The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-11-17
Another Incident of the Chicago Fire.

|
The papers all over the country con.
tinue to team with accounts OF sad
incidents connected with the great fire
in Chicago. None sadder, however,
has been told than that related at the
Mayors office in Pittsburgh on Saturday
morning last, by little boy who said
that both his father and mother per
ished in the flames, and that. he himself
barely escaped with his life. The Lea
der of that city gives the following
details
The little fellow, who is eleven years
of age, says that his name is George
Howard His father and mother lived
in New York until about two months
ago, when they removed 10 Chicago.
There the father started into the mer-
chant tailoring business, and was
getting along quite we'll when the great
| fire started. They lived on Randolph
street, and when they retired TO bed on
the second night of the conflagration
the fire was not within a great distance
of their house, and there were, Of
course, no fears entertained in that To-
cality of the flames. George says that
he was aroused from his sleep by the
heat, and when he opened his eyes he
! found their building TO be on fire and
the windows already in flames. He
jumped up, awakened his father and
mother, and told them the whole house
was on fire. The heat at this time was
intense, and the little fellow managed
to save himself by jumping through
one of the burning windows, which was
on the second story, down Oh to the
pavement below. There he waited, ex-
! pecting his father and mother could
also escape by jumping from the win
dows. But they were never seen
afteward. In less time than it takes
almost to tell it, the building was q
crumbling mass. The next morning,
the little fellow states, he found the
| bones of his father and mother lying
under the ruins.
He was now an orphan, and, having
been in Chicago but month. knew no
one. The only relative he had wds an
uncle, trapper, whose horie was in
ST. Louis but when last heard Of was in
Philadelphia, and he determined TO
make an effort to get to him. He came
across a gentleman going to Philadel-
phia, whose name he said was John
Nelson, and he agreed to pay his fare
on. They took train on the Erie
Railroad. and the conductor, to whom
he related MS story, took pity on aim
and purchased him neat suit of
clothes. The little fellow, when he es.
capped from the burning building, was
in his pight-clothcs, and he had Oh
tanned only sufficient old clothing TO
cover himself.
When they arrived in Philadelphia
George found that his uncle had left
but short time previous for st. Louis.
Mr.. Nelson left him on Market street,
and told him to go up to the Pennsyl
vania Railroad depot, relate his story to
the officials, and they would pass him
on to st. Louis. The little fellow vent
to the depot, but they disbelieved his
story, and wouldn't give him pass. He
then started to walk toward Harris.
burgh, expecting that he would come
across somebody that would send him
to his destination. He walked all the
way from Philadelphia to Harrisburg
without getting any assistance, being
ten days on the journey. He said chat
he begged victuals at the farm houses.
and slept in the woods at night The
latter he said did not come very hard
on him, as he once went on trapping
expedition in Western Missouri, when
he had TO camp out at night. He
reached Harrisburgh day before ycster.
day, when he got on a freight train and
stole ride to Altoona There he re-
lated his story to the railroad officials.
and Mr. A. j. Cassett, General Superin
tendent of the road, provided him with
Il pass to Pittsburgh, with instructions
that when he arrived here he should be
turned over tie the Relief Committee Of
the Chicago fire fund, who, if they be-
lieved his story to be true one, could
have him sent on 10 his dest nation
The boy arrived here this morning, and
called at the May ors Office, where he
related his story as given above TO
Mayor Brush and the Relief Committee.
Little George is bright, intelligent
lad, and told his story very smoothly
When the names of his father and
mother were mentioned, the tears came
into his eyes. The boy was closely
questioned, with 6 view to seeing
whether he was really telling the truth
or not, and he answered every thing SO
quickly, and yet with such child like
simplicity, that no doubts were left
upon the minds of his hearers that he
was telling the truth. Mr.. Moolhead,
of the relief committe, has procured
him pass to st. Louis, and will provide
him with means enough to see him on
there comfortably. The little fellow
will start this afternoon. He says his
uncle resides one mile out of st. Louis,
and that he will have no difficulty in
finding him, as he was at his house at
the time he started with him on tbs
trapping expedition to Western Mis-.
souri,.
Progress Of Wool Manufacture in the
United States.
The exhibition Of the wooden manu-