New-York tribune., 1871-10-09
GREAT FIRES IN CHICAGO
FOUR ENTIRE BUSINESS BIocxs M
STROYED


RAPID SPREAD OF THE PLAups-uupn,nr, A.
PERSONS RENDERED HoUsELEss AND Dpsr,-
TUTE-Loss OVER TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARs-A WOMAN BURNED
CHICAGO, Oct. 8.-The most terrible confa-
grafton that occurred in this city broke ont shou
o'clock last night. The ro originated in the Iar0s
planning mill situated between Clinton and Cana, and
Van Buren, and Jackson-sts. The wind was blowing
very freph tho flames spread with almost incredible
rapdity and in few minutes the entire structure was
o mass OF fire.
The immediate vicinity was built up mainly with
small wooden tcnement-houses and twO-story frame
buildings occupied groceries, Saloons &c. The In
mates OF many Of these houses startled from sumber
had scarcely time to rush out in their scany night at
tire In several instances children were hastily
wrapped blankets and quilts to break their fall and
thrown from the second story window to the ground
when the alarm sounded for this fire another OF con
siderable magnitude was burning Wclls-st., near
Adams where several engines necessarily kept at
work The Of tho engines In the city were soon on
the ground but before they arrived the fire had spread
over so large area, and rapidly spreading that
their efforts seemed of little avail About one o'clock
this morning, however, the flames wore arrested, ana
gotten under the control Of the Fire Department.
The space burned embraces four blocks bounded
on the north by Adamsst the west by Cintonst on
the south by Van Burenst and on the east by the
Chicago River. Some four five buildings within the
limits named remain uniDjured, among them 'ihcen'
Nelson Cos grain warehouse, Of the largest In the
city, which escaped any serious damage This Is due to
the fact that large piles Of anthracite coal lay between
the burning buildings and the elevator and by cOntnu
applications OF large quantities OF water to the coal
the warehouse was saved The space burned over was
covered with lumber yards coal yards, wood yards,
planning mill, vinegar factory. and large number OF
dwelling houses and saloons Of the poorer class close
estimate entire loss places from 900 to SOoO
the half which probably insured The fire originated
In Lull & Holmcs's plauing mill Cana-s near Van
Buren,. AS the wind vas fresh from the SOUTH the fire
spread norhward rapidly, and thence east In half an
hour the whole district was all ablazc.
The following were the leading sufferers: Lull
Holmes planinglnill loss, $4,000; insurance about
$4,000 Fortcs, box factory; loss about 5000 insur
ance, t5oO. Excelsior Vinegar Works, Gwegle loss
t2,O ,OOO Racine House, loss small Union Wagon WORKS.
loss ST 900; Insurance. 600 John Sheufs Sons lum
bcr-yards, loss t65.OOO; insured for $4,000. Chapin
shinge factory loss $4,000 insurance, s25Oo B
Hobrook's coayard, loss 10000 insurance, $4,000
Wilmn gtOn Coal Company loss, 10000 INSURANCE, S!O
000 Tho blacksmith shop OF the Pittsburgh Fort Wayne
and CHICAGO Railroad Company, loss 5000 With sin
gie exception, the buildings destroyed on Clinton
ST. were OF the poorer class. The most serious
loss on this street that OF Boltzer Co.,
wagon makers about SsO with only light insurance"
On JacksOn-st, 10 houses owned by Alanson Watson,
were occupied by 28 families who lost all they had The
total loss on the will probably not exceed f2ooOo
not over onequarter insured Only three or four build
ngs Of small value burned Van Buren-st. The
iron vaduct leading to Adams-st bridge was damaged
to the extent OF $1,000 The tracks OF tho Pittsburgh
Fort Wayne and Chicago, and Chicago and st. Louis
Railroads which through the burnt district were dam
| aged to the extent probably Of $1,000 or $1,000
Mrs. Margaret Hadley, living on tho north side OF
| Jacksonst being suddenly surrounded by flames w.s
| unable to escape Her remains, burned TO cnder'
were found this morning the place where she Was
| last seen In her house.
1t Is impossible learn tonight the exact amount OF
the insurances and all OF the companies that
are the victims. The entire amount OF the insurances
will probably fall below t5o0o0. Probably twotmrds or
this s IN Chicago offices Among the outside companies
which suffer the Teutonia and Hiberns OF Cleve
land Buffalo Western and Buffalo Fire and Marine Alps
OF Erie Andes of Cincinnati Pacific and Union OF San
Frnncisco Knickcrbocker Republic. and Fircmens vi
| New-York, and the LycOming OF Philadelphia
| ANOTHER CONFEDERATION RAGING LAST EVENING
! CHCAGo Oct. 8-11 p. ma fire Is now
raging in the Western Division, which appears to be "a
large as the great fire last night Tho alarm was given
at oIs D. M The distance is about two aud half mes
from the Court House. and will necessarily be late be-
fore any particulars can be obtained