Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-10-25
Vol. 67.-3302. No. 4.
Great Fires in History.

IL is no oxaggeration to say that, consider.
ed with reference to its immediate results and
remote consequences, the FIRE at Chicago is
the most destructive and disastrous conaagra-
ton Of modern times. One or two others
may have exceeded il in the number Of
houses consumed. But none compares with
it in the destruction of wealth and tho Grip.
pling Of commerce.
The great fire of London in 1866 ragged
four days-Hume says three-and its ruins
covered an area Of 436 acres 1t destroyed
~ churches and number Of public build.
ing, besides l3,200 houses. II laid waste
100 streets, aud 100000 people were COM
pelled to camp in Islington and Highgate
fields. A violent east wind blew throughout
the time, and the wooden buildings upon tho
narrow streets burned like tinder before the
devouring flames. In the end, it proved a
blessing to the city, which was rebuilt in
wider streets with substantial structures.
And while the plague had regularly visited it
once or twice a century and always lurked in
the narrow and reeking quarters, it became
after this fearful purging far healthier
metropolis.
London has had many extensive fires since,
but none approaching in magnitude either its
own great condagration or that Of Chicago.
One which preceded was more disastrous in
the loss Of life than any other. In 1912
fire began near London Bridge, and hemmed
in vast crowd upon the bank OF the river.
or those who threw themselves into boats or
into the stream about three thousand were
drowned. The same fire consumed a large
part Of the city. The memorable fire at
Moscow in lSl2-kinded in FIVE hundred
places at once by order of the Russian Gov.
ernor to prevent its occupation by Napoleon
destroyed IL $40 houses, besides palaces
aud churches.
Our own country has witnessed a number
Of very destructive fires, but none approximat-
ing this last one. In l776 New York sus-
tanned fire which burned 500 buildings. In
ISL the theatre at Richmond was consumed,
and large number Of leading citizens perish
ed The great FIRE of New York in 1885
destroyed 600 warehouses and property to the
amount Of S20,000,000. In 1886 Washing.
ton was visited by conhagraton, which
burned the General Post Office and Patent
Office together with 10000 valuable models
and drawings. Two years later Charleston,
IRobNh OaiVlludf iObt lglO0 DuiluluHo, tuc hit
covering las acres. The next year New York
sustained another fire with loss Of sl0,000,-
600 In ls45, 1000 buildings in Pittsburgh,
involving a loss of $4,000, 600, were consumed
by the fre-fend. In May of the same year,
Quebec was visited by a conhagration which
destroyed 1900 buildings and many lives. In
less than a month the same unfortunate city
was again afflicted, losing that time 1900
houses-in both 6res two-thirds Of the whole
place. During the same fatal year, New York
had a fire which destroyed 302 stores and
dwellings, four lives, and $4,000, 900 of prop
erty, and st, Johns, Newfoundland, one which
left 5000 people homeless. The next year
unhappy Quebec suffered sacrifice Of forty
seven lives in fire which burned the Theatre
Royal.
The great fire in N. Y city August 18th,
lS4S, destroyed 600 buildings, besides steam
boats and other property, burned over "a
acres and entailed loss Of S3,000,000.
The same year Brooklyn lost 200 houses in
one fire. In 1S49 st. Louis suffered in a
single conhagration, which destroyed l5
blocks, TO the amount Of S3,000,000. In
1850 Philadelphia had fire which burned
$50 buildings and at which 25 persons were
killed, 8 drowned, and 100 wounded. The
next year San Francisco sustained a loss OF
$500 stores and dwellings and many lives,
and, less than two months later, another one
of 500 buildings--both together amounting
to s6,500,00 The same year the Congress
. sional Library Of 35, 900 volumes was destroy
/ ed. In 1852 a fire in Montreal burned dowr
200 buildings with a loss of S5,000,000