The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-10-18
rIpEI-CUICAGO IN RUINS!l

Cpicngo, Ill.,, Oct. 9th. .-Noon--Ihe
whole business portion of the City is in
ashes, from Harris Street North, to
Chicago Avenue, and east of the river
TO Lake Avenue, three miles in length,
to a mile and half wide. Every ho-
tel, bank, express Office, theatre, and
newspaper and telegraph ctfice, with
wholesale houses, are totally destroyed.
The wind is blowing a perfect gale
from the southwest, with the sky the
color of brass. None can tell what
the end will be. The only salvation
Of the City is, in the wind keeping it's
present direction. Fifty thousand peo-
pie are now homeless, most Of them in
destitute cohd.tion.
Chi,aJo, October 1Oth.-At sundown
the wind lulled, and at 8 this morning
the rain so ferventEy prayed for came,
1t did not rain lorg, but the roofs Of
the houses and the ground have BEEN
wet, 50 that now il. is possible to have
fires to cook TODD for the multitujc.
Fifteen hundred citizens were sworn
in last night as extra police, and Gen.
Sheridan was authorized to employ all
, the available troops for guard, and
f issue 100 900 rations. Five hundred
soldiers are on duty-this precaution
, was necessary, for, as remarks able as 1t
: may seem, there were fiends who still
/ sought to extend the disaster. Two.
t men were caught in the act and hung.
The origin of the fire was the explo-
| SION ola kerosene lamp, kicked over
i by COW while snail hoy was milk
,. ing her. The slightest precaution
I would have extiryaished the flames.
= Later word Is Just brought that
d fierce fire is raging on Thirty first.
y street This street is two miles south
e OF the southern fire limit on the south-
e side, and little less than that from.
!. the limit on the west side. This has
Or been set on fire for the purpose, evi-
dently, of destroying the remaining
te part of the city, which is largely occu-
: pied by wealthy residents. 1t is
p known that two men, caught in the
net of firing the buildings, have been
shot, and two others led off with ropes
us around their necks. As the wind Is
It blowing perfect gale tl'e end cannot
foretod. Furth, 'V" o."
nc ,r no now c. O'''', sd as soon Fi: III, expo
" be torwardN N2th. ,Srf8 received.
IN Cicago, NasnU:50, a. m.-Thero
ty was no renewal of fires last night, and
G. nothing occurred to disturb the city.
cr Gen. Sheridan has complete control,
and confidence is fully restored. The
IA various committees are busy, and now
y that relief IS thoroughly organized, all
=. the needy are being relieved.
,r No tongue can express the suffering
!, and terror endured by the whole pop
of ulation of the north division during
70 Monday and Tuesday. The flames on
~ Sunday drove them wildly to the lake
.. shore oven there they only escaped
ot from LeiHg consumed by wetting blank
cts and wrapping up. All day Mons
day thousands yeT0 without food, and
as at night we've exposed to rain and cold.
'd Many persisted from terror and ex-
'e haustion. Notwithstanding al that
ST has been endured, the courage Of the
ie people has not failed, and the work OF
i rebuilding will oQRmeGce ct once. -
= At a meeting Of tho morchants it was
III resolved to erect two hundred small
frame stores in lake park, for tempor-
in airy occupation within the week A
10 careful estimate of the number of peo,
/, pie rendered homeless, based upon the
? recent census puts the total at no less
m than one hundred and ten thousand.
A RAIN Ho!-Chicago, October IL
le Ii commenced raining here about 6
;" o'clock this morning, falling quit
ly heavily for Two hours, and since then
drilling showers have prevailed.
Never was rain from heaven more
h grateful. The dust from the unsprink.