The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-13


Correspondence of the Detroit Free Press.l
Chicago, Oct. 9.--At $3.50 O'Clock last
evening fire broke out in q stable on
Fourteenth street, on the west side. The
wind was blowing from the southward q
perfect gale. A person could not stand
against this fierce wind without bracing
himself firmly, and hats had to be held be-
meath the arm or crushed upon the head
and held there by the hand. The night
was clear and the twinkling stars were
plainly visible through the hazy atmos-
phere.
THE ALARM.
The dread alarm bells struck terror to
the citizens in the immediate vicinity. The
firemen were exhausted from their labors
of the previous night. Consequently before
the drowsy lremcn had reached the scene
of the conilagration it had spread with such
rapidity that three blocks were seething i'll
flames. The 6remen, all worn out as they
were with the weary labors Of the night and
morning before, worked mantully to ex-
tinguish the flames. The engines took
various positions in the front and on the
sides of the fire. They poured unceasing
streams of water upon the burning build
liiOS-lilcy NtLttti biiC lOOlo anu ciuSfo VI
buildings in the advance of the flames,
and as they retired from one hydrant to
another they still kept working vigorously.
But with all their best elloits the flames
kept gaining rapidly. The air was filled
with flying cinders which-hurled aloit by
the fierce intensity of the breeze-eddled
and foated in the ornament, and fell again
to the earth three and four blocks Distant
These cinders drifted about the corners of
streets and alleys like snow under the
effects of winters breeze. They ignited
the sidewalks and whole rows of buildings
at once. 1t was impossible to protect the
city from their advances.
: sKIRNIIsHERs OF THE FIRE-FIEND.
They ratified upon roofs and against WIN
dows, ,simpeled by the gale, and whenever
one struck in an instant flame appeared.
Terrified at the rapidity with which the
flames spread, the people hastily threw out
into the streets what household goods they
could and with valuables in their hands
stood gazing as if stupefied at the destruc-
ton of their homes. AT about the hour Of
10, it being then seen that the flames, de-
spite the efforts of the firemen, could not
be checked. every bell in the city-fire bell,
church bell, school-house and engine bell,
began ringing. The object was to arouse
the sleeping populacc that they might bring
as best they could, their goods to place Of
safety. Drays and express wagons hastened
through The streets, laden with all imagin-
able sorts of goods, and drove hurriedly
toward the lake side near the park. Sick
and decrept persons were unceremoniously
thrown upon the tops of beds and almost
l. A., htr tha bI1rlit1Q of hand
boxes, china-ware, portmanteaus, clocks,
looking-glasses, doll-babies, poodle dogs.
umbrellas, bird cages, musical Instruments,
silver-ware, smoothing irons, and all sort
of household truck. Painting women, half
clad women, screaming women, hystercal
women, and even laughing and dancing wo-
men lined the walks. Shouts and yeIls for
eXprcssmen to transport these helpless wo-
men and children mingled with the inde-
scribable noise from the roaring Of the
flames, the whistling of the engines, the
| bowling of the wind, clangor Of the bells,
| trumpet sounds of the iiremen, and the hur-
| ly-burly in the streets were the noises
| that added to the confusion Of the scene.
! The saloons were all closed at ] ! O'clock
a measure that met with approval from all
citizens. Among all this confusion the po-
! lice force We're everywhere to be met with.
Human nature in the most selfish aspects,
and in garing contrast the most
sELF-sACRIFICING HERoIsM
was displayed on every street. There was
no rioting or disorder. Undoubtedly a
considerable amount of thieying was car
ried on, but public attention was not called
to it except in one instance on South Clark
street, where party of three ruiiians, hav-
ing fourth confederate in an express wag-
on, entered house and began carrying of
various articles, which they deposited il
their wagon. The owner Of the house
taken by surprise, thought they were sym
pathzing neighbors, who had come to hlS
relief, but on seeing them about to drive of
he raised au outcry. The thieves were cap
tured and summarily kicked by the indg
nant crowd, and the wagon taken possess
ion Of by patrolman. Many dealers in ar
ticles OF clothing and groceries, seengit was
impossible to save their stocks gave to the
crowd free permission to help themselves, ;
privilege many aVailed themselves of to Sc
cure a suit of clothes or hat. After all
the main impulse of the community seemed
to be desire to save what they could 0
the city. Buildings were torn down in tn
effort TO stay the flames, but as was sal,
before the flying cinders were driven in ad
vance by the hurricane, which apparent,
increased in force, rendered all efforts use
less. By midnight the flames had sprea'
! in a direct line forward over three miles q
houses. Nothing can be SAID that woul
describe adequately the unparalleled inten
sity of the fire. A building seeemmgl
fire-proof would catch fire, and in te
minutes time the roof, with a fearful crash
would fall in, sending up
A THICKENING STORM OF SPARKS,
, and cinders, that, alighting on fresh terr
I'll tory. would soon give notice of their rapid
germinstjng seeds Of immense volumes {
flame. The armament glowed with then
The leaping flames, as they licked up som
. more than usually inhammable substanc
5 in drug and liquor stores, would arise t
: steeple heights in the heavens and shed
. lurid glare upon the doomed city. Th
clouds of smoke rolled away to the nortf
J ward, and all around the sphere of fiji
the intense darkness Of the sky added b
) contrast to the terrors of the scene. .
Clark street new pavement of ceda
blocks and tar had Just been put dow
and the street was only partially open ft
e traffic, although the pavement was con
, plcted. 1t caught fire, and instantaneous
: from one end of the street to the 9th,
: fierce flames broke out. 1t was a perfe
channel of fire.