The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-10-21
EIGHT DAYS LATER
The Great Fire in Chicago

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The c.. Il A.. S. S. WOnga Wongd, arrived yeseer-
day morning, in 8 days, 22I hours FROM SaIF Fr"H-
cisco with dates to the IIth instant. The alien
crossing topic is the almost entire destruction by
fire of the City Of Chicago, with the loss OF many
lives. and property estimated at one hundred aSo
t,rersyJfve millions! This is believed TO have bee"
the most destructive FIRE in the worlds history.
The fire commenced on Sunday night, the 9Th
October, in a small barn on the Canal, not far from
Twelfth street. West side. We quote from tele-
graphic dispatches Of the 10th:
1t was lust such a little FIRE ms has happened %
thousand and one times before. The wind at the
time was blowing strongly from the southeast, ana
owing to the extreme dryDess OF everything OF u
combustible nature, this small beginning quickly
began to spread, and soon reached immense pro-
portions.
Taking the course OF the wind. the ere began TO
move rapidly toward the heart Of the city. and,
soon reaching the buildings below Twelfth street,
the flames devoured everything combnstible that
stood or laid in the way, reaching TO Van buren,
street bridge. This was seized and quickly became
a prey to the flames, but IL served 20 carry the
flames across the river at this point, and the carni-
val of devastation and other widespread ruin be-
gan on the South Side OF the city. ln a short time
the magnificent depot building OF the Michigan
Southern and Rock Island Railway Companies was
in flames, and from this time forward all the efforts
of the Fire Department seemed TO be unavailing.
The railroads, Eastand South. are sending no trains
ont this afternoon, as all the cars remaining In the
city over Sunday are consumed. The incoming
trains are all behind time, owing TO fires raging in
the woods and prairies.
The water and gas works are both destroyed,
and probably for some time the only supply OF the
former will be from the lake, and a substitute for
the latter will have 10 be employed. All the
bridges across the Chicago river, from Van Buren,
street to the lake have been burned, and the only
means of getting from one division TO the other Is
by the tunnels, and the entrances TO them are
badly blocked. The newspaper Offices have all,
or nearly all, been swept out OF existence, and
their material destroyed, and no papers have been
or will be issued down town to-day, the Sun being
the only journal which escaped the conaagration.
This morning q large number OF teams were sent
by Messrs. Tucker 81 Sherman TO assist in the re-
moval OF such furniture as had been saved from the
Sherman House. 1t was telegraphed Tor from MIL
waukee at 3 O'Clock, and a number of things were
at once sent forward by express. The banks have
all been destroyed, excepting the First National,
and the upper part OF that Is Quilted. The vaults,
however, are intact. The hotels in that district
from Van Buren, street to the river and from the
river to the lake are all destroyed, and the guests
have sought refuge in hotels in other parts Of the
city.
CHICAGO, Oct. I0-3:I0 p. M-Word is just
brought that a fierce fire is raging on Thirty-first
street. This street is two miles south OF the
southern fire limit on the South Side, and little less
than that from the limit on the West Side. This
has been set on fire evidently for the purpose OF
destroying the remaining part Of the city, largely
occupied by wealthy residents. IL is also known
that two men who were caught In that act Of 1ring
buildings have been shot, aud others led of with
ropes around their necks. As the wind is blowing
u perfect gale, the end cannot now be foretold.
CHICAGO, Oct. l0.-This morning, after the ex-
element had somewhat subsidized, the universal
questions were What is to be done2 Will IL
ever be rebuilt? Are the insurance companies
solvent? Will the banks resume payment The
answers, so far, are unsatisfactory. Then the prin-
eipals themselves do not know anything. The
Postofice has been temporarily Te-established at
Burlington crossing, at State street. The Board OF
Trade have a room on the West Side and rents
are enormous and provisions f~earfully scarce. The
Water Works, Gas Works and The places OF amuse-
ment and all the newspaper Offices Of the city are
destroyed. NineIeDths OF the valuation OF Chicago
has been swept away in one short day. Two
hundred blocks OF the finest portion OF the city are
destroyed. Reports Of loss Of life are adoat, and
no doubt many have been lost, yet there was not
the least excitement observable during the day
no panic, every one appalled, by the sight. IL is
said General Sheridan assumed command In the
~exigency yesterday, and stopped the Gre by the
u use OF gn S ., u tn Is a certain SI TT that powder g;Sn
The Union National Bank was blown up early
yesterday, with three millions Of money in its
vaalts. Many other buildings were blown up, but
ii was of no avail. At Harrison street, where the
fire was stopped, the buildings were all blown up
for two blocks wide on the direct path Of the
flames. 1t is impossible TO give any idea Of the
terrible destruction. The FIRE is bounded by
Halsted street on the West Side, the Lake on the
east, Harrison and Polk streets on the south, and
Lincoln Park on the north. Everything within
these limits is destroyed. Seventy vessels were
nc blutWulhb i ull y u uOuBtlthb UcO~
Pile. and was the bed for thousands last night.
CHICAGO, Oct. o p. MA great many persons
jumped into the river to escape the flames, only TO
drown. Hundreds of animals persisted in stables
and streets. 1t Is estimated that 100 900 people
are homeless, a large proportion OF whom aIe des-
titute OF everything. Cooked food is 10 great need.
and all towns that can are requested TO forward
provisions and clothing for the hungry and nearly
naked women and children, az early as possible.
Nearly every city and town east Of here has re-
sponded to this demand, and IL Is hoped the West
not be backward.
Four men were caught setting fire 10 buildings
on the West Side, and were Immediately hung on
the spot by the enraged p~opulace this morning.
The total loss Of property by this most terrible
lire is roughly estimated at one hundred and
millions of dollars. Insurance compa-
will suffer severely, and some may be ruined.
The amount for which the San Francisco compa-
are liable. is stated at about 1880 900. while
New York and other cities are heavily interested.
Relief measures have been promptly taken In all
The principal cities Of the Union, and large amounts
money, clothing and stores would be forwarded
the suffers. Banking houses in London, sent
e5 900 for relief.
THE TEN BY THIS ARRIVAL.
The Birmingham Liberal Association has adj
dressed a circular TO Liberal members Of Parlia-
nent on the subject Of reform in the House of
Lords. IL says: 1--WE believe the time has ar
rived when the hereditary principle. which neither
ensures wisdom in an individual nor patriotism In
a body, must be abolished when the second cham
Der must be brought into union with popular SYM
Datbies. and when the undoubted right Of the House
IF Commons 70 carry the will of the people into
lction over all opposing interests and authorities
must be secured"
NEW YORK, Oct. 6--At a meeting of The Cham
Der of the subject Of petitioning the
Government for a subsidy for The steamship line
San Franci co and Australia was consid-
red, without definite action. The Chamber Is in
'eceipt Of complaints from Europe on account OF
- f- g. s-----A-a--s - t. - It
country.
There was great excitement at Salt Lake. the
United States Court having caused the arrest OF
Young and other prominent Mormons on
he charge Of concubinage.
The strike at Newcastle, England bad corp
IN end. the employers having agreed 10 o. inVo
fleet the nine hour system after Jan. %, pII.
Terrible prairie fires were raging 10 ne Tvrm
counties of Wisconsin-an aSa ol LOW
,quare miles burned over.
Queen Victoria had been quite III put now par
Tally recovered. The particular c1mplalnt was an
lbscess on the neck, which has ben removed fne
remarks that the Qneeps illness Will occa-
deep and universal concern, and assurances
,f her restoration to better health will be anxiously
xatched for. Her subjects can never forget with