The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-10-19
Miscellany.
THE CHICAGO CALAMITY.

THE CHICAGO CALAMITY.
The Flames at Last Subdued-Fearful
LOSS of Life-The Origin and Extent
ofthe Fire-Th Losses $500, 100000
Distressing Scenes and Incidents.
'' .''' From the Baltimore Gazette.
Late on Sunday evening, boy went into
a stable on DeKoven street, near the river
on the west side, to milk COW, taking with
him Kerosene lump. This was kicked over
by. the COW, and the burning fluid scattered
among the straw. This was the beginning
of the great fire. A single extinguisher on
the ground, or active work by the police in
tearing dowa one or two shanties, would
have prevented the spreading Of the flames,
but the engines were waited for, and when
they arrived, the fremcn. stupefed by their
excrtions at the first fire on Saturday night,
worked slowly and clumsly.
Their effurts were unavailing. The wind
blew gale from southwest. Rapidly from
house to house, and from board yard to
board yard having meanwhile crossed the
river north of Twelfth street to the south
side. and, made for the brick and stone busi-
ness blocks, the railroad freight depots and
manufacturing establishments. The full cx-
fn.t of the dsA+ser4z:as nov rea iscsl t:.s: t5e
first time. The fire department, already
tired out worked like heroes, and Mayor and
city government, that had supinely rested,
n.w began to exert themselves, but the op-
portunity had been lost. The time when
thorough organization could have blown up
the buildings, or prepared for emergency,
was neglected, and it was fight for lite.
The wind bl,wing stiff gale had posses
sion of the flames, and the beautiful build
ings. Chcago's glory, lay before them
Harrison, Van Buren,, Adams, Munroe and
Madison streets were soon reached, the IN
tervening blocks from the river to Dearborn
street, on the east, being consumed as If by
magic. 1t being Sunday, proprletors and
employees were at home, utterly unconscious
of what was taking place. Those who saw
the flames supposed it was the remains OF
saturday nights fire: and having confidence
in the FIRE department, were unconccrncd,
but between ! / and u o'clock rumor got
abroad that the fire was in the business por-
ton of the city. Then the people commenced
moving. Horses were brough ht into rcqulsl-
ton to take proprictors to the confagration.
What scene met their gaze. The Board OF
Trade, Court House, Western Union Tele-
graph and Associated Press Offices and hund-
reds of other building were all in flames.
The air was filled with live Goals, which
were hurled to north and east, bcsoms OF
destruction. Fire engines were powerless
for saving. All that men could do was to
blow up buildings, but this availed but lit
tie.
The newspaper Offices and other large cs-
Establishments were soon in ashes. 1t seemed
that no sooner had the fame struck wal
than it went directly through, and very
few minutes suficed to destroy the most c'abo'
rately built structures. The walls, and the
very bricks were consumed.
The wooden pavements took fire, making
a continuous sheet of fame two miles long by
a mile wide. No human being could posi-
by live many minutes Block after block tel
aid red hot Goals shot higher and higher
s,d spread further and further, until the
north side was a vast sheet Of flame from
river to lake. At one time it so hemmet
the people that it was expected thousand:
must perish. The Sherman, fremont, ant
other hotels were emptied Of their guests
and remarkable sight was presented il
the hurrying throng with trunks, sacks, o.
bags, on their shoulders, fleeing amid tn
flames for their lives.
Those who could made for the remainin!
bridges, others got next to the lake shor
and the south. One block in all the vas
business section remained at daylight.
The Custom House and Honore block, i
Dearborn street. had burned, and those VIII
fought the flames here though hit at least thl
black could be saved.
"A patrol of men, under Samuel Medil
swept off live Goals, and put out flames insld
of the walls, and another lot of men watche
the roofs.
At7l o'clock this appeared safe, and mos
Of the men went to get rest and food. BIT
there was change of the wind. The fame
reached Wabash avenue, State street an
Michigan avenue. Soon McVickers the;
tre caught fire. In a few moments tn
Tribune building was in flames, and at tt
last moment the sleeping men were arouse
and rescued from the flames. By 10 o'cloc
in the forenoon this remaining block was
ashes. Now was to be seen the most r