Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-10-10
INCIDENTS OF TIE GREAT
CALAMITY,

The 6rsi train from Chicago arrived las
evening. The sides of the cars we're burnt
and bli.,ered, aud many of the psues OF
glass cracked and burs,ed by the intense
heat The passengers we're Fastening to
their homes in Iowa aud other States West
ward. Their descriptions were indeed terri
BILE. Far and wide death aud ruin have
boen spread. Yesterday the citizens were
panic stricken, and crowded she streets with
frantic excitement. Safety was no where
TO be found. 1t reminded one of the jour
ueyings Of Sal.thiel in the City Of Fire.
Thieves and plunderers we're every where
busy. The 6remen gave up the struggle
IN despair. One hundred dollars an hour
we're freely offered for vehicles with which
to remove valuables. At dAylight yesterday
morning, hundreds of men and thousands OF
women ADD children were wandering in the
South part of the City in their night clothes,
wriuQing their hands, and filing the air
with their cries. The greatest suffering
prevails.
Mr.. William Cooper, of Chicago, called
on US to-day, in search of the latest intelli-
genes from the scene Of destruction. While
in Davenport, this morning, be received
dispatch from Chicago, BY way Of Clinton,
conveying 10 him the terrible tidiugs that
his brother-in-lsw, sister, and infant niece
had persisted in the flames, as we'll as nine
teen other persons in the same block. The
names OF the unfortunates are Mr.. and Mrs
@. B. Sanger. Mr.. Cooper 10 in drsa"fu
state Of mind, and will go up by the hrs
tram. His sister had just given birth to 4
child, and in that helpless condition wal
devoured by the remorseless element. w
much fear that We are slightly advised Q
ihs full horrors of the great holocaust. A
few days will develop them.
Every additional detail we receive serve
to convince Us that this Is one Of the great
eat calAmities of the kind ever known on tn
continent. The history Of our countr,
affords no parallel to it. Ten of thousand
Of men are financially ruined fortunes hAv
been svsps away, and money kings reduced
to beggary countless lives have been lost
suffering untold has been ocoasioned an
one Of the most promising cities Of th
Union laid in ashes. The whole north wes
will be more or less affected. Every bus
,, ness man will directly or indirectly be tn
loser by it.
10 view OF the awful consequences, tn
(. origin Of the ere seems ludicrous. A CO.
kicked over q kersossne laupin stable o
Taylor street. In half an hour . tornad
set in, and drove the flames all over th
business part of the city. Thousands I
families are separated. Children are searcl
lng for parents, aud parents for cbildrs
MANY business men have committed suicid
Parties in Rock Island holding cer,iI
: Gates Of deposit against Chicago banks, a
recon mended to keep perfectly cool, and
do nothing for the present. Several weel
must elspse before the vaults will be in
condition to be opened Until they o.
opened, everything must remain ha de'
lock. Our Rock Island banks are sendir
no drafts to Chicago, of course. Their bus
ue.s With eas.en cities, however, goes rig
ahead the same as usual. The mail 60
cas-, by way of EDglewood,s station ssv'
miles this side OF Chicago. Our bsnke
: are under no particular unsasiness in
gard to their relations Nth Chicago bank
thinking that matters will probably turn o.
pretty nearly rRh, in the end Some tin
must elspse, however, before settlen,en
can be made.
There is very little use in trying TO ser
dispatches to frieuds in Chicago. The lin,
srs all crowded with more importan. boa
ness There is no telling where auybo,
up there can be found. 1t 10 difiicult TO d
!. liver private dispstchs'. Ifyou are ussa
sbou, your friends up there the best way
70 g, on the cars and 60 up.