The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-14
ACCOUNTS BY EYE.wITNEssEs.
Arrival OF Large Numbers Of Chica.
goans in New YOrk-what they
Saw and How they Escaped-Burn.
ing OF the Great Warehouses.

| ~" onu AhvW thty LScHDeu-nukn
ing OF the Great Warehouses.
Mr.. William Miller, of Peoria, Ill.,
was present at the burning of Field &
Letters and John V. Farwell's estab
lishments. He states that the latter
firm had the whole of their stock stored
on the first floor, all prepared for re.
moval to the shore OF the lake, which
feat they managed to accomplish by
dint of powerful exertion on the part OF
their employees who worked as only
Americans can work in an emergency
Labor was at irighttul rate, fabulous
amounts being offered by storekeepers
for the removal Of a portion Of their
stock. A dealer in gloves made an
offer OF 500 to man who owned a
I truck for the transit of a case of gloves,
but this offer was indignantly refused,
his horse and cart being OF better
marketable value at that time. Car
riage people, who had been deserted by
their servants, were to he seen placing
trunks inside their vehicles, and in the
place OF horses pulling the conveyances
themselves Ladies would run out into
the street with oil paintings under their
arms, some valuable heirloom, douot.
less, which they priced highly. In the
excitement OF the hour they would place
them in the road, numbering wagon Of
furniture would come alol.g and under
its wheels could be seen the debris OF
what perhaps the owner would not
have parted with for untold god.
THE MOST PITIABLE SIGHTS
were the sick children, half dead, lying
crouched on the sidewalks, in many
cases with barely any covering on them.
In Clark street one instance occurred
where two little girls were lying terror
stricken cheek by jowl with their dead
sister, whose remains presested har-
rowing spectacle. She had been too
late TO escape from under a falling
building, and had just been extricatcd,
and laid by the little lacerated forms Of
her almost dead sisters.
THE WHOLE OF THE POPULATION
appeared to have been suffering from
sore eyes, the dust, hot binding dust,
having rendered many temporarily
blind. Men, women, and children were
to he seen running about for any gauze-
Ike material that would act as a pro-
- al, L.
were crying piteous'v, rubbing their
eyes which were swelling under the
scorching influence Of the flying sparks
and cinders. Men were seen carrying
their families out of what they consd-
cred danger, and depositing their loads
by the wayside. A hurry and rush
would succeed, anG when the discon>o-
late parents would return for their off
spring, having been burnt out Of house
and home, they were nowhere to be seen.
Instances such as these were to he met
with al every corner OF the street;
women running wildly about shrieking
out the names Of their
LOST CHILDREN,
fearing lest they had got crushed under
some falling building, or been destroyed
in the seething fire. When that part
of the city occupied 10y the de,nimonde
was destroyed, the poor wre,ches were
to be seen mngling with the crowd.
Persons were not too stringent in draw
ing distinctions at such time, but
herded together, rich and poor, high
and low, the scorching fire making no
distinction to persons, but treating them
all alike, the same as it did to Sodom
and Gomorrah. The police endeavorei
to maintain order, bat by Sunday after
noon their efforts were almost futile.
By Sunday evening
LAwLEssNESs AND ROBBERY
was quite prevalent amorg certain o.
the inhabitants A rough was sten
with two chickens in one hand and a
small pet dog under the other arm. Ar
rived at the corner OF the street he was
questioned 10y the policemen on duty,
upon which he deliberately turned
round, put the dog down, and struck
the policeman full in the face. Fortu-
natelv, another officer arrived and
struck tue robber a heavy blow across
the back of his head with his staff,
when the cowardly villain ran Oft. 1t
is thought by many people in Chicago
that the subsequent fires were in many
cases caused by this class OF persons,
who, out OF revenge to the police tor
some punishment, set fire to buildings
directly the shades of night fell. Beer
and other drink was selling at a fearful!
price at the saloons, no other beverage
existing for the people, the water works
having been destroyed. At the then
existing hotels no food or drink was Oh
tainable; the servants were 10 be seen
thrown in all manner OF positions
snatching few hours rest
THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO
having prohibited the use Of fire OF
light alter dark, tremendous rush wa
made on candles, which caused the
price 10 increase TO fifty cents each
The heat of the fire at the State street
railroad was SO intense that the trach
had become bent, and was gnaried anu
crooked, standing quite two feet from
the sleepers. Many persons caused
their luggage to be conveyed by the
trains, but owing to the hustle existing
at the time the owners have been un
able to discover if their baggage has
been DESTROYED, or if it is still In exist
ence. Asthe vans, filled with furniture
were filing up the avenues, no not'cs
WA taken of any less fortunate neigh
bor whose chattels had been LEFT in the
roadway; the horses were made to pass
RIGHT through it, the cry was every man
fo7 himself, the greatest destruction
prevailing on every side.