Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-10
THE BURNED CITY.
Graphic Details Of the Chicago Calamity.
Appalling Loss Of Life-Thousands Of
Homeless Wanderers-MiIes Of
Magnificent Buildings In Ruins
Millions Of Dollars Worth
Of Property Destroyed.

The following additional particulars OF the
Chicago conhagration were received last night:
dispatch from Chicago dated p. m, repre-
scented the awful work of destruction as stin
going on with relentless fury. From Harrison
TO Division street, and from the river TO the
lake, an area of four miles long by one mile
wide.
The Flames Swept ss Everything Before
and the streets for miles in the unhurned por-
tiOns OF the city were lined with such household
goods as had been saved from the devouring
element. Munitcent offers of aid were received
by the mayor from different cities, and responses
were sent asking that cooked food be forwarded
as speedily as possible.
Terrible Destruction Of Property.
1t Is impossible TO give an approximately cor
rect statement OF the losses, but faint idea
may be formed when II is stated that every bank
IN the city, except two savings institutions
Randolph street, in the West Division, are de-
stroyed. All the wholesale stores. all the retail
establishments, the post office, the court house,
the Chamber of Commerce, every hotel in the
South Division, were consumed, except the
Michigan Avenue Hotel, which is standing on
the extreme southern burnt section, which
escaped, though badly Scorched. Every news
paper office, including the Tribune building.
which was supposed to be fire proof, finally sue
cdmbed. Every theater, six OF the largest ele-
vatOrs, the immense depotS of the Michigan
Southern and Illinois Central railroad, both the
passenger and freight depOts of the latter, more
than score OF churches, and much Oh the ship
ping In the river are destroyed.
Many Perished i'm the Flames
but how many cannot at present be- estimated.
IL was thought last evening in Chicago that
scores OF men, women and children fell victims
TO the flames. Hundreds of horses and cows
were burned in stables, and on the north side a
number OF animals, though released from con-
fnement, were SO bewildered and confused DIV
the sea of fire which surrounded them, that they
rushed wildly 10 and iro uttering cries of fright
and pain until scorched and killed ANY at
tempt at the description OF the scenes OF appal-
ing calamity would be idle. A. the awful day
drew 10 close, thousands of anxious ewes
watched the clouds of smoke which rolled over
the burnt district with evident dread that a sud
den change OF wind might turn the flames on
ether portions of the city.
The Telegraph Operators Again
Obliged to Flee.
dispatch from New York, dated midni CHIT,
brought the intelligence that the telegraph Of
flee, improyised i'll the southern part of Chicago,
as it was supposed beyond the reach of the
flames, had been abandoned, and that commu-
cation with the city was again suspended. IL
was expected another Office would be opened
during the night two miles south of the last
place of refuge. The operators, before leaving
their instruments, reported that the wind had
back and southwark. The fire had already
reached the neghborhood of the off ce, and the
men were compelled to flee. Their last words
were 80 There now appears no hope of saving
the southern portion of the CITY,"
The Flames Temporarily Arrested
A dispatch from Chicago, dated p. IN, said
the flames were arrested about O'Clock yester-
day afternoon 1t was accomplished by blowing
up and completely demolishing several buildings
on Wabash avenue and Congress street, by Lle1-
tenant General Sheridan. The district burned
over in the south division embraced everything
from fAe main branch of the Chicago river to
the lake, and covering about one hundred
blocks.
The Burnt District.
This district contained all the leading business
houses banks, insurance offices, hotels, &c;
also, large number of churches, including st.
