The Lincoln County herald., 1871-10-12
A CITY IN ASHES
HALF OF CHNAse DESTROYED
10000 HOUSES BURNED
$50, 900 People Destitute and Homeless

N
Ono Of the greatest fires Of modern
history hos just occurred 10 Chicago, and
ono half or moro Of that proud city 10 in
ashes and ruin. It would be useless TO
attempt to describe the horror aud do.
struotion Of this dire calamity. 1t 10 os.
timated that ten thousand buildings have
been burned, and shout one hundred and
fifty thousand human beings have been
rendered destitute and homeless. Many
lives are supposed to have been lost, but
no clue to the number has yet been oh.
tainsd, nor will be for days. Wo give
below . condensed statement Of tho tele.
grams from the scons of this frightfully
sad evont.
The Gre commenced Saturday night,
aud tho wind blowing . perfect gale, the
flames spread with unprecedented rapid.
ity, until the whole city was apparently
on tire, and men. women and children had
to fec for their lives. The FIRE com.
msnccd on the west side Of the city, near
Twelfth street, where it burned Al blocks,
then crossed tho river aud took every.
thing, tho Rock Island depots, Pacific
hotel, court house, Sherman house, ILL
uois central depots; ID fact every build
ing, not one is standing anywhere in the
business part Of tho city. Not q business
house is left, a printing Office, telegraph
or express Office, and to add to the fear.
fulness Of the scene the waterworks were
burned and the city left without water.
ENaLEwooD, TEN MILES FROM Chi
CAGo, Oct. 8, IL A. M.-The work Of
devastation continues. More than one.
half ths city is already destroyed, and
the flames continue their ravages. At
about one o'clock this morning the Ere
crossed the river at Adams street bridge,
soon destroyed the gas works, and then
spread itself in every direction. and at
this hour almost every building from
Harrison street north to Chicago river 10
destroyed, including all insurance Offices,
banks, hotels, telegraph Offices, newspa-
per establishments, with the single ex-
ception Of the Tribune Office, which ia
FIRE proof. The courthouse. Sherman
house. fremont house, Palmer house,
new Pacific hotel, now Bigelow house,
in fact every hotel and every thing else is
swert clean. This district embraces all
the heavy business houses in tho city.
RUSHING THROUGH TIE STREETS IN We
HICLEs.
The rain Of fire and birthstone on
Sodom and Gomorah can hardly DO com
pared to the devastating reign Of the fire
feud iu Chicago. More than one hall
the population is now rushing through
the streets 10 vehicles which are obtained
at enormous prices, and on foot and in
every other way, with their choicest
household treasures in their arms and OF
their backs. in utter CONSERVATION, mol
knowing whittier to 60.
FEARFUL SUFFERING. 9
Fearful suffering must follow, and al
most Immediately. Full 100000 peopl,
are at this mon cut homeless and house
less, not knowing whore to lay thei
heads or get anything to safety thei
hunger.
THE AWFUL WORK GOES ON.
CHICAGO, Noon, Oct. 9.-Tho swfu
work Of devastation goes on with rsleut
less fury. From Harrison street sout
to Division street north, and from tn
river to tho lake, an area OF four mile
long by one wide, the flames have swcp
everything before them. 1t 10 estimate
that at least one hundred thousand peopl
are homeless and in o suffering condition
, The streets in the districts still unburne
:. are lined for miles with such househol
. goods as have been saved from destru'
tiou.
The authorities are now blowing u
buildings 10 the line Of fire, to attemE
a to arrest the progress Of the flames.
n LATER.
1t 10 now believed the spread OF Il
Ere southwark has been stayed at Harr
: son street, but on tho north side there
! no diminution in its fury, and the o
, tire North division is evidently doome
!. to utter destruction, and there uwe
grave fears that the flames may spread
tho wost side of the north branch of Il
" river, and the Inhabitants Of the stree
u nearest the river, are already moving
}. places Of supposed greater safety.
'r A FAINT IDEA OF THE LOSSES.
!, II is impossible now to give even
,f approximately correct statement Of Il
losses, but = faint idea may b form
, when it 10 stated that every bank is ci,
- except two small saving institutions, o.
b. on Tweuty-seOond street on south div
!; ion, and one on Randolph street in I
J. west division, are destroyed, - we'll % I
wholesale stores and ais she large fet'
> establishments, the post Office, eou
house, chamber Of eommeses, every ho
/. ip the south division except tho Mic|
a l.