Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-09
Great Fire in Chicago, III
A Large Portion Of the City in
Ashes.
Loss Several Million Dollars.

Chicago, So o'clock A. M. The most
terrible confagration that ever occurred in
this city broke out about IL o'clock tonight
and has already swept over six entire blocks,
and is still raging with almost undated fury.
The fire started in large planning mill between
Clinton and Canal Vanduren and Jackson
streets. The wind was blowing very fresh
and the flames spread with increditable ra-
pidity and in few minutes the entire struc-
ture was mass of fire. The immediate
vicinity is built up mainly of small wooden
tenement house and two story frame build
ings occupied as groceries, saloons, &c.
The inmates of many of these houses started
from their slumber had hardly time to rush
out in their scanty night attire, leaving their
houses and goods to destruction. In several
instances children were hastily wrapped in
blankets and quilts to break their fall and
thrown from second story windows to the
ground.
When the alarm was sounded for this fire,
another of considerable magnitude was burn
ing on Wall street near Adams. Several en-
gines were necessarily kept at work upon
this fire. The rest of the engines in the city
we're soon on the ground but before they ar
rived the fire had spread over SO large an
area and was SO rapidly spreading, their
efforts seemed of little avail. Between Canal
>tiSCt anu tHc IiNtT were several nunOIe0
lumber yards which was entirely detroyed
At this hour the fire has made a clean
sweep from Vanduren street north two blocks
to Adams, and west to Clinton. Three blocks
from Vanduren to jackson streets are burn
ing and the woodwork of the western ap-
proach to Adams street bridge is destroy ed.
| large coal yard containing thousands of
tons of soft coal and situated between the
| track of the Chicago & Alton Pittsburg &
Fort Wayne Railroads is on fire, and is burn
| ing furiously. The immense grain elevator
of Vincent, Nelson & Co., one Of the finest in
the city is Immediately adjoining, and though
| intended to be fire proof there seems to be
| little doubt but that it will be destroyed, as
the intense heat to which it subjected will
crack the slate with which it is covered both
on the roof and on all sides. 1t contains
many thousand bushels of grain. The depot
of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago, and
! Alton St. Louis Railroad is situated north
Adams and between canal street, and the
river. One of the buildings light wooden
| structure occupied as an express office was
in flames at midnight and is undoubtedly des-
troyed. The scenes in the vicinity of the
conflagraton are Undesirable. One-half of
the population of the city seems gathered
there; tugs in the river are engaged in
towing to place of safety the vessels moored
| in the neighborhood, while locomotives are
hastily pulling out great number of cars
| standing on the track in flames. At this
writing it is impossible to give an estimate of
| the losses but they are already very large
and the fire appears to be scarcely checked.
So far as could be ascertained when the re-
porter left the scene of fire no lives are
known to have been lost, yet it would seem
miraculous if such should prove to be the
case. The fire is apparently raging iercely
as ever. block of buildings on the north
| side of Vanduren street which it was thought
an hour ago would be saved are now wrapped
| in flames. The elevator is now safe so far,
and the fire seems to be spreading north and
west notwithstanding the wind is directly
| from the south and blowing hard. The glare
from the burning buildings Eliminates the
streets half a mile away SO that one may see
to read. The entire fire department is now
on the ground and are making almost super
human efforts to stay the flames. The losses
it is probable run into millions.