Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-14

oEhs N 0Ho EOk Ec@s Oh tne fNre-H OW
the Flames Swept Through she
streets-Seyenty Convicts Burned In
the Court-House.
The telegraph related but little of the scene
Of the Chicago eonhagration. The best account
which We have yet seen Il in the correspondence
of the Detroit Free Press, which we transfer to
our columns:
The dread alarm bells struck terror to the
cluZens IN the immediate vicinity. The fremen
were exhausted from their labors OF the pre-
Sious night; consequently, before the droWsy
hremen had reached the scene OF the cOnfagra-
ton II had spread with such rapidity that three
entire blocks were seething in flames. The fire
men, all worn out a. they were with the weary
latOrs of the night and morning before, worked
manfuly TO extlnguish the flames. The engines
took various positions in the front and on the
sides Of the fire. They poured unceasing streams
OF water upon the burning buildings; they
wetted the roofs and sides OF buildings in the
advance OF the flames, and as they retired from
one hydraTt 70 another they still kept working
vigorously. But with all their best efforts the
rames Kept gaming rapidly. The air was filed
with nying eindeTs, which, hurled alOft by the
fierce intensity of the breeze. eddied and fioated
an the armament, and fell again to the earth
IEIee or four blocks distant These cinders
uTifted about the corners of the streets and al
leys like snow under the effects of a winters
breeze. They ignited the sidewalks and whole
rows Of buildings at once. IL was impossible to
protect the city from their advance.
sKIRMIsHERs OF THE fIRE-FIEND.
Ihey ratified upon roofs and against windows,
lmpeied by the gale, and whenever one struck
IN an instant a fame appeared. Terrified at the
rapidty with which the flames spre ad the people
hastily threw out into the streets what household
goods they could, and with valuables in their
hands stood gazing as II supplied at the destruc-
ton of their homes. At about the hour of 10.
1t being then seen that the flames, despite the
efforts OF the nremen, could not be checked,
every bell in the city-fre bell, church bell,
school-houss and engine bell began ringing. The
object was to arouse the sleeping popnlace that
they might bring, as they could, their goods to a
n nf Tl-aw
FASTENED through the streets ladened with all
imaginable sorts Of goods, and drove hurriedly
toward the lake side near the park. Sick and
decrePid persons were unceremoniously thrown
upon the tops Of beds and almost battered to
pieces by the hurting Of bandboxes, chinaware
Portnanteaus, clocks, looking glasses, doll
sicsl in:trumsnsts, silvervare, smoothing irons,
and all sorts Of household truck. Painting
women. half-clad women, hysterical women
ana even laughing and dancing women lined
the walks Shouts and yells for expressmen to
transports these helpless women and children
mingled with the indiscribable noise from the
roaring of the flames, the whistling Of the en-
trumpet sounds Of the fremen, and the hurly-
burly in the streets the noises that added TO
the confusion Of the scene. The saloons were
all at III o'clock-a measure that met with
approval from all citizens. Among all this con-
fusion the police were everywhere to be met
with Human nature In the most selfish aspects
ana In glar1ng contrast the most
sKLg-sAcRIFIcING HEROIsM
was displayed on every street There was no
rioting or disorder. Undoubtedly considerable
amount OF thieying was carried on, but public
attention was not called to it except in one in
stance on Clark street, where a party of three
rufhans, having a fourth confederate in an ex-
press wagon, entered house and began carry
ing of various articles, which they deposited in
their express wagon. The owner OF the house.
taken by surprise, thought they were sympa-
thizing neighbors who had come TO their relief,
but on seeing them about to drive of he raised
an outcry. The thieves were captured and
summarily kicked by the indignant crowd, and
the wagon taken possession of by a patrolman.
Many dealers in articles of clothing and grocer
les, seeing il was impossible TO save their stocks
gave TO the crowd free permission to help them
selves, privilege many ayailed themselves of
10 secure suit of clothes or a hat. After all,
the main impulse of the community seemed tn
be desire 20 save what they could of the city,
Buildings were torn down in the vain effort to
stay the flames, but, was said before, the fy-
ing cinders were driven in advance by the hur-
ricane, which apparently increased in force,
rendered al efforts useless BY midnight the
flames had spread in a direct line forward over
three miles of houses Nothing can be said that
would describe adequately the unparalleled in
tensity of the fire. A building seemingly fire.
proof would catch fire, and in ten minutes time
the roof, with a fearful crash, would fan in,
sending up
and cinders, that, alighting fresh territory
would soon give notice of their rapidly germi-
rating seeds of immense volumes OF flame. The
armament glOwed with them. The leapiny
infiammable substance in drug and liquor stores
would arise to steeple heights in the heavens
end shed lurid glare upon the doomed city.
The clouds of smoke rolled way to the north
ward, and all around the sphere of fire the in
tense darkness OF the sky added by contrast to
the terrors of the scene On Clark street a new
pavement of cedar blocks and tar had Just been
put down, aud the street was only partially open
Tor public traffc, although the pavement was
completed. it caught Ere, and instantaneously
from one end of the street 10 the other fierce
flames broke out. 1t was perfect channel of
fire.
Some of the more fortunate pedestrians upon
that street made their escape into alleys and
cross streets, some of them having the clothes
burned of their backs, so sudden and spontane-
OuSly fierce were the flames Ii is known that
some persons in this street were unable to
escape, and, asphyxiated and rendered sense
less, fell unexpected victims to flames. In the
tall buildings on either side many clerks had
their lodgings. Some of these made their
escape half clad. Others, who had during the
day INDUCED in dissipation and had retired to
bed stuPehed by excuses, did not awaken in
time, and perisfed before assistance could be
rendered. Two young men, il is said, appealed
from a fourth-story window to the impotent
bystanders for
RESCUE FROM THE FURNACE
of fierce heat that wrapped the building. No
relief was possible. In another moment the roof
fell upon them, the walls tottered in, and they
found their death and burial place amid the
heaps of ashes just how many persons met
their fate in this manner il is impossible to say.
The widest rumors were current, but amid the
unparalleled excitement everywhere surround
ing the scene but little heed was given to these
stories, and no effort made to ascertain their
truth. The uproar increased. the flames spread
the firemen became Departing. the shouts and
clamOrs of the women and children, and the roar
OF flames filed the air. Two engines in the
South Division became surrounded by the flames
and were left to their fate, the jaded fremen be-
ing unable to bring them out. As the danger
became imminent, and the hopes of saving the
business portion Of the city lying between the
river, the south branch and the lake were ADAM
dOned, the proprietOTs of hotels aroused their
guests and warned them that the only prospect
OF escaping with their lives lay in immediate
flight This was between the hours of twelve
and one. Now to add
FRESH TERRORS
20 the scene were heard repeated explosions
sounding like a continual cannonade. Drug and
liquor stores, and places where oil was stored
burned and burst, and fear of powder-happily
but a fear-took possession OF the multitude At
the fremont House the elevator beca me useless
and the sleeping guests, large number being
ladies, hurried down stairs. The clatter of the
removal Of trunks and the hurryng of domestic s
impeded the Iassage-ways. Several persons in
their eagerness jumped down the stairs and
Hmped away. Others in their haste left beneath
their pillows watches and money, only discover
ing their losses when they had reachedthe Miehi-
gan Central depot-then supposed to be a per-
fectly safe place. "A crowd OF persons fastened