The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-10-13

QOTIu OlNloIOn Ul1h5o bIC AuOClt1s5On
news that the water works are unin-
iured. God grant that it may prove
truel
1t is impossible to give even an
approximately correct statement of
losses, but faint idea may be form
ed when it is stated that every bank
in the city, except two small savings
institutions, one on 22d street in
the south division, and one on Ran
dolf street, in the west, is destroyed;
all wholesale stores and retail estab-
lishments; the post office, court
house, Chamber of Commerce, every
hotel in the south division except
the Michigan Hotel, which, stand
ing in the extreme southern limit OF
the fire, escaped, though badly
scorched; every newspaper Office,
the Tribune building finally succum-
bed every theatre; six Of the largest
elevators; the immense depots of
Michigan Southern and Illinois Cen
tral Railroads, both passenger and
freight depots of the latter; more
than a score Of churches and much
of the shipping in the river.
Men who were millionares yester-
day morning, are nearly penniless
to-day. But more terrible than all,
is that many human beings have
found a fiery grave. How many,
no one can tell-perhaps none can
ever tell-but some are known to
have perished, and there is fear that
the victims may be counted by
scores.
Any attempts at description of the
scenes at this appalling calamity,
would be idle. The simple facts
that the once great city of Chicago
is destroyed, that hundreds of mil
lions of her active capital have van
ished, and that nearly one third of
her inhabitants are homeless de-
pendents, are enough. ANY attempt
to embellish this would be but mock
cry. As this awful day draws to a
close, thousands of anxious eyes
watch the dark cloud of smoke which
rolls over the burnt district, with evil
dent dread that sudden change of
the wind may turn the flames upon
the portion of the city yet spared.
There seems, however, little cause
for that apprehension, and reinforce
ments of iremen are constantly ar
irving from other cities.
Col. j. j. S. Wilson, Superintend-
ent of the Telegraph, is in receipt of
dispatches from leading cities, anas
nouncing that aid is being provided
for the sufferers. Cpl, Clowry of St.
Louis. telegraphs that 100000 have
been subscribed by the merchants.
Cincinnati promises 100000, and
Clevelandis is proportionally generous.
All this is needed and great deal
more will be needed to relieve the
Immediately pressing wants, and
everything is being done by Gener
al Stager and his assistants to keep |
up communication for the citizens |
and press with the world outside. |
Colonel Geo. f. Williams, Superin-
tendent, of Cincinnati, reported |
promptly for duty this morning.
About three-fourths of the U. 5,
mail was saved and taken possession
of by Col. Wood of the Postoff1ce
service.
CH1oAeo, Oct. 9, 6 P. M.-The
progressing flames in the South Di-
vision were finally arrested about |
one O'Clock P. NJ. This was accom-
plished by the blowing up and de-
molishing Of several buildings on
Wabash avenue and Congress street,
by Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan.
The district burned over in the
South Division embraces everything
from the main branch of the Chica-
90 to the lake, embracing about one
hundred blocks and this district con
tanned all the leading business hous-
es, the banks, insurance offices, ho-
tells, etc., a large number of churches
including St. Mary's Catholic, Trini-
ty, First Presbyterian, Second Pres
byterian, st. Paul's, Swedenborgian,
etc. The Methodist church on the
corner of Wabash avenue and Con-
gress street, is saved. The Michi-
gan Avenue Hotel, corner of Michi-
gan avenue and Congress street, and |
Congress Hall, directly adjoining on
Congress street. are saved. Michi- |
gan Terrace, embracing the resi-
dences of Lt.-Gov. Bross, Hon. John |
Scammon, S. c. Griggs, Peter L. |
Ross and other leading citizens, is
completely destroyed, with the fur
niture and nearly all other contents.
All the newspaper establishments
are totally wiped out. The Tribune |
building resisted fire for several
hours, but finally yielded, when Nc
Vicker's theatre, Immediately adj |
joining, which had also withstood the |
raging element, finally succumbed.
In fact all the buildings in the dis
tFict which was claimed fire proof, |
shared the fate of those which could |
make no such claim. The great cen
trail depot, foot of lake street, became |
a heap Of ruins at 9 O'Clock Most |
of the passenger cars of the Michi-
gan Central, Burlington & Quincy
and Illinois Central were moved on
the break water and saved.
West of Clark street, in the South
Division. the fire extended south as
far as Polk street, sweeping every
thing before it. The distance burn
ed over here is some three blocks
wide and over half a mile in length,
numbering about twenty blocks.
The buildings were generally of the
cheaper character, embracing sa-
looms, small shops, poor residences,
etc.
The district burned over on the
West Side commences at Taylor
street, running from De-Kaver to
jefferson, thence four or five blocks
north, and then moved diagonally
towards the river, and finally the
the west line was established on
Clinton street, and reaching thence
to the river. 1t moved in this line
until it reached the North
western depots, where it stop
ped, distance of nearly two miles
from where it started. The P. F.
W. d c. and the Chicago d St. Lou
is depots were in this territory. Both
nassenoer and FREIGHT dennts were in