The New York herald., 1871-10-14

shsr partners In sin. had inst arisen from the couch
ef shamel rush out N their nighs dresses many ot
them
WITH NO DEsssRs AT ALL,
and wildly ran everywhere, vainly seeking lor
place OF refuge; but the destroying element over.
Tapped them, and, IN many instances burned them
as they stood. II was surmlsed By the spectators
that many OF them were burned alive before they
could get out as numbers OF them were known to
have been deeply intoxicated on retiring for tha
night Be this ss It may. the loss Of life around
this point must have been very heavy, the nameS
travelling with such rspidtiy thas many found II
utterly impossible to escape. Just opposite this
district anu directly adjoining the Lake Shors
THE PACIFIC HOUSE sst.g .sfss
new hotel, In process OF construction on which
moro than . million dollars had already been ex-
pended. 1t covered an entire block, and from al
appearances seemed destined to be the moss Won
derfu structure In the shape Of hotel that chicago
had yet seen. For time It seemed 70 me thas is
was going to escape, but was soon undecclved, -
the flames seiz ID hold Of the wooden cornices on
the roof, and the rest was soon told. tho
heat was by this time so intense that
the spectators were forced to retire to safer
distance; but so engrossed were they by the burn.
ing Of the hotel and depot that they had not per.
ceived the progress OF the re In other directions,
and when they turned to nee the city was burning
IN every direction and only one narrow way LEFT
for egress, tef
THE PANIC BECAME UNIVERSAL.
Men, women and children blindy ran In every
direction the favorlle point seeming to be the
shores Of Lake Michigan on the east side OF the city,
The nremen had now arrived on the ground, and
commenced TO work as manfully as they could; bus
their disorganized state was soon apparent and
1t evident they p0werless to check the on
ward progress OF the flames. About this time ter
rble Incident occurred which heightened the horror
OF the scene now momentarily on the tncreases
The gasometer on the west side f44
BLEW UP WITH A DEAFENlNa EXPLOSION,
scattering death and ruin everywhere around, and,
In addition, piunging the citv In utter darkness.
Ny heart bleeds In endeavoring to describe tne
scenes that followed.
Language utterly fails to paint the horrors, and
the thought OF them now almost un-
nerves me from writing further. All was
seemingly lost, and the cries Of anguish
from delicate women and children, and even strong
men, as they gazed upon the destruction OF their
beautiful city, their property, their treasures and
their homes. sufclenI appall the most stout
hearted. The most N"tsN.H
FRANTIC EFFORTS WERE MADE TO SAVE ERFBCTs,
ifit were only wearing apparei, from the inevitable
ruin, and every vehicle that could be put In requis
tion was employed TO convey trunks, &C., TO the
lake shore, which seemed be the only safe place.
1 saw the most exorbitant prices asked and given
to express drtvers-.n somc instances as much a.
siOo-for conveying few trunks couple Of blocks.
Women who had probably In their lives never
exerted themselves In any way before, g# lft
rUGGED AT SARATOGA TRUNKS aa.am
with the strength OF despair regardless Of the Wild
ness OF their looks and the disorder of their apparel
God the utter horror and despair OF the scene.
VINO that witnessed It shall ever forget IT. 1t ciings
to me with an undeanable feeling OF horror, and
can scarcely realize that am now providentiaily
safe from all its perils. e5f l.sF
N THE HOTELS. t6f
The fire was extending all along Clark, La sane
and Dearborn streets, and succeeded In making
my way north as FAR as the Court House. It had not
caught when reached IT, but found tine Sherman
House In flames, along with the magnificent block
OF which II formed part The scene was now In.
descriDably grand. II one could conceive
THE IDEA OF GRANDEUR tsrnu
| in the midst OF so much desolation. The forked'
| flames were leaping from block to block and from
| building to building; pausing at no obstacle.
hlndered by no obstruction, they swept ON ike
| demons Of destruction, annthiatng the beauty
| and pride OF the queenly city on the banks
! OF Lake Michigan. The Sherman House In o
few minutes was completely gutted, and almost In.
Caught and the three great hotels OF the city were
on fire at the same time. Their easements were oc-
oy x e Sook aoS ana
total destruction The inmates were pouring out or
sns nos s1d % when ss EG nt ne on
should not, ana IN many instances met tho death
they were sndca vonrng 20 escape from. isi
The Court House. perceived. had now caught
and the spectacle Of its burning was awfqy grand.
1t was one OF the finest specimens OF architecture
Illinois. Built OF massive stone and surrounded
by strong iron raining. having ire proof corners
0nh N n n mad IN rfTn tvxv%
bity to destroy H. but an element was abroad shas
laughed at impossbillties, ana II, too, shared the
sarm0unted by high tower, from the TOD Of which
an entire view OF the city could be obtained. IL
hours Of which were struck with powerful bell.
CAUGHT IN TEE suxxrr arrg
aud the fire spread downwards, completely guttiny
the Interior OF ITS priceless conents In the base.
OF prscasrs v weee awana a M a ac sa,s 70
some outside Journals that they had been burned up
In their cells, but this Is erroneous myself saw
them taken out Subsequent events proved that it
would have been better they mad been abandoned
to their fate, as many of them escaped from tho
oflcers In their transfer to the Drtdewe and were
afterwards -sfu E.n
FOREMOST IN THE SCENES OF MURDER
and plage that were unhappily SO prevalent. A
strange and significant circumstance now tram
spred. The hre had reached the summit Of the
fastenngs and slowly iel to the ground In falling
It regularly toed, aud 1t seemed to those who heard
ThE DEATH KNELL OF THE DOOMED CITY.
the falling tmbers forced me to leave the Court
House and Clark street, and rapidly hurried to
DearbOn street, where most Of the newspaper Olce3
entire street In names every newspaper ONCE win
the exception or the Tribune either burning or
burned. The Timeshad saved some Of us materta,
but the building, which was o very poor one, was
reduced In Y few moments to q heap of runs.
could not reach the Evening Journal, which was
situated Iurther north, sheet OF dre extending
across the street enectualy barring my onward pro-
gress From my knowledge Of the vicinity could
perceive that II names IL Stood directly 0p>
pUsite the fremont House. and afterwards heard
II mad perished at an early hour -
TIE FIREPROOF BUILDINGS fHN Is
The greatest interest was now manifested In what
the probable fate Of the nrepr0of buildings would
be- IL was now three O'CLOCK, aud the lre had been
raging for five hours and 80 far they had been
safe, and we were f0ndly hoping they would stand
the pressure and veal her the storm. We were soon