Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-10-26
Scenes and Incidents Of the Great
Chicago Fire.

ritv. After ravaging to the limits of the
city, with the wind dead against it, the
fire caught the dried grasses, ran along the
fences, and in moment covered IN a
burning glory the Catholic Cemetery ard
the grassy stretches Of the great park:
The marbles over the graves cracked and
baked. and fell in glowing embers on the
hot turf. Flames shot up from the rest
inc-places of the dead and the living fu-
giitives, screaming with horror, made for
moment the ghastliest spectacle that ever
fell upon livingeyes. The receiving vault,
solidlv built, and shrouded in foliage, fell
under the terrific flame, and the dead
burst from their cotfins as the fire tore
through the walls of the frightful charnel
house. In the broad light of to-day the
place is the most ghastiy l ever saw, not
even Cold Harbor exceeding it in awful
suggestiveness. Above the graves char
red stones stand grim sentinels Of the
dead, no more memorials of anything but
disaster. Every inscription has disap-
peared, and even the dead are robbed by
the flames.
1t seemed that each hour of that long
night developed some new and terrible
phase of suffering A woman came run
ming up to group of gentlemen and ask
ed if there was doctor anywhere in the
crowd One was soon forthcoming-a
Dr. NIiller-and he was informed that his
services were required to assist the pro-
gress of child into the world Hereturn-
ed in an hour and reported that the deliv-
cry had been safely accomplished, and the
mcther was doing as well as could be
expected. No less than three children
were born in Lincoln Park within fifteen
hours-prematurelv, doubtless, by the cx-
citement of the scenes through which the
mothers had passed 1t was very COM
mon sight to see people stretched out on
a pallet of straw, suffering from different
diseases, many Of them having been sum-
moned from a sick bed at home to save
their lives.
a diminutive sheet, bearing the familiar
name of the Chicago E'rcning Post but
very unfamiliar in its makeup and gene
raj appearance, gives forth the same IN
daunted, CHEEKY tone Of old, and speaks
eacouragingly thus
"Thc people of Chicago are in ashes
and mourning but they are alive with
hope and courage Only while their en-
ergies were employed in checking the de-
structon of their homes and business
houses were they deferred from the work
Of beginning again. Only yesterday Chi
cago seemed a smoking, charred and hope
less ruin To-day it is almost itself again.
Enough is saved to make beginning
and beginning every man, woman and
child seems determined to make
The basement of the Chicago Court
House was the County jail Nearly $50
prisoners We're confined therein. 1t is re-
ported, but know not with what cor
rectness, that nearly all these prisoners
were left locked up in their cells, and
that they were burned alive The sto
ry is, that the jailor and the turkeys,
toreseeing the great danger, released some
twenty OF the prisoners and marched them
across the river to tie police station Of the
second precinct Thinking they would be
,bic 10 return in ample time, the officers
locked up all the great doors leading to
the jail. On their rciurn, however, the
old Court House was one sheet Of fame
The intense heat kept every one back, and
Ill those human beings were left to their
horrible fate.
There was large jewelry store and 4
6ank nearly opposite The fire had touch
ed these, and the doors had been broken
opon to let the fremen run their hose
through the buildings William Tracey
and Barney Aaron went for the iewelry
store, while Brown and AIunday struck for
the bank Both parties We're captured
Two lamp-poSts were convenient, and
some Of he citizens special police clcva-
red Tracey and Aaron thereon but a
swceter :ite befel Messrs. Munday and
8rown They were captured by some OF
the infantry from Oniaha-men who speak
10 a thief with the butts of their muskcts,
md ask him where lie is going with the
muZzc The consequence was natural.
NIunday and Brown were stood up with
hen backs against the wall of house.
md the rifles Of TIE soldiers did the rest.
So ended the Chicago career of the Aaron
gang Of thieves.
In three cases persons Jumped from the
windows and two children were tied UP
in beds and thrown from the fourth story
window, and landed on the pavement un
injured A Mr. Jarvis had broken leg
from springing from The second story win
low, and Others were bruised from the
same cause.
Many people in the haste of vueir es-
cape, abandoned everything, even to jew
elry and money saw one fellows pock-
ct half full Of jewelry and watches. |
spoke of it, but in an instant he lost him
self from my view in the crowd | saw
villainous-looilng negro with a. ladies
chatelainc chain suspended awkwardly at
his vest. The little girl | had, walked
until the hot pavements blistcrcd her lit
tie feet; then we carried her. Is papa
ard mama burnt up? Is Neddie burnt
up dead 2" she piteously asked Late at
night we found them all safe, 1t was
nearly morning before we obtained shelter
and food | never want to set eyes upon
Chicago again.
At the intersection of Randolph and
Market-streets was large building (Cal-
Ions, used for Offices The janitor resid-
ed on the fourth floor with his family, con-
sisting OF wife and four children. By
this they were unable to escape. Sur
rounded by fire, they ascended to the roof.
The babe was in the mothers arms, and
another child, a little boy, clung to her
skirts. Two girls were clasped in the arms
of the father. Their shouts were but faint
ly heard over the howl Of the winds and
the roar of the flames ut last the heat
became so intense that the woman was
overcome and fell to the roof The father
wildly threw out his hands and staggered,
wri,hed and sunl, by his wife's side That
was all of that holocaust tragedy. The
shoes and clothing of all the party at
tested the severity Of the ordeal through
which they had passed.
Below us in the square, among the crowd,