The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-10-21
FROM CHICAGO.
incidents OF the Great Fire.

CHICAGO, OCT. II 1871.
We arrived in this city this evening at . past
A o'clock. After long walk from twenty sec.
ond street up town, ne arrived at Harrison St.,
meeting on the way wagons of every descrip-
lion laden with furniture, bedding, &c. saved
from the great fire, and on their way to the coun-
try. Some men had beds on their backs, and
the women carried baskets filled with trinkets
hastily gathered up as they escaped from their
homes. Bleaching Harrison street there lay be.
fore us a scene of desolation the heart of Chi
cago in ruins, broken walls smvulderlng heaps,
and blistered streets met our view for five miles
northeast, and two miles southwest, or In other
words, from corner of De Koven and Jefferson
streets northeast and north the line of fire ran
seven miles, being about one-half mile to
mile wide. Arriving at Madison street we
struck west across the Madison street bridge.
Here We found the La Clede house j,mmed with
people, Taking street car we arrived at Web
ster avenue at six o'clock, and striking down on
to Park avenue we arrived at No. 2S3 in time to
take part in arresting man with slung shot
and pocket full of matches secreted in an out
house ready to set fire on the West Side as soon
as darkness should come on. He was handled
roughly for IL few moments and will not be able
to set fire to buildings in Chicago for u little
while.
Met and took ties with some refugees from the
fire on the north side. Among them was a gen.
tieman who was one Of the proprietors of the
6oen'ng Mail. ia copy of which send you.) He
left his Office, 20G east Madison street. at o'clock
sunday morning, after having packed up his
type. but being unable to get assistance to re.
move 1t, in a moment it WAS all melted and
formed fine ''pi.' Going north to his residence
ne found the fire pursuing him and On his arri.
val there he found his family ready for flight
MS wife, and her mother 80 years of age. The
wife took charge of the old lady, and the hus.
band Of the trunks containing valuables packed
therein.
AS no wagon or dray could be obtained for
love or money. they had to scud along before the
wind AS well as they could, dragging the trunks
Dehind them. But the fire got so near that a
trunk containing fine silver set, had TO be ahan.
doned, and the other two continuing cle,hiny
We're eaved with difficulty by A.ukius the fire
on the west But i-re hnshsnd aud vii. vot
separated. The husband saved the trunk. and
the wife saved the Old DIV, caJe az C,,,rv
oifds, ana "a large framed yrr,rj. .hat had r..
Gently lain upon the cottin ~, er d,u,h,.r--ber
first born
by crossing the nor'h hr,uch Of the river ,hov
arrived ON the west sid. and .na,, III 3 n
day wandering around Muddy night thew 20,
bread and hot coffee at tie Baptis, Cnrrcb a.,
Tuesday wife went To usbund's pl,cs os b,.;-
ness and remained ,u hour aud twenty m;r,,.,.
then left her card ou tie window sill ,,a ,,
to 80 away, when the almost distracted hnsh,rd
came up md called to her The Reunited anna
pie then visited the old lady at the church 90,
her situation with friend and went ,o xorl
to hunt up place for themselves. We found
them, as before stateN, where they have tempo.
rary stopping place.
Lait night, Mr.. Famlin of the firm Of H,mln
Hale 81 Co, was riding through the Wasbinyto,
street tunnel in buggy, his horse took triub,
and ran away, dashng him out and killing him
instantly. LETTER Of the firm of Field. L.iter a.
TO-, is reported crazy, and has to be tied with