The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-13
CONFEDERATION IN CHICAGO.
Nearly 100000 Worth Of Propertye De-
stroycd by Fire-One Man Burned 10 Death
and Several Others Narrowly Escape n
Like Fate.

| ne SOutn she was Vlslleu, yesterday,
by conAagration of unusual proper
tons, which, in the brief space of about
one hour and half, swallowed up
nearly 100000 worth Of property. The
scene of destruction was the building
known as Burlington Warehouse A, sit
uated on Sixteenth street, near the cor
ner of State, and Immediately at the
rear of Burlington Hall. tits, or rather
ii was, large brick structure, used for
| storage purposes, and extending l65
| feet on Sixteenth street, with q depth
OF 1873 feet running back TO the rail
road track of the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy road. It was built in 1864
by Mr.. h. McCabe for warehouse pur-
poses, and was afterwards purchased
from him by Sturges x Co. for wool
warehouse and general receiving house.
1t is now owned by Samuel Nickerson,
Esq, President of the First National
Bank, who bought it from Sturges in
1869, and leased it to $. w. Allerton as
a warehouse. The building was valued
at $4,000. In the basement were stored
large quantities of whisky, highwines,
syrups and empty barrels. The first
| floor contained sugars. machinery, gro
ceries, and general goods. On the sec.
ond floor was an immense pile of broom
corn, machinery, agricultural nipple
ments, empty cooperage and household
goods. On the third floor was large
number OF stoves and castings.
Between O'Clock and q quarter of 3
III the afternoon three alarms were
were given from box 81, and within that
time fourteen engines were on the spot
and hard at work. The fire had first
been discovered by number Of work
men employed by 5. !. Beal a. Co., who
were on the third floor looking after the
putting up of stoves. One of them
perceived wreath OF smoke issuing
through the floor, and, on lifting up the
hatchway, he saw, on the center OF the
second floor, bale Of broom corn on
fire. The man promptly ran down
stairs, and reported to Mr.. Bird, the
superintendent, who, at once appre-
eating the danger, brought four Bah
cocks to bear upon it. BY this time,
however, it was too late for Babcock,
whose apparatus, for once, proved Of no
avail. The whole room was in blaze.
About $500 bundles of broom corn
were burning up as fast as the flame
could devour them, and, at the sugges-
ton Of Mr.. Bird the men rushed down
stairs for their lives. They succeeded
in escaping, all, with the exception OF
one man. Charles Stearns, an express
man, employed by Boal d Co.. who was
not quick enough in getting from the
perilous third floor. lie forced his way
through the smoke 10 one OF the rear
windows, knocked the sash sOut. and
putting forth his head, shouted loudly
| for help. The crowd below called to
him to jump. The man put one leg
and one arm out of the window, and
was evidently preparing to leap, when
on sudden he fell back exhausted or
choked by the smoke and flame, and
was seen no more.
This happened at the outset Of the
fire. The flames, meanwhile, were
spreading fast and furious, and every
moment were gaining in volume and
strength The smoke from the burn
ing broom corn assembled in prodigious
volumes, and was carried by the wind
over the southeastern portion Of the
city in such quantity that the streets
were quite darkened Tor time. Then
the red flames came bursting and roar
ing through the roof, and tapped and
poured upward, high over the build
ing, in one magnificent, terrible torrent.
Such fiery cataract was resistless. 1t
seemed for time that nothing short Of
complete submersion in the lake could
have had any effect upon it. When 1t
had fairly broken it, way through all
the impediments the heat became so
intense that it was uncomfortable TO
remain, with unshaded face, as far
down as Wabash avenue. The immense
crowd which had gathered in the i'm
mediate vicinity OF the place at the APP
pearance Of this raging billow Of fire
overhead were fain TO seek shelter in
side streets and alleys. and this made
lively scene. 1t was still more lively
when the danger to the surrounding
buildings was every moment becoming
more apparent, and apprehensions were
felt that no amount OF water power
could prevent the flames from crossing
the street. Then the storekeepers and
housekeepers Joined in a general alarm,
and from open doors come a promiscu-
Gus delivery Of barrels, boxes, beds, ia
bles, whisky bottles, mirrors, cradles,
and babies, into the street. There was
large frame house on the other side of
the railroad track, and fronting on State
street, which several times seemed on
the point OF breaking into flame. and
once the small shanty next to Burling-
ton Hall actually caught fire on the
roof. The firemen succeeded in saving
them, however, and after while their
persistent efforts began to tell upon the
main fire itself. Burlington Hall.
which formed part of the building, and
was separated from the warehouse by a
fire wall sixteen inches thick, escaped
destruction.
Several theories were advanced yes
terday, but no positive knowledge was
obtained. Some said it was caused by
spontaneous combustion, hut those ac-
quainted with the nature and habits of
broomcorn will hardly credit such a
supposition. Again it was said that
sparks from locomotive went through
the windows, but the goods were piled
up against the rear windows so that
they could not be opened. The room
- nh IL, tx,1 4