The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-12

r. X. are its passenger depots and
one freight depot. Its grain eleva.
tors are still safe,
CHICAGO, Oct. 9--4;30 p. NJ.
Th, fire at 3 o'clock was through
Lincdn Park into the woods beyond
and burning tiorcely. 100000 peo-
pie are wandering around homeless
and kithon, shelter. The last re-.
port from the city was that oil the
prisoners under the old city prison
wer1 left to perish. Not a building
is LIT standing north Of Harrison
street, but one, and that is the Post
officI, which is Quilted but stands up.
Therest are burned to the ground.
The Adams House, the Illinois Cen
tralelevators and central depots, on
Lale street, were the last to burn.
A ytrong wind is blowing from the
southeast. fit changes to the north
orwest nothing can save the rest OF
tb city.
From Halstead street on the west
I'd the lake and from Harrison street,
OF the south to Lincoln Park is one
complete ruin. Nothing is standing.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
elevator and other elevators near the
bridge are all right. The fire COM
menced north OF them.
J. l.. HARRIS,
Gen. Freight Agt., G. B. Il @. r. r.
about two-thirds of the city is
burned. Not a hotel or depot is left
in the city, Everything is burned
to the ground that was in the way
of the fire. All the Chicago papers
are burned down. Tho South and
West parts of the city are still stand
ing but can not say how long it will
stand. The north part of the city is
burned to the ground. If the wind
changes it will clean out the rest.
The water is played out and the
engines have gone home. There is
not business house standing down
town. 1t has burned down to the
lake for four miles. All that is STAN
ding IS south of Twelfth street, all
the rest is gone.
CHICAGO, Oct. 10--2 A. NJ.
The Michan Avenue Hotel, on the
corner OF Michigan Avenue and
Congress street, and Congress Hall,
directly adjoining on Congress street
are saved. The Michigan Terrace,
on Michigan Avenue, embracing the
residences of Lieutenant. Governor
Bross, Hon. j. Young Scammon, s.
G. Grlggs, and other leading citizens,
are completely destroyed with furnl-
ture and nearly all other contents. All
the newspaper establishments arc
totally wiped out. The Tribune
building resisted for several hours,
but finally yielded, when McVicker's
theatre, Immediately adjoining, W hich
had also withstood the raging ele.
ment, finally had to succumb. In
fact, all the buildings in the district
which were claimed TO be fire proof,
shared the fate of those which could
make no such claims. The great
Central depot, ut foot Lake st became
q heap of ruins about nine O'Clock
Most of the passenger cars OF the
Michigan Central, Darlington &
Quincy, and Illinois Central depots,
were moved on the break.wsster and
saved. West of Clark street in the
South Division, the fire extended
south AZ far as Polk Street, sweeping
everything before it, the district
burned over here numbers q bout 20
blocks. The buildings were ge nerelly
of the cheaper character, o mbrac.
ing saloons, small shops, po or res
idences, etc.
LATER.-It is now believee that
the spread of the fire to the south.
ward has been stayed at Ha. rrson
street; but on tho north side there
is no elimination. That entirh Gi.
vision of tho city is evidently doc med
to utter destruction. There are
grave fears that the flames may
spread to the west side OF the mt 'rth
branch Of the river, and the inh. .bi-
tants of the streets nearest the rio or
are already moving to places of sup
posed greater safety.