The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-10-15

ly. Their efforts availed nothing. The wind
from the southwest blew gale, aud the flames
shot rapidly from house to house, and from
board yard to board yard. Meanwhile it had
crossed the river north of Twelfth strt ct to the
south side, and extended to brick and stone
business blocks, and to the railroad and freight
depots and manufacturing honses, whom the
fall extent &C the danger va. realized &c. the
first time: The fire department, already tired,
government that had supinely rested, now be-
gan to exert themselves, but the opportunity
had been lost The time when q thorough or
ganization could have blown up buildings or
it was now fight for life. The wind blow
ing stiff gale had possession of the flames,
and the beautiful buildings. ,Chicago's glory,
Adams, Monroe and Madison streets were soon
reached, the intervening blocks from the river
to D3arbon street on the east being consumed.
1t beng Sunday the proprietors and employees
transsiirng. Those who saw the flames sup
poseGit was the remains of Saturday nights
fire, :Ad having confidence in the fire depart
and p o'clock rumor got abroad that the fire
was 7 the business portion Of the city. Then
peopY commenced moving; horses were
bron3ht into requisition to take property out
met their gaze. The Board of Trade, the
Courthouse, Western Union Telegraph Office
and she Associated Press Offices and hundreds
Of oSer buildings were all in flames. The air
the forth and east q bosom of dt struction
The IRE engines were powerless for saving.
All tat men could do was to blow up build
ings, but this availed little. The Times, Tribune,
Post, Republican, Erening Journal and other
newspaper Offices, the Western News Company
bloch Field & Letters establishment, Drake;s
bloch recently built and Farewell & Co.'S,
no sponer had the flames struck wall
nindss sniiced to destroy shs most elaborate ass
lry lNrrvk ats
and she very bricks were consumed. The
woodtn pavement took fire, making q continu-
GUS sheet of flame two miles long BY one mile
vide No human being could possibly sur.
block after block fell, and the red hot Goals
shot higher and higher, spread farther and
farther, until the north side was . vast sheet
emhed the people in, that 1t was expected
that thousands must perish. The Sherman,
Fremont and other hotels were emptied Of
theis guests, and a remarkable sight presented
ITSELF in their hurrying through with trunks,
sack! or bags on their shoulders. fleeing amid
the flames for their lives. Those who could. |
made 1 for the burning bridge others got to the
All tie vast business section remained at day |
light viz: "the Tribune block, Customhouse
and Honore blocks, on Dearborn street, had
here thought that at least the Tribune block
couic be saved. Parties of men under Sam Me-
dill swept off the live Goals, and put out the
damee inside the walls, and another lot of men
watched the roofs At half-past seven o'clock,
this appeared safe, and most of the men went
to get rest and food. A number went to sleep
sne of wu5 ahd din but there
ash: State street and Michigan avenue. Soon
AeVicker's Theatre caught fire and in o few
moments the Tribune Building was in
men were aroused and rescued from them
" ~ o'clock in the forenoon this remaining
block was in ashes. Now was to be seen the
most remarkable sight ever beheld in this or
seventy live thousand men, women and chill
lren fleeing by every available street and alley
o the southwark and westward, attempting to
ave their lives. Every available vehicle was
,rought into requisition, for the use of which
enormous prices were paid. The streets and
dewal ks presented q fearful sight-thousands
'fpeople inextricably commingled. Poor people
If all classes, shades, and of every nationality
from Europe. China and Africa-mad with
excitement, struggled with each other to get
way. On the morning of Tuesday the 10th,
after the fire had ragged furiously for Mt least
'orty hours it was gotten under control. It is,
IS yet, impossible to estimate the loss of life
md property. Up to Friday morning, eighty
bodies had been recovered from the ruins, but
from the extent of the conflagration and the
rapaity with which it spread it is certain that
mary more lives were lost. The loss in
property has been variously estimated from
s20G}00,Oo0 to $500 ,oOo,0 900, and that it must
DO 0oTmouS IL palpaUle from the I8ct G1aI ,
neary all of the business portion of the city,
with its blocks of magnificent buildings, J
bank churches (the Cathedral and six Catholic
Churhes being of the number,) newspaper
offices ETC., and many hundreds of buildings &C.
cupie, as residences were destroyed. A careful
estimte makes the number to be cared for dur.
ing tn winter 20, 600. This terrible disaster has
excite the most earnest and heartfelt sympa-
thy tfoughout the world and contributions
of thdsands of dollars, food, blankets, etc.,
are porting in from every quarter. There can
be no oubt but that the city will be immedi-
ately ebuilt. Two of the newspapers have
alread appeared, though in greatly diminish
ed si4, each filled with Advertisements and
announcements of merchants changes of local
lsy he banks are also making preparations
for the immediate resumption of business. 1t
should also be remembered that there is an
lmmerhe amount ofinsuranceon the property, a
great PORTION of which is in Eastern and Eng
lsh Companies, all of which money will aid
immensely in rebuilding. We publish else
where the telegram from the Bishop of Chicago
o archbishop Spalding:
WAstIINGToN.-The President has issued q
PROCLAMATION to all persons belonging to un-
awtnl combinations and conspiracies in the
counties OF Spartausburg, York, Marion,
Chester, Laurens, Newberry, Fairfield, Lancas.
Ter, and chesterfield, South Carolina, where
they are said to exist, commanding them to