Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-10-11
Particulars of the Great
COnflagratiOn
FIRE CHECKED !
Water Works Destroyed !
GENERAL SHERIDAN BLOWS
UP BUILDINGS TO ARREST
!. THE FLAMES
OF BUILDINGS DE-
sTROYkD!
General Sheridan Telegraph for
Ratious from NoiEhboriuR Posts
Partial Arrest OF tho
ConhaEration.
FIRE CHECKED !
Water Works Destroyed !
DETAILS OF BUILDINGS DE-
sTROYkD!

CHICAGO, October 9-6 p. M.-The
progress Of the flames In the South Di-
vision was finally arrested about l
o'clock y. NJ. This was accomplished
by the blowing up and demolishing Of
several buildings on Wabash avenue
and Congress street by Lieutenant
General Sheridan. The district burnt
over in the South Division embraces
everything from the main branch Of
the Chicago river to the lake. includ-
ing about one hundred blocks. This
district contained all the leading bust
ness houses, the banks, insurance oth-
ces, hotels, etc.
THE CHURCHES.
A large number OF churches, includ-
ing st. Mary's Catholic church, the
Trinity, First Presbyterian, Second
Presbyterian, st. Paul, S~wedenbor-
gian, etc. The Methodist church, on
the corner of Wabash m and Con-
gress street, is saved. The Michigan
avenue church, On the corner Of .suiiichi-
gan avenue and Congress- street, and
Congress Hail, directly adjoining, OIL
congress street, are saved
PRIVATE RESIDENCES DESTROYED.
Michigan Terrace, on Michigan we
nue., embracing the residences Of Lieu
tenant-G Governor Bross, Hon.J. Young
Scammon, 5. c. GrigSs and other lead
ing citizens, Il completely destroyed,
with the furniture and nearly all other
contents.
All the newspaper establishments
are completely wiped out.
THE TRIBUNE" BUII.DINa--N'vIcKER's
THEATRE.
The Tribune building resisted for
several hours, but finally yielded,
when McVicker's theatre, Immediately
adjoining, which had also withstood
the raging element, finally succumoed.
In fact all the buildings IN the dis
trict, which claimed to be fire-proof,
shared the fate of those which could
make no such claims.
THE RAILROAD DEPoTs.
The Great Genital depot, at the foot
Of Lake street, became II heap OF ruins
about 0 o'clock.
Most of the passenger cars OF the
Michigan Central, Burlington and
Quincy and Illinois Central railroads
were moved on the breakwater and
saved.
West of Clark street, in the South
Division, the fire extended south g far
as Polk street, sweeping everything
before 1t. The distance burned over
here Is some three blocks wide. and
over half = mile In length, numbering
about twenty blocks. The buildings
were generally Of the cheaper charac-
ter. embracing saloons, small shops,
poor residences, etc. The district
burned over on the west side com.
mences at Taylor street, running from
DeKovan to Jefferson. It ran thence
tour or five blocks north, n then
moved ~diagonally toward the river,
aud finally the west line was estab-
lished on Clinton street, aud reaching
thence to the river. 1t moved In this
line northward until it reached the
northwestern west side depots, where
it stopped a distance of nearly two
miles from where it started. The Pitts.
burg, Fort Wayne and Chicago, n
Central and st. Louis depots were In
this territory. Both passenger and
freight depots are wiped out.
Almost the entire Northern Division
from the main branch Of the Chicago
River to Lincoln Park, nearly two
miles in length and one mlle'wide,, Is
completely destroyed, including the
/ Water Works, a large number OF ele-
can't churches, etc. This statement en-
braces the districts devastated, and in
| cludes almost the entire business por-
ton of the city.
The portion south of Harrison street,
in the South Division, and reaching
out many miles, Is covered almost en-
tirely with dwellings composed largely
| of the more elegant class, Is untouched
and NAV now be regarded as safe from
| injury. For miles and miles, in every
direction, the sidewalks, lawns, vacant
lots and front yards OF dwellings are
filled with people who have escaped
from their burning dwellings, taking
with them only a scanty amount OF
their furniture and clothing. The sight
In truly pitiful and narrowing. .They
must receive immediate relief or many
will perish from exposure n starHa-
tlon.
THE APPROXIMATE LOSS.
Of course, as stated In my dispatch,
1t is utterly impossible to make
an approximate. estimate o. tne
entire loss, but It can scarcely iaIi
below enc hundred aud fifty millions
of dollars. But q fraction OF this
amount csn bs realized from the In
surance.