The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-10-20


best exhibition of apples.
HENRY T. MUDD,
CARLOS SANDERS,
OF the Committee on Fruits.
INCIDENTS OF THE GREAT FIRE.
The following incidents of the great
fire in Chicago were prepared for the
associated press, and were crowded out
of our last paper. They are of such in
terest that we give them here:
HOW THE FIRE ORIGINATED.
Late on Sunday evening, a farmer
went to a stable on Dekoven street,
near the river, on the west side, to milk
a COW, carrying with him a kerosene
lamp; this was kicked over by the COW,
and the burning fluid was scattered
among the straw. This was the light
ing of the great fire. A single eXtin-
guisher on the ground or active work
by the police in tearing down ono or
spreading of the flames but the en-
gines were waited for, and when they
arrived the firemen were stupefied by
exertion. At the fire on Saturday night
they worked hard and their efforts
were unavailable. The wind from the
southwest blew u gale and rapidly the
flames shot from house to house, and
board yard to board yard, until the dis
trict was burned. Meanwhile, the
flames crossed to the south side and
made for the brick and stone business
blocks, the railroad freight depots and
manufacturing establishments; the full
extent of the danger was then realized
for the first time.
A LOST OPPORTUNITY.
The fire department already tired,
worked like heroes. The Mayor and
his city government that had supinely
rested, now began to exert themselves.
but the opportunity had been lost. The
time when strongly organized, they
could have blown up buildings or pre-
pared for the emergency, was neglect
ed. 1t was now fight for life. 1t be-
ing Sunday, the proprfetors and en-
ployes were at home, apparently I'M
conscious of what was transporting and
those who saw the flames supposed it
was the remains of Saturday nights
fire, and having confidence in the fire
department were unconcerned but be-
tween IL and II o'clock a rumor got
abroad that the fire was in the business
portion of the city, and then the people
commenced running; horses were
brought into reQuisition to take pro-
prietors and others to the conflagration /;
what scene met their gael All that
the men could do was to blow up build
ings, but this availed but little. 1t
seemed that no sooner had the flames
struck a wall than they went directly
tt rough in a very few minutes, sufi-
cient to destroy the most deliberately
built structure. The walls melted and
the structures were consumed
HOW THE PEOPLE FOUGHT.
AT one time so hemmed in were the
people that It was expected thousands
must perish. One block in all the vast
business section remained at daylight,
the Tribune block, and those who had
fought the flames here thought this
block could be saved. A patrol of
men, under Joseph MedilI, swept off
the Goals and put the flames out on the
sidewalks, and another lot of men, I'M
der direction of Hon. Joseph Medill,
were ON the roof At half-past Z
O'Clock this appeared to be safe and
most of the men went to get rest or
food, but there was change of wind
and the flames reached Wabash avenue,
State street, Michigan avenue, and soon
McVicker's theatre caught fire. In a
few moments the Tribune was in flames
block was in ashes.
REMARKABLE sIGHTs-sCFFERISG LAMBS.
Now was to be seen the most remark
| able sights ever beheld in this or any
| other country. There were from fifty
to sevcnty-1ive thousand men, women
and children fleeing by every available
street and alley to the south and west
ward, attempting to save their lives
and clothes. Every available vehicle
| was brought into requisition for use,
and for which enormous prices were
| paid. Thousands of persons and horses
inextricably commingled, poor people,
of all shades and colOrs and every ma.
tiOnality struggled with each other to
| get away; hundreds were trampled un-
der foot; men and women were loaded
with bundles, and their household goods
to whose skirts were clinging infants,
who were half-dressed and barefoot
ed, all seeking place of safety. Hours
afterwards these might have been seen
| IN vacant lots or on the streets, far out
in the suburb streets in the dust. These
are the suffering lambs whom Christ
now calls on the rich to feed and clothe.
God help them the heart of man shall
not prove obdurate. One of the most
pitiful sights was that of middle aged
women on State street, loaded with
bundles, struggling through crowds
singing the "mother goose melodies
-"Chickery, chickerY crany crow,
went to tho well to wash my toe" &C.,
sc. There were hundreds of others
likewise distracted, and many were rem.
dered delirious by whisky or beer
which, from excess of thirst in the ab.
sence of water, they drank in great
quantities and spread themselves in
every direction. 1t is fearful to think
of the loss of life. We saw four men
enter q burning building and in q mo.
ment they were overwhelmed by q fall.
ing wall. There was q crowd of men
around corner of building trying to
save property, when the wall yielding
some of them were buried beneath it
Those were on the south side. On the
west side, twelve or fifteen men, wo
men and children rushed :nto tho build
ing of the historical society, a fire PROOF
building, for safety; in few minutes
flames burst up and they were burned
to death. Among them is the veneer
able Col. Lewis Stone, long connected
with the society. He was eighty years
of age. All the books and papers O.
the historical society, including the or
iginal copy of the famous emancipation
|. proclamation of President Lincoln, fol
which the society paid $4,000, was de
| eNAOI Gu ~ - ku6j uuul
Der of children, inmates of the catholiI
orphan asylum, on State street, as alsC
burned, as many OF them are missing
On Chicago avenue q father rushed az
stairs to carry three children away
when he was overtaken with flames anC
persisted with them. The mother wa
; afterwards seen on the streets on tn
northwest side, raving maniac. Ii
the same neighborhood family OF flvl
persons perished.
II STREET SCENES.
. It was now midnight. The heaven
were lighted up with q lurid glare. thu
vast surging multitude swayed TO ant
. fro, while above the roar OF the wine
and the cracking of the flames, ros
the confused noise Of shouting men ant
weiling women. Merchants were gath
oring up their most valuable articles
tsps1 - AQHAs sad YApSes; landlord