Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-10-26
Scenes and Incidents Of the Great
Chicago Fire.

the fire, says: This region, over by the
lake and the great Lincoln Park, seemed
to offer safety. So a great rush was made
for the paik, and the refugees made them
selves comfortable in the delusion Of secu-
rity. After ravaging to the limits of the
city, with the wind dead against it, the
fire caught the dried grasses, ran along the
fences and in a moment covered in 3
burning glory the Catholic Cemetery and
the grassy stretches Of the great park:
The marbles over tie graves cracked and
baked, and fell in glowing embers on the
hot turf Flames shot up from the rest
ing-places of the dead, and the living fu
gitives, screaming with horror, made for a
moment the ghastliest spectacle that ever
fell upon livingeyes. The receiving vault,
solidlv built, and shrouded in foliage, fell
under the terrific fame, and the dead
bust from their coffins as the fire tore
through the walls Of the frightful charnel
house. In the broad light Of to-day the
place is the most ghastly l ever saw, not
even Cold Harbor exceeding it in awful
suggestiveness. Above the graves char
red stones stand grim sentinels of the
dead, no more memorials Of anything but
disaster. Every inscription has disap-
peared, and even the dead are robbed by
the flames.
1t seemed that each hour of that long
night developed some new and terrible
phase of suffering. a woman came run
ming up to group of gentlemen and ask
ed # there was q doctor anywhere in the
crowd. One was soon forthcoming-a
DR.. Miller-and he was informed that his
services were required to assist the pro-
gress OF q child into the world. He return
ed in an hour and reported that the dcliv-
ery had been safely accomplished, and the
mother was doing as well as could be
expected No less than three children
were born in Lincoln Park within fifteen
hours-prematurely, doubtless, by the cx-
citement of the scenes through which the
mothers had passed. 1t was very COM
mon sight to see people stretched out on
pallet of straw, suffering from different
diseases, many Of them having been sum-
moned from sick bed at home to save
their lives
A diminutive sheet, bearing the familiar
name of the Chicago E'rcning Post, but
very unfamiliar in its makeup and gene
raj appearance, gives forth the same IN
daunted, CHEEKY tone of old, and speaks
eacouragingly thus:
The people Of Chicago are in ashes
and mourning but they are alive with
hope end courage. Only while their en-
ergies were employed in checking the de-
structon of their homes and business
houses were they deferred from the work
Of beginning again Only yesterday Chi
cago seemed a smoking, charred and hope
less ruin To-day it is almost itself again
Enough is saved to make beginning !;
and BEGINNING every man, woman and
child seems determined to make"
The basement OF the Chicago Court
House was the County jail Nearly $50
prisoners We're confined therein 1t is re-
ported, but know not with what cor
rectness, that nearly all these prisoners
were left locked up in their cells, and
that they were burned alive The sto-
ry is, that the jailor and the turnkeys,
toreseeing the great danger, released some
twenty OF the prisoners and marched them
across the river to the police station OF the
second precinct. Thinking they would be
,bic 10 return in ample time, the officers
locked up all the great doors leading to
the jail On their return, however, the
old Court House was one sheet Of flame
The intense heat kept every one back, and
Ill those human beings were left to their
horrible fate
There was large jewelry store and a
oank nearly opposite. The fire had touch
ed these, and the doors had been broken
open to let the fremen run their hose
through the bUiidings William Tracey
md 8arnev Aaron went for the jewelry
store. while Brown and AIunday struck fo!
the bank Both parties We're captured.
Two lamp-poSts We're convenient, and
1me OF dc citizens special police c!cva-
tod Tracey and Aaron thereon but a
sweeter ifte befel Messrs. Munday and
Brown. They were captured by some Of
The infantry from Oniaha-men who speai;
10 thief with The butts OF their muskcts,
md ask him where he is going with the
muzzle The consequence was natural.
AIunday and Brown were stood up with
hcir backs against the wall of a house,
md the rifles OF the soldiers did the rest.
50 ended the Chicago career of the Aaron
gang of thieves.
Ii three cases persons jumped from the
windows, and two children we're tied UP
in beds and thrown from the fourth story
window, and landed on the pavement un
injured a Mr. Jarvis had broken leg
from springing from the second story win
low, and Others were bruised from the
same cause.
Many people in the haste Of their es-
cape, abandoned everything, even to jew
elry and money l saw one fellows pock
ct half lull OF jewelry and watches |
spoke of it, but in an instant he lost him
self from my view in the crowd. l saw
villainous looking negro with a. ladies'
chatelaine chain suspended awkwardly at
his vest. The little girl | had, walked
until The hot pavements blistercd her lit
tie feet then we carried her. Is papa
and mama burnt up? Is Neddie burnt
up dead?" she piteously asked. Late at
night We found them all safe, 1t was
nearly morning before we obtained shelter
and food. | never want to set eyes upon
Chicago again.
At the intersection of Randolph and
Markct-streets was large building (Cal-
IONS, used for offices. The janitor resid
ed on the fourth floor with his family, con-
sisting of wife and four children. BY
this they were unable to escape. Sur
rounded by fire, they assembled to the roof
The babe was in the mothers arms, and
another child. little boy, clung to her
skirts. Two girls were clasped in the arms
of the father. Their shouts were but faint
ly heard over the howl of the winds and
the roar of the flames At last the heat
became so intense that the woman was
overcome and fell to the roof The father
wildly threw out his hands and staggered,
writhed and sunk by his wife's side. That
was all of that holocaust tragedy. The
shoes and clothing of all the party at
tested the severity of the ordeal through
,I n. L. i ,,o.eoJ