South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-10-20
lei GREAT FIRES.
Chicago, Michigan and wis
cOns1u.


c0nsIu.
The most disastrous con1agration
which has ever visited any city,
nation or people, swept over and
literally wiped out the entire bu-
siness portion of the city of ChIca-
go, on Sunday and Monday, Oct.
8 and Q. Commencing at II o'clock
on Saturday evening, four squares
were burned over before il was
subdued. Loss, s250,000. Tbs
was bad enough; but 1t was only a
prelude to what followed At 9
o'clock on Sunday night, the 9th, a
boy took a carbon OIL lamp INTO o
stable in the southern part Of the
west division, to enable him 20 see
to milk a cow. The lamp was kick
ed over, and the stable was instant
ly in flames. The wind was blow
ing a gale FROM the south-solth-
west, and she fire was driven into
the wooden buildings IN its path
with immense rapidIty. 1t was
soon beyond the control of The fire
department. Leaping the south
fork OF the Chicago river, which
stretches southwark parallel with
the lake a mile from 1t, the tidal
wave of fire rolled onward, with q
power and magnIfcence which 1t
is impossible for words to describe,
20 the main branch of Chicago riv>
er. Crossing to the north division,
the deluge of fire swept on until
there was literally nothing to con-
sumo in that direction. On the ex-
IRENE south, the fire was stopped
by destroying a block of buildings
with powder under direction of Gen
Sheridan. The space burned over
extends for four miles along the
lake, between it and the north and
south branches of Chicago river
or about 5000 acres of ground. 1t
includes the entire business and
most of the manufacturing portion
Of the city. Twenty Thousand
buildings of all classes are burned
and 100 00o men, women and
children left without a shelter. IA.
ny hundred lives are supposed to
be lost-over 100 have already been
found. Every bank. theater, nows-
paper Office, 20 churches, all the
great hotels, nearly all the railroad
depots and grain elevators, all the
public buildings, pestofice, custom
house, gas and water works, private
residences, kc., r swept away
The loss Is computed at $500, 600, 600
but when all particulars are known,
it will doubtless be found to be
much less. The insurance conpans
les in the q. States and England
share the bulk of the loss, and il
tins is paid, as nearly all Will be,
the process of reconstruction will
rapidly go on.
Chicago is not the only place that
has suffered blythe fire iend. Even
Iha greater degree have other
communities been made victims,
and also require relief. The most
painful news comes from north
western Wisconsin and northern
Michigan. The numbering villages
of Peshtigo and Sugar Bush settle
ment, on Green Bay, yer entirely
swept away on Sunday and Mon
day, by the great fires that were
devastating that region, and about
800 lives lost. The bodies wert
horribly burned. Whole families
persisted. Most of WInnecome was
also burned, with 60 or 20 persons
the others only escaping by sub
merging themselves in the lake. In
the lumber regions the loss was al
go very great. The villages OF For
estville, White Rock, Elm Greek
Sand Beach and Huron city are en-
tIrely swept away and many lives
lost. Rock Falls and Port Hope
were partially destroyed, and Sag.
inaw was only saved by the almos
superhuman exertions of the inhab.
Itants- The damage to the lum-
Der region is incalcua5le. Tht
town of Holland, on the east shore
of Lake Michigan, was also totally
destroyed.
The generosity of the American