The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-11-03
THE GUN.POWDER PLOT.
Demolition Of Buildings In Chicago TO Check
the Ffre-Ex-Alderman Hildreth as Guy
FaWkes.

Demolition Of Buildings In Chicago to Check
the Fire-Ex-Alderman Hildreth as Guy
Fawkes.
From the Chicago Times.
The history of the powder brigade has
not yet been written, nor can the ex.
ploits of the few fearless men who ac-
companied the powder wagon be fifty
described. The chief credit for the or
ganiSation of the company and the ex
ecution Of the work of blowing up the
buildings which prevented the fire from
extending south of Harrison street is
due to ex-Alderman Hildreth, of the
Eighth Ward. Great praise is also due
to Civil Engineer Locke, Commissioner
Mark Sheridan, and ayoung man named
Homan, a nephew of A. II. Burly.
After the fire had been burning about
two hours on Sunday night. Mr.. Hill.
dreth sought out Fire Marshal Williams,
who seemed to act as though water and
his few feeble engines were the only
means of checking the flames. 1t was
suggested that some given line be Sc
, lected and the work of tearing down
and blowing up be commenced at once.
The poor marshal was completely
knocked out of time and unfit to think
or act with reason. Civil Engineer
Locke was called upon, and second
visit made to the demented Fire Mar
shall, and the proposition to blow up a
line of buildings urged again with re-
newed force; he replied that he could
do nothing; had no powder, etc. Hill
dreth said he would get powder, and the
Fire Marshal, who seemed willing to
perish in the flames with his engines,
said, Well, go and get your powder"
Hildreth and Locke, strengthened by
the order from the head of the Fire De.
partment at once started off; got the
new insurance wagon which afterward
cut such a figure in the grand tragedy,
and proceeded to the powder magazine
at the corner of State and Water streets,
burst in the door, and took forty kegs Of
powder and started back toward the
West Division: When approaching
Madison street bridge, they discovered
that the fire had leaped the river and
was burning the old Bridewell
The horses heads were turned toward
the Court House, with the hope that
some officials might be found TO consult
with in regard to the new danger. None
could be found: The powder was placed
in the basement of the Court House and
Lock and Hildreth drove along the line
of fire in the West Division with the ex-
pectation of finding the Fire Commits
sioners. They were disappointed, how
ever, and returned to the Court House
just in time to catch Mayor Mason and
Judge Miller. Here Mr. Hidreth un-
folded the gunpowder plot for blowing
up line of buildings in order to save
the balance of the city, at the same
time asking the Mayor to give written
authority for doing So The Mayor
wrote an order, which was amended by
Judge Miller so as to have the work
done under the direction of the Fire
Marshal. The following is copy of the
document, which was written on let
ter-head Of the Police Department.
CHICAGO, Oct. 9.-To the Citizens of
Chicago You will please act under the
orders of the Fire Marshal in adopting
such measures as he may direct to check
the confagration now raging the city.
LIS a. m. R. B. MASON, Mayor.
After writing this polite and rather in
explicit letter, Mayor Mason asked in
nocently, who would see that the order
was carried out, to which Hildreth re-
piled, {" / will" The powder was re.
placed in the wagon. and two men who
believed in fighting fire with fire jumped
in and drove rapidly to the West Divi.
sion, where Fire Marshal Williams was
still engaged in the unequal combat.
He was found to be very much excited
and unable to grasp the situation. He
would have nothing to do with the
blowing up of buildings, and could not
be prevailed upon to give any orders as
to where the work Of demolition should
commence, nor would he tell the appli.
cants to act as they saw fit, and went
back to his engines.
Hildreth and Locke then returned to
the Mayors office and called him out.
1t was evident by this time that the fire
would reach the Court House, and it
was suggested that it would be we'll to
commence blowing up in that vicinity,
The Mayor said, "Go on and do as you
think best" In few minutes Hill.
dreth entered the Union National Bank
building with twenty kegs of powder
and a fuse ten inches long. The pow
der was placed in closet, and in a
short time it was exploded, shattering
the building completely. Next, charge
was placed under Smith & Nixons
building, at the corner of Clark and
Washington, and that, too, was RACED
BY this time the fire had crossed Clark
street, and it was obvious that change
of base should be taken to save the
South Division.
The Mayor, who saw that the blasting
process mi ght be made to do good ser.
vice, ordered more powder to be OBJ
tanned, and his own son took load to
Hildreth on the corner of Washington
street and Wabash avenue. A call was
made for volunteers for the powder bri.
gade, but very few persons manifested a
disposition to engage in the dangerous
service, for the sparks were falling all
around, and often fell upon the powder
kegs in the arms Of the men. Young
Herman and two Hildreths, however,
stuck to their posts, and occasionally a
policeman would lend helping hand
Three wagons were secured, and the
powder transportation became lively