The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-10-19
THE GREAT FIRE.

conaagration It appeared almost impossible
that the fire should have gained such mas
terry as to consume nearly the whole city, but
later dispatches, daily received, not only con-
frmed previous reports but established the
tact that it was one Of the greatest conflagra.
tons of modern times, and excelled, ten fold,
in proportions, any which has ever before oc'
Cured in the United States. The entire bust
ness portion of the city, comprising hotels,
banks, theatres, churches, and all the principal
wholesale houses, covering a tract OF about
one mile in width by three and half miles In
length, was consumed. The number of build
ings burned is about twenty thousand, and the
total loss estimated at $200.OO0,OOO. Every
newspaper Office in the city was destroyed and
houses which were intended to be, and were
CONSIDERED, FIRE proof were wiped out of exist
ence by the devourng element as easily and
completely as were the common frame tene-
ment houses 1t is estimated that 10 900 PEG
pie are by this great calamity rendered desti.
tute and homeless, but the promptness and
liberality with which the people throughout
the whole country have responded in aid of
the sufferers is unexampIed, and is sufficient to
cause one to have better opinion Of mankind
generally
Cincinnati and ST. Louis, Chicago's great
commercial rivals, immediately on receipt of
the news of the terrible disaster commenced
forwarding car loads, and in fact whole trains
of provisions, blankets and bedding for their
unfortunate neighbors Other towns and cities
were equally as prompt, and in short time
the immediate and most pressing wants aud
necessities of the people were provided for.
In every city in the Union steps have been
taken to contribute IN aid of the sufferers, and
as it was the greatest disaster that has ever
visited any city or section of our country, by
either flood or fire, the calls upon their charity
are being correspondingly responded to by the
people throughout the whole country. 1t is
estimated that New York city WILL if she has
not already, contribute ut least 100000, while
the interior towns of the State will swell the
amount to over million. st. Louis has al
ready contributed in cash $500 900, besides an
immense amount of provisions, clothing, &c,
and Cincinnati, equally prompt to respond to
the call, forwarded S250,000 in cash, with an
equal supply of clothing, provisions and other
necessares. Boston, Buffalo, Brooklyn, San
Francisco, and several other cities, have con-
trbuted 500, 900 each, and the good work of
raising funds to provide for the destitute is
still going on everywhere. The. sympathies Of
the people have never been so generally aroused
as by the destruction of Chicago. and the con-
tributions remind one of the days of collrc-
tons and contributions to the Sanitary Com
mission during the war.
The loss of life in Chicago must have been
great. owing to the rapidty with which the
flames spread. Up to the night of October
18th. sixty dead bodies had been recovered
from the ruins and taken to the dead-house,
and it is believed that the number of lives lost
will not fall far short of two hundred. Sever.
al deaths, Of women and children, have oc-
Cured from exposure since the fire. but the
with which supplies OF all kinds
have been forwarded, including about twelve
thousand military tents, furnished by the Gov
eminent. allevated much suffering, and averted
still further misfortunes. Those who desired
to leave the city in search of temporary homes
elsewhere, have been taken by the railroad
free of charge, and large numbers
have availed themselves of the liberality of the
and have left for other towns and
cities along the various routes.
About one Thousand United States troops
have concentrated in Chicago to aid the police
in maintaining peace and order, and many in
cendiary villains who were caught in the act
Of setting fire to houses were either shot or
hung on the spot
One million and six hundred thousand bush
els of grain were destroyed, while nearly FIVE
millions were saved The losses of the Insur.
ance companies will undoubtedly cause many
Of them to suspend, though it iseeported that
the majority of them will promptly iquidate
every dollar OF their Indebtedness The Royal
Insurance Company, of Liverpool, loses $685.
300; Imperial, of Liverpool, 100000; North
British, of Liverpool, S2,70O,000 and the en-.
ire losses of Liverpool and London companies
ire estimated at S4,50O,O00. The Etna, of
Hartford, and the Home of New York, have
zach Sc 900 900 in the city. about "a 900 900 OF