Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-11-24
British Sympathy for the Chicago
Sufferers.

The following very expressive review of the
sunerngs and losses occasioned by the late fire in
chicago, copied from the London Mes will be
read with interest, as showing the prevailing
sympathy of the English people. In connection
with this we would state that it is not in London
only that such sympathy is manifested, the sa me
kindly feeling has been exhibited ;in almost ev-
cry part fthe Island.
by the correspondence OF the New York 7rib-
une we perceive an estimate Of over 81 900 600
having been subscri5eI to the relief fund by the
people OF England. Thus by word and deed has
their kindly sympathy been shown.
With one origin in common with them, with
the same language. the same standard of civil-
zation aud the same ardent aspirations for the
enjoyment of the largest measure of civil and Of
religious liberty, may we not hope that the spin
it of unity, Of mutual forbearance and of mu,u
al cooperation may ever. .characterize the people
of these great, powerful and enterprisiDg nations
Then, by their mutual action for the good Of hu-
mInity, will the down-trodden races of mankind
be made to rejoice in the possession of that
higher standard Of civilization which has its
foundation on Him who procams "Peaee on
earth and good viii towards men,
The remarks of the London .k,es on The Grea,
Fire, are as follows
"Do what we can, read what we may, exert
our Imagination to the utternosi we must still
ind II hard to realize the state o The population
OF Chicago during this awful crisis. Think, to
begin with, Of the simple fact that here were
the inhabitants Of great city left in few hours
without courthouse or public office with
oui railway station, an hotel u newspaper Of
fee, theatre, or place Of amusement Of any
kind. But this, after all, was nothing People
could wait for the rebuilding Of theatres and rail-
way stations, and even hotels and newspa per Of
fees. Let US try 10 understand the condition of
PapulatioD suddenly lefl without homes. One
slight touch Of detail may help us 20 comprehend
what this means. Half-dressed women are in
the streets carrying their infants in ttoir arms.
They are wild with alright. But they do not
run, as frightened women carrying babies migt
be expected tO do. They stand sill. They have
no place 10 go to. One street is as good as an
| other. Which ever way they turn they see
flames lighting up the sky, aud hear the wild
shrek OF sufferers, and the shouts Of those who
are trying to dispute the ground inch by inch
with the con9uering fire. So they stand still
| helpless and calm in mere dispair, and they look
| bankly on at the terrible pageant before them.
The morning begins to dawn at last, and the light
OF day brings ont new details of the picture. A
caTtioad Of corPses goes blythe bodies Of men,
|
somehow out of the ashes and ruins Of falling
buildings. A tremendous crash like that Of an
earthquake is heard, loud above all grOans and
shouts, and the nGise Of tumbling walls and it
! is known that Sheridan and hrs soldiers are
| blowing up whole blocks Of houses in stately
| Wabash-nvenne, the Park lane Of Chicago in the
hope Of staying the flames atany risk Or sacri-
| fee.
| In vain tue Engineers and Sappers work 4;
in vain the palaces of Wa6ash-aveDne are blown
up. II is doomed, aud its neighbour and rival,
| Mlchgan-avenue, is doomed as we'll. Take one
or two individual instances as nm illustration Of
| hundreds. One OF the most prominent Of Chica =
Ro's citizens, Mr.. Brass, the principal proprietor
OF tue Chicago Tribune, the most influential ne VS.
paper OF the West, learns at one moment that the
magnificent pile of buildings which constitute
the offices Of that journal is ruins, and that his
, own house in Michigan avenue is utterly destroy
eo. The beautiful church. built 81 lately for
the Roy. Robert Collier, has fallen along with
Mr.. COllieI's private residence. OF many of
those who have suneI ID by the fire, il might be
justly said tlIatthey lost IN u few hours all the
merely material things which eelong to the dali
" business aIai domestic comfort Us their lives.
The place is gone to which they went ever" morn
ing Tor business, the place Is gone to which hey
! returned every evening for rest. If this seems a
calamity In the instances we have specially
mentioned, think what il must have been
M the thousands Of obscure and nafneless
examples where, with the h, me that sheltered
and the buSness-plaee which employed, went
the means of getting bread. Along the smOul-
dering streets may be seen crowds Of poor psOple
trying TO cook a niOrsel Of food in the open air
sOr their children and these few hours before
had laid down ~ rest in homes that were decent, i,
prosperous, and happy. tits not easy 10 get i'm
70 the mind tue full reality and meaning of all
this"