The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-10-12
Aitl1mond Dispatth.
Neutrality-suspicious. 10, ls7l,
M THE CIRCULATION OF THE DIS
PATCH Is LARGER THAN TIE COMBINED
CIRCULATION OF ALL THE OTHER DAILY
NEWSPAPERS OF THE CITY.
THE CHICAGO FIRE.
THE NEWSPAPERS REvIyISa.

Hon Joseph Medill, of the Tribune. who
is one of the heaviest losers, succeeded yes
terday in leasing brick building on WASH
ington street at the tunnel. He also pur-
chased two single-oylinder presses used in
II job office on the west side, and has tele-
eraphed east for paper and type, there be-
ing nothing left here.
Mr.. Story, Of tho Times. will erect q
rough one. story building, and begin to issue
that paper as soon as material can be pur-
chased. The Journal ia provided for on
the west side. The Post, Republican, and
Si0ais Zietats.9 will also arrange for busi-
ness rs soon rs practicable, but everything
must come from elsewhere. There is no.
thing left.
CONNECTED NARRATIvE-ORIGIN AND PRO-
GRESS OF THE FIRE--vlvlD DESCRIPTION
SCENES, INCIDENTS, sc.
The following is report of the fire and
lis incidents, specially described for the
Associated Press by those who witnessed
and fought the flames throughout:
Late Sunday evening boy went into n
stable on De koven street, near the river,
on the west side, to milk q COW, carrying
with him Kerosene lamp. This was
kicked over hy the COW, and the burning
fluid scattered among the straw. This was
the beginning Of the great fire. A single
eXtinguisher on the ground, or active work
by the police in tearing down one or TWO
shanticS. would have prevented the spread
ing of the flames; but the engines were
waited for, and when they arrived
THE FlREMEN, sTUrEFIEp
by their eXertions at the first fire on Satur-
day night, worked slowly and clumsily.
Their efforts were unayailing. The WIND
blew a gale from the southwest.
Rapidly the flames shnt from house to
house. and from 6oard-yard to board-yard,
having mean while crossed the river north
Of Twelfth street to the south side, and
made for the brick and stone business
blocks, the railroad freight derOts ant
manufacturing establishments. The full
extent Of the danger was now realized toI
the first time.
The Fire Department, already tired out
worked like heroes, and the Mayor and city
began to exert themselves, but the oppor
tunity had been lost.
LOST OPPORTUNITY.
The time when thorough organization
could have blown UP the buildings or pre-
pared for an emergency was neglected, ant
it was now a fight for life.
The wind, blowing stiff gale, had pos
session of the flames, and the beautiful
buildings, Chicago's glory, lay before them
Harrison, Van Buren, Adams, Monroe, ar(
Madison streets, were soon reached, tht
Intervening blocks from the river to Dear
born street on the east being consumed
Three.quarterS OF mile of brick blocks
We're consumed as il by magic.
UNCONSCIOUS VICTIMS.
1t being Sunday, proprietors and EN-
ployes were at home utterly unconscious o
what was taking place. Those who saw
| the fumes supposed it was the remains o
Saturday nights fire, and having confidence
| iii the fire department., were unconcerned
but between IL and II o'clock a rumOr go
! abroad that the fire was in the business pOr
ton OF the city. Then the people com
lnenced moving. Horses were brought init
requisition to take proprietors and other!
to the confiagration. What a scene me-
their gaze! The Board Of Trade, court
house, Western Union Telegraph and AS
sociated Press office, and hundreds OF Other
buildings, were all in flames.
The air was filled with live Goals, which
were hurled to north and east besom o.
destruction. Fire-engines were powerles:
for saving. All that the men could do wa:
to blow up buildings, but this availed but
little.
The Times. Tribune, Post, Republican
Journal, and other newspaper offices
Western News Company, Black, Field 4
Letters establishment, the Drake block
Ueccnlly built). and Farwell & Co.'s, al
We're soon in ashes.
QUICK DESTRUCTION.
II seemed that no sooner had the flame
struck Il wall than it went directly through,
and very few minutes sulliccd to destroy
the most deliberately. structures. The
walls melted and the very bricks were con-
sumcd. The wooden payements took fire,
making a continuous sheet Of flame two
miles LONG by Il mile wide. No human
being could possibly survive many min
utes. Block after block fell, and red hol
Goals shot