Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-10-12
Afternoon Dispatches.l
The Great Chicago Fire.

THE GREATEST CONFEDERATION OF THE
CENTURY-A BELT OF FLAME ACROSS
THE CITY-oNE HUNDRED AND FIFTY
! THOUSAND PEOPLE HOMELESS.
BUFFALO, Oct. 9.
The fire at Chicago is unparalleled in
the history of this country. 1t has already
extended from Polk street on the South
side 20 Chicago avenue on the North side,
and taken in the West side as far as
Clinton avenue, destroying the business
portion of Chicago entirely. The water
works have been destroyed, leaving the
fire department powerless and the city at
the mercy of the fire demon. The flames
are rapidly destroying the remainder of
the South side, including State and Wa
bash avenue. A dispatch, dated sos
State street, SAYS we will soon have to
vacate on account of rapidly approaching
flames. Among the prominent buildings
known to have been destroyed are the
Sherman, Briggs and fremont Houses,
Court House, Board of Trade, both tele
graph Offices, Lake Shore depot and Fort
Wayne depot, all the newspaper except
the Tribune and Express Offices, and most
of the prominent banks, also six of the
largest elevators.
Later-11:3O A. M.-The fire is still
raging. No estimates Of the extent of
loss can be made. There are at least
10000 people left homeless. 1t is blow
sng gale.
THE CHICAGO FIRE-THE CITY ISOLATED
FROM TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS.
New YORK, Oct.-There is no telegra-
phic communication with Chicago. The
flames reached the telegraph Office, which
was abandoned at 2.15 a. m. Chicago
time, since which time no kilograms have
been received. A map of Chicago shows
that up to that hour the cenhagrahon had
extended a mile and quarter, viz, from
Deavan street across tine South branch of
the Chicago river to the corner of Wash
ington and La Sale streets, opposite the
Court House. The report of the conda-
grafton as it progressed was sent by the
agent Of the Associated Press in Chicago,
to within five minutes of the time the
Chicago telegraph Office was abandoned.
New YORK Oct. 9, 945 A. M.-WeI
learn from the Office of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, at Valparaiso, al
small town about forty miles Southeast of
Chicago, that the Sherman House, Board
of Trade, Custom House, all the railroad
depots and the Western Union Telegraph
building, at Chicago, are all in ashes.
SECOND DESPATCH.
BuFFALo, Oct. 9. 1870 A. M.-TheI
following particulars of the great fire at
Chicago are obtained from J. N. Critten-
ton, operator of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company in Chicago, who has just
arrived IN Englewood, ILL.,, seven miles
Southeast of Chicago: Mr.. Crittenton left
the city on an engine at $50 this morn
ing. The fire commenced about o'clock
last night, near the corner of Jefferson
and Delaven streets, and swept every
thing before it, taking a Northeasterly
course through the central part of the city.
The Court House, Western Union tele-
graph Office, hotels, banks, and apparent
ly everything within half mile west of
the Court House, and as far south as Polk
street, and probably west of State street,
and perhaps east of that are all destroyed.
The fire now RACES on the north side east
of Wells street. 1t extended up to Chi
cago avenue in a northeasterly direction.
1t is being checked to the windward en-
the south and west sides. The wind seems
to blow hard and to be changing towards
the south. l think it reaches towards the
great Central depot, and that is probably
DESTROYED. The Lake Shore, Michigan
Southern and Rock Island railroad depots,
City Water Works, fremont House and
Sherman House, Crosby Opera House,
etc, are among the buildings destroyed.
The elevators on the main river must all
have been burned, as the fire was raging
on both sides at 7 o'clock, when was
there. Thousands of people are house
less, and the losses will exceed $50,000,-
900.
CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 10 a. m.
The business portion of the city is des-
troyed All the banks, express and tele-
graph offices, all the newspaper offices ex-
cept the Tribune, six elevators and the
water works have beeen burned. There
is no water in the city. Not less than ten
thousand buildings have already been
destroyed. The fire has burned dist
ance of five miles, and is still raging.
The wind is blowing a gale. 1t will be |
almost impossible to get any reliable de-
tailed particulars for some time time, as
there is only one telegraph wire working, |