Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-10-16
TWO DAYS AMONG THE RUINS
Origin of the Fire.

% tEe
II is generally conceded that the origin of the
Dire was the burning Of stable on the west
side Of the river, caused by the explosion of
kerosene lamp. Owing to the cOmbustibe ma
ture of the structure, it burned furiously. and
large pieces of ignited shingles and boards were
borne on the high wind across the river and
ignited buildings the east side. These in
turn kindled rapidly, and famed by the gale
soon sent their frebrands on the wings OF the
wind to kindle other CONGREGATIONS ahead and
in an hour or two the whole business portion Of
the city was roaring hell Of flame. So rapidly
did the fire work that there was no opportunity
in most instances to remove valuable papers
even, to say nothing of stocks of goods and
vast numbers escaped from the burning buildings
without taking anything with them except what
they had on. Some, indeed, succeeded in get
ting out portion of their goods or household
furniture and deposting them in an open space,
secure, as they supposed, from the ravages of
the fire but the heat was so intense that this
property was licked up by the devouring ele-
ment. aud nothing but a heap Of ashes marked
the place where it had been.
The Results.
After years Of panstaking toll, thousands
upon thousands who had made a good start in
the world are left penniless by this calamity
Men who less than one week ago counted their
wealth by the hundreds of thousands, to
day are beggars. Said the owner of
Il large warehouse which had been consumed.
and pointing to ITS contents which were then
burning That IL all have in the world except
my homestead" There seems to be general
feeling that ne rl alt are ruined Insurance is
thought to be w.stn but little; it is a question
whether the bank. have any power to pay their
depOsitOrs, and those who hold bonds and mort
cages against business men there regard them
as of little value. 1t may well be imagined
that the outlook is not cheerful one by any
means and yet to the credit of the business
men be it said that they bear their misfortunes
like heroes, and are disposed to make the best of
the situation, whatever that may be.
Loss of Life.
The loss of life in this cunh 1gration has been
something fearful. No one can vet begin to
estimate the extent of it. Already over one
hundred dead bodies have been recovered and
they are coming to light on all sides. The
blackened remains Of three sisters of charity
were discovered in "a group; seventeen bodies
were found huddled together i'm one locality in
the North Division, and it is reported that the
bodies OF several small children we're found in
the neighborhOod of Lincoln Park. No one
can form any idea as to the number that per
i,hed IN the hotels and business Places
Ii mus be something startling. La the effort
to stay the devOuriug element resort was had to
the use Of gunpow3er to blow up buildings
and, no doubt, many persisted through this
agency.
hoDOeFy.
All history has shown that no extreme of
human misery can deter the wick ed and the
bad from the commission Of crime. And recent
experiences in Chicago prove that the
terrors there had no effect to pre-
vent rascaty. 0n Monday night some
of the safes in the ruins were blown
open and the contents rifed. There we're grave
suspicious that scouudreis were engaged in set
ting new fires for the purpose of ere ating fresh
mi yitf a.
Early yesterday morning one man caught in an
ncendiary attempt was summariy hung, and
another was shot. SO excited are the people on
this matter OF fires that it is not safe for any
man to be caught in any position that loo ks in
any manner out OF the ordinary course of on
duct. Il : all his lite is worth.
he Chicago DaiIies.
The newspaper men Of Chicago are busilv en-
gagged in reestablishing themselves. The Pot
has advertised TO reissue in day or two and
the journal has already appeared, in the me- st
available form. The exact date of the republi-
cation of the Times is not known, but the Trib-
une will publish the initial number of n new
series this morning.
The Exodus.
The exodus from the destroyed city has been
all that reports and rumOrs have given assertion
or hint to. For miles out of the city, on every
side, the railroad lines have swarmed with neo-
IN carrying away portion of their goods for
several miles from the city limits In not
few Instances, even after the little luggage had
been partially gotten away from the burnt
homes, the hames, which have spread from the
city to the woods and prairies have licked them
up. Every open space for great dis
tances this side Of the late Chicago has
been filled with these weary, hopeless
pilgrims, some with little baggage, many with
none. more wretehed throng could not be
imagined. Dirty, ragged, hungry, penuiess
mortals, of all ages sexes and late social sta
tiOns. have flooded all the country contiguous
to the fallen metropolis with beggars and too
sad and sufficient objects for charity. The rain
and subsequent change of weather to quite
severe cold rendered their condition yesterday
morning still more pitiable than it had pre-
viously been. Many must surely perish from
already suffered exposure. Last nights passen-
gers report that the great majority Of these
poor wanderers have been gathered into church
es and school-houses, barns and private houses
by the people. Everything that NOR tails know
how 10 do will be done for these sufferers.
Under Martial Law.
II is understood that the city of Chicago has
been placed nnder martial law, with Gen. Sher-
idan as Commander. Yesterday there was
rumor that military companies from this city
had been ordered there, but this does not seem
to be confirmed.
Curious Incidents.
In themselves, what We are about to relate
under this heading, would have no significance;
but taken in connection with the devastation of
great city, where fre-proof buildings we're
swept away like chat, and brick, stone and iron
offered no apparent resistance to the fury OF the
fire, the incidents are remarkable, and furnish
and almost inexhaustible theme for Onjecture
In 1t. James Church, on the first floor, were
two gilded tablets, erected to the memory of
gallant brothers who fell in the battles of the