Mary's, Trinity, First Presbyterian, Second
Presbyterian, st. Paul's, Swedenborgian, sc
The Methodist Church on the corner OF Wabash
avenue and Congress street is saved. 1t is said
the Michigan Avenue Hotel, on the corner Of
gress Hall, Immediately adjoining it, are saved
The residences of Governor BrOss. Hon. John
Young Scallon, l.. &. Triggs, Peter Ross and
otheT Leading citizens are completely destroyed
All the newspaper Off ces are completely wiped
out. The Tribune building resisted the fire for
several hours, but finally Yielded, when Nc
Eickers Theater, imme diately adjoining. which
aso withstood the raging element, finally sue
cumbed- In fact, all the buildings in the dis
trict which claimed to be freproof shared the
tate OF those which could make no such claims
All the railroad depots were burned. Almost
the entire northern division, from the main
branch OF the Chicago river TO Lincoln Park is
completely destroyed, including the water works
number of elegant churches, &c. This district
embraced almost the entire business part of the
city. For miles and miles in every direction the
sldewsiks; lawns, vacant lots and front yards
burning houses, taking with them only scanty
amount of furniture and clothing.
Yesterday evening il was estimated that the
total loss would reach
One Hundred and Fifty Millions.
But traction of this amount can be recovered
rom the nsui aDce. General Sheridan tele-
graphed to st. Louis TO the Missouri DEPOT TO
send at once one hundred thousand rations He
also telegraphed to Omaha for two COMPANIES of
soldiers and one hundred tents. He will also
order another hundred thousand rations. Ii was
thought he of
been greatly exaggerated, as no casualties had
been received.
The Fire Breaks Out Again.
A dispatch received this morning from New
York, at O'Clock, states that a service dispatch
was sent from the Western Union telegraph
once at Buffalo, at ii I. m, To the general Office
OF the company in New York, stating that the
following had been received from Chicago with
no time given:
The fire is rapidly spreading. The telegraph
company has been driven from its Temporary
once. The whole city is doomed. The wind
has changed, and is blowing the lire i'm all direc-
tons
sI2.0OO.OOO i'm 9 rain Destroyed.
1t Il estimated from the weekly REPORT of the
grain market of Chicago, made up on Satur-
day evening last, that the amount on hand.
stored in the several elevators, all of which are
reported to have been DESTROYED was eleven
million bushels, about half OF which were wheat
and rye, and the balance corn and oats Here
one species OF loss that will probably come up to
twelve million dollars in value.
AhV" thc NcwS VI the D1S4Suef WAS KR.
cefVed Throughout the Country
A mass meeting was held in Cincinnati yes
terday, at which $4,000 was subscribed. The
city pledges 500 ,0O0 Nearly all the railroad
lines in the country have offered to transport all
supplies free Of charge. In New York the ex-
cltement was so greet that business was almost
entirely suspended. The Chamber of Com
merce and other bodies meet to-day to take
steps to give immediate relief to the sufferers
The Baltimore City Council met yesterday after
noon, and authorized the Mayor to telegraph
the Mayor of Chicago prOffering aid. The Oswe-
go Board or Trade has contributed 90 600 A
special meeting Of the Philadelphia Commercial
Exchange was held yesterday, and dispatch
onering aid was forwarded to the Mayor of
CmcaRo; The mass meeting at noon in st. Louis
was the largest ever held in that city. $4,000 was
raised IN an hour, the Merchants Exchange
giving $4,000. Beside these meetings were held
IN brookiyn, Albany, Buffalo, Saratoga. Louis
vile, wheeling, Pittsburg, and other Cities at
WnicA large sums were subscribed for the suf-
ierers- MI Murat Halstead, of the Cincinnati
Gommerciai, last night shipped to the Chicago
Tribune Association full font Of distributed
type.
Later accounts Of this appalling calamity will |
be found in our telegraphic columns.
The WESTERN FoRRsr FIRse-The ST Paul i
(Minn.) DAILY Press Of date 9Th has the follow
ing in reference 10 the forest fires now ragingfn /
that section Of country -" All day the heavy Il
veil Of smoke from the burning Prairies and Il
timber in the western portion of the State hung
over the city, and II further evidence were re- Il
Quired to prove the existence Of n Vide-spread