Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-10-12
For the Republican
Special Correspondence from
Chicago.
For the Republican
CHICAGO. Oct 10 1871

CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 1871.
Firei fire! unparalleled confsagration
Having been an eyewitness of one of the
greatest and most destructive confagra-
tions ever chronicled, thought that a
few facts as | saw them, and ideas. might
not be void of interest to the readers of
your paper. We might almost say that
CHICAGO is of the things that were-the
proud and mightyest city of the West is
IN ashes. Never was destruction more
awful or destruction more complete The
citizens had begun to think, from the
large fires they have had within the past
week, that they were prepared for any
emergency in that line; they were becona-
ing SO used to fires that hey couldlook on
at the destructive element with ease. But
they were little prepared for the visitation
that the city has received within the last
eight hours. Scarcely had the excitement
of the fire of Saturday night abated, when
the fre-bell sounded the awful alarm
But not at that time, nor until two hours
after, did the awful truth dawn upon the
people. Tongue nor pen cannot give an
adequate description of the ruin. No one
can form even faint idea of the ruined
condition OF the city. The fire originated
IN barn near the corner of Dekoven and
Jefferson streets. Some of your readers
may better understand, if l say it began a
mile southwest of the Fort Wayne depot.
or mile southwest of all the business
part OF the city. A woman was in sta
bic, milking COW that took the liberty of
kicking over lamp 1t occurred about
eight OF nine o'clock Sunday night. MANY
had gone to their much needed rest, after
the excitement of the night before, little
dreaming that they were to be driven out
OF house and home, penniless, and perhaps
With nothing save what they had on their
backs, which in many cases was not a fnIl
suit Of clothes, SO rapid was the fire in its
onward luarch northeast, directly towards
the best part of the city. The fire DEPART
ment was soon out, hoping to subdue the
raging element. There was no idea that
1t would cross the river, but after STEADY.
sure progress of mile, it leaped several
intervening blocks, crossing away be-
yond the river, just to the edge of the
massive buildings and near the gas works.
which were in an incredible short space of
time III complete blaze. Not long was it
TIL there came a thunder sound that told
out too plainly that the gas works had ex-
ploded, from which there shot b,a,a
heaVenward which seemed 10 Reach the
very zenith, which set on fire everything
near There was, during the whole night,
violent wind, that served to accelerate
the progress of the fire f1end in its work
Of destruction. Sparks and burning
brands were carried upward and onward
only to be showered down on distant parts
OF the city, to the danger of life, and kind
ling many new fire. Sparks were car
ried by the wind, not from block TO bio k,
but miles, furnishing grand though aw-
tul panorama, such as none will ever wish
to see again. After the fire became 50 gen
oral, the fire bell was continually rung
with great violence, hoping to awake
those who were still asleep. At this time
the excitement became beyond descrip-
ton. Crowds would surround the great
blocks that so proudly lowered upward
their six and seven stories, and Gid their
utmost by shouting to arouse those by
,inl til.
from the windows there would be poured
forth a promiscuous mass of bedding and
clothing, and then the inmates woull
make their own escape Some of the
more timid, on hearing the din and clatter
below, would hurriedly throw some arti-
Gle OF dress on and rush wildly into the
street, only to turn and sec those huge
wallis of brick and stone tumble like toy
house. The court house was among the
first to fall prey to The destroying de
mon in the quarter of the city in which it
was situated; but black volumes of i'm
penetrable smoke, showers of ashes and
cinders, and red hot blaze came pouring
down the streets and allies, penetrating
every crack and crevice and soon another
square would burst out on every side into
sea of fire. The thieves and blacklegs
quartered in the basement of the court
house were wild with fright, and well they
might be, for how could they hope to es-
cape through those bars of iron, which
they had so often tried at their leisure
but happily for them they were all re-
leased, only to ply their old vocation,
and already quite number have been re-
arrested and sent to the new bridewell
AT this stage of affairs. blowing I'D
buildings was begun, hoping by this des-
perare means to stay the fire. Charges
of powder were placed beneath churches.
dwellings, saloons, the match applied, and
soon was heard an explosion, then low
mufHed, rumbling, and all was over, save
that the fire would sweep over them, and
lick up every thing that was combustible.
But even these desperate means were flu
tile, and on the fire went eastward, moth
Ing stopping it until it reached the rolling
waves of Lake Michigan Here again the
delusive thought was entertained that the
river would not be crossed second time
to the North Side. Soon State street
bridge was ablaze, which Immediately
communicated to the buildings on the
other side. Then the doom of The North
Side stared every one in the face, and it
was said there is no longer room for hope.
This side being built up with wooden
structures, was soon swept over, leaving
it like naked prairie for three miles.
even to the limits of the CITY. However.
there is left in the middle of this ru;nous
waste one solitary house, one story
shanty, you might say. 1t reminds one
of some frail bark far out on the ocean.
How it was spared no one can tell-it
seems miraculous. The pen is utterly
powerless in conveying to you an idea of
what has been done. The area burned is
about five square miles. The fire extend
ed over about six miles from north to
south, and east to west the greatest breadth
~ about ono and half villa IT,