeper from his bed.
The vessels in the river are catch
ing fire in every direction and all in
the south river will probably be de-
stroyed.
CHICAGO, Oct. 9,-1:45 A. M.
A raging, roaring hell is envelop-
ing twenty blocks of the city. 1t is
already within a block of the tele-
graph office where this dispatch is
written, and is sweeping onward.
The bridge across Van Buren street
is burned, shipping in the river, cars
on the tracks of the Chicago and
Alton and Ft. Wayne railroads,
with immense freight houses. These
are swept away. The flames sweep
through blocks of wooden houses
with the rapidity of prairie fires.
Thousands of people fill the streets,
rushing out of their dwellings in
many instances barely in season to
save their lives.
CHICAGO, Oct. 9, Noon.-The aw-
ful work of destruction goes on with
relentless fury. From Harrison
street south to Division street north,
and from the River to the Lake, an
area of four miles long by one wide,
the flames have swept, everything
before them. 1t is estimated that
at least one hundred thousand peo-
pie are houseless and in suffering
condition. The streets in the dis
tricts still unburned are lined for
miles with such household goods as
have been saved from devastation.
The most generous offers of assist
ance in money, food or anything
wanted are coming from every city
and town accessible by telegraph.
The Mayor has responded to several
offers, asking that cooked food be
forwarded as soon as possible. The
firemen are on the way here from
Cincinnati, st. Louis, and other cit
les. The water works are entirely
destroyed. They are now blowing
up the buildings in the line OF the
fire in the attempt to arrest its pro-
gress.
The reign of fire and birthstone on
Sodom and Gomorrah can hardly be
compared to the devastating region OF
the fire fiend in Chicago. More than
one half of the population are now
rushing through the streets in We
hicles, which are obtained at enor-
nous prices, on foot and in every
other way, with the choicest house
hold treasures in their arms and on
their backs, in utter confusion, not
knowing whittier to go. Fearful
suffering must follow, and that al
most Immediately. Fully one hun
dred and fifty thousand people are
at this moment homeless, and house
less, not knowing where to lay their
heads or get anything to satisfy
the cravings of hunger.
The whole business part of the
city is in ashes from Harrison street
north to Chicago avenue and east
of the river to Lake avenue, three
miles in length and a mile to mile
and half in width. Every hotel,
bank, express office, telegraph office,
theatre and newspaper offices, with
all the wholesale houses in the city
are totally destroyed, with many
thousand dwellings. The water
works are destroyed. Early this
morning the wind was blowing
perfect gale from the southwest,
with sky of brass. No one can
tell what the end will be. The only
salvation for the remainder of the
city is in the wind, keeping in the
present direction. No one dare
think what the loss of life may be.
The flames have swept through the
city with great rapidity.
The prairie is on fire and many
must have perished. The Western
Uuion Telegraph Company has sue
ceeded in getting up few wires
from a hastily improvised office in
the western part of the city, estab-
fishing communications in nearly
all directions. Munificent offers of
assistance are coming from every
quarter.
CHICAGO, Oct. % P. NJ. Presi-
dent Grant has teleglaphed to the
military authorities here to issue
rations and such other supplies as
may be needed by the municipal
authorities at St. Louis, for what
additional supplies are needed.
Dispatches have been sent from
here to all points, stating that cook
ed food, bread and cheese, and
tents, are needed Immediately.
Thousand are houseless and will be
starving unless aid comes at once.
Assistance is coming in rapidly and
in vast quantities, but the demand
is still far in excess Of the supply.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 9.-Mayor Brown
has a dispatch from Chicago asking
for help for the suffering people.
He has called mass meeting Of
citizens, at the Merchants Exchange,
at twelve o'clock, which will be
very largely attended.
CINCINNATI, Oct. 9.-The Mayor
of nearly all the western cities have
proffered relief or any assistance to
the Mayor of Chicago. The chief
engineer of the Cincinnati fire de-
partment, with three engines and
hose carts have started for Chicago.
A meeting of Railroad Presidents,
prominent merchants and citizens
of Cincinnati is now being held at
the rooms of the Chamber of Com
merce to take measures for the re
lief of the sufferers. ..
New YORK, Oct. 9.-The Chicago
fire has caused great excitement in
this city. The feelings of pain are
visible upon the faces of the crowds
gathered at newspaper bulletins in
search of particulars. The news
paper extras issued in large num-
bers about 11:30 a. m, containing