The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-10-17
Gbe Ginles, Mem Bloonflelo, pas

were in the streets, and weeping and wall
ing could be heard in every direction. The
fire ragged with unabated fury until six
o'clock on Monday evening, although many
buildings were blown up, hoping by that
means to stop the ravages of the flames
Dispatches were sent to various cities for
engines, and responses were promptly made
from Cincinnati and St. Louis, though ow-
ing to the scarcity of the water the en-
gnes were of little use. i-f..r r, "a
1t is impossiblenow to give even, an ap-
proximately correct statement of the losses,
but faint idea may be formed, when it is
stated that every bank in the city except
two small saving institutions one on Twen-
ty-second street, in South Division, and one
on Randolph street, in West division is de
stroyed. All Wholesale stores, all retail os-
Establishments, the post office, the court
house, the chamber of commerce, every
hotel in South Division except Michigan
Avenue hotel, which, standing on the ex-
treme southern limit, escaped, though it is
badly scorched every newspaper office, ev-
cry theater, the six largest elevators the
immense depots of the Michigan Southern
and Of the Illinois Central Railroads (both
the passenger and freight depots of the lat
teri more than score of churches, and
much of the shipping in the river-all are
destroyed.
Full one hundred and fifty thousand peo-
pie are at this moment homeless and house
less, not knowing where to lay their heads
or get anything to satisfy the cravings of
hunger. For miles and miles in every di-
rection the sidewalks, lawns, vacant lots,
and font yards of dwellings are filled with
people who have escaped from burning
houses, taking with them only scanty
amount of furniture and clothing. The
sight is truly narrowing one.
Many human beings have perished in the
flames-how many no one can tell. Per-
haps no one will ever be able to tell, but
it is known that some have perished, and
there is only heart-sickening fear that
the victims of the fiery monster may be
counted by hundreds. r ra1so.
Hundreds of horses and COWS have been
burned in stables, and on the north side
numbers of animals, though released from
confinement, were so bewildered and con-
fused by the sea of fire which surrounded
them, that they rushed wildly to and fro
uttering cries of fright and pain until
scorched and killed. lr.f
Any attempt to describe the scenes of this
appalling calamity would be idle. The
fact is that the once great city of Chicago
is destroyed. The territory burned over is
about four miles in length, and from one
to one and a half miles in breadth.
The district burned over in the South
Division embraces everything from the
main branch of the Chicago river to the
lake, and covering about one hundred
blocks. This district contained all the
/ leading business houses, the banks insu-
rance offices, hotels, etc. The Tribune
building resisted the fire for several hours,
but finally yielded, when McVicker's thea
ter Immediately adjoining, which also with
stood the raging element finally succumb-
ed. In fact all the buildings in the dis
trict which claimed to be fre-proof, shared
| the fate of those which could make no
such claims. 5U9 . R.I 1s
! Lieut. General Sheridan, who was pres
ent, telegraphed to st. Louis for 100, 900
| government rations, and large number of
tents. Two companies of soldiers were al
so ordered there to stand guard over the
property that was saved, and TO help to
maintain order. The mayor of the city
teIegraphed to various cities for donations
of food, and such assistance as the benevo-
lent were willing to send The despatch to
the mayoriof New York was as follows
| "Can you send us some aid for a hum
dred thousand houseless people? Army
bread and cheese desirable"
In answer to these appeals provisions
have been forwarded, the various railroads
offering to transport such offerings free
of charge.
The duty Of preserving the peace of the
city was by the Mayor, delegated to Gen.
Sheridan, and troops were distributed for
that purpose. rf In eqiIr4 rsfir
Quite number of persons caught at
tempting to set fire to buildings were shot
or hung and among the number so dis
posed of,were six well known MY thieves.
The many narrow escapes and singular
incidents that are told by eye witnesses are
very interrestin Z, and to record one fourth
of them would occupy our entire paper We
have, however, told enough to give oui
readers q correct idea of the magnitude OF
this disaster nIn % ailfIuD rIliririr
4GhliE1- HANGED M PLAY. n .Iaa