Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-11
THE FIRE ExTINGUIsHEp.

INSULATED IRESS OFFlCE, NEW lORk, OCt.
| 1O-11.10A. M.-The following good news is Just
received: The Western Union telegraph com
| pany furnishes the following:
est. Louis has just had communication with
| Chicago and reports that there was a heavy
rain there last night and the fire is all out"
CHICAGO, Oct. 1912 M.-The fire is almost
completely exhnguished The large elevator of
the Illinois Central railroad, with its contents is
safe. The United States depository, which was
destroyed, had two millions of government
funds, one-half million of which was in gold.
HOMELESS.
CHICAGO, via st, Louis, Oct 10th A. M
A large camp has been formed outside the city
Tents are being supplied to some, but thousands
of people are sleeping on the ground. In the
| western district women and children throng the
streets and are cooking their food at small fires
built along the curbstones. At least 10000
wealthy business men are to-day left pennilcss.
The fire still RACES according to a report lust re-
| ceivcd, but the wind has somewhat abated.
Measures have been adopted to preserve disci-
| pline in the camps, and thus far the city has
been spared any violent disorder Or robbery. The
| fact is the panic and dread are too universal.
| Even the roughs and thieves are awcd by the
terrible calamity. All the citizens are exhausted,
and should the remainder of the city be threat
| ened little can be done to save it,
LOSSES.
Policies Ofinsurance are looked upon as worth
less, as on account of the overwhelming extent
of the losses it is not expected that they can be
| paid.
THE DEAD.
1t is now certain that the loss of life has been
very heavy. A whole wagon load of dead bodies
was carried through Wabash avenue last even
ing, but could learn nothing as to the precise
manner of their death. 1t is said by some to
have been the result of an explosion of spirits;
| by Others to have been caused by falling walls
TERRIBLE EFFECTS OF THE HEAT.
The fire proof buildings burned like finder,
especially the banks, not one of which remains.
Few business persons saved even their papers.
The whole population was busy all night, and
the streets are now like a bivouac with sleep
ing men. The loss of life it is impossible to
estimate.
THE SHIPPING,
Ordered into the north branch of the river,
was sent adrift into Lake Michigan. Many
vessels were burned,
THE PRINTING OFFICE.
Tremendous efforts were made to save the
Tribune and Post, as we'll as the city hall and
government buildings, but nothing remains but
blackened stones and cracking cinders. No
papers can be published until TYPE comes from
elsewhere, as the type foundrios are also burnt
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The origin of the fire was in a stable, where a
woman took kerosene lamp at milking time.
WHAT THE FIREMEN HAD TO ENCOUNTER.
A large number of the fremen were killed,
and all did their duty nobly, but the streams of
water on the burning blocks were like fountain
gets against the awful heat of the cOnAagration.
The new hotel, eight or nine stories high, just
completed, sent up pyramids of the solid fiame'
making the waters of Lake Michigan ruby col
ored. For miles the burning bridges along the
river were swinging graceful arch of fire from
shore to shore. The burning ships sailed in
crimson waters, All the churches in the south
division, the Convent Of Mercy, all the railroad
buildings and the front mansions on Michigan
and Wabash avenues are gone. The very pave.
ments are burned.
REPORT OF ANOTHER FIRE
Rumor says now that another fire has broken
out in Hyde Park, a southern suburb, and is
moving north. If this be true the destruction
of the remaining portion of the southern divi-
sion cannot be prevented. One hundred squares
are already burned in the southern division.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE RESULT.
The population will probably be reduced fifty
thousand in a month. Business men cannot
resume unless substantial help is sent from the
east and west. A hundred thousand employees
engaged in mercantile business are out of en-
ploymcnt. The streets leading to the unburnt
portion of the south part of the city, and all |
leading to the one unbroken bridge west, are |
completely blocked by all kinds of vehicles car |
rying sick and injured people and blackened |
furniture. The county records are safe, but the |
city records are lost. Mayor Mason has re-
ceived dispatches from ST. Louis, Milwaukee,
Detroit, Louisville and elsewhere, inquiring |
what they shall send. He asks for cooked food
for one hundred thousand homeless persons.
SAD TALE OF SUFFERING.
Hundreds were tramped under foot. Men
and womeD,-loaded with bundles and house
hold goodS,-to whose skirts were cinging ten
der infants, half dressed and half barcfooted-
all were seeking place of saftey. Hours after
wards, these might have been seen in the va
cant lots, or on the streets far in the suburbs,
stretched in the dust.
AWFUL RECORD OF DEATH.
1t is fearful to think of the loss of life. 1t |
is conjectured, with good cause, that nearly 500
were burned to death. We saw four men enter |
a burning building, and, in moment, they |
were overwhelmed by falling wall. There !
was a crowd Of men around corner building, |
trying to save property, when, the wall yielding,
some were buried beneath. Twelve or fifteen |
men, women and children rushed into the build |
ing of the historical society,-a fire proof build
ing,-for safety. In few minutes, the flames |
burst up and they were burned to death. Among
those who took refuge in this building was the
venerable Colonel Samuel Stone, eighty years of
age; also, John B. Grand and wife, and Nine.
Depengrone, noted teacher of music. 1t is
feared that Dr. Ferear and family were also
burned, as they were in the building, and have
not been seen since. Mrs. Edsall, whose hus-
band was murdered last week, and who was suf-
fering from illness, was carried away for pro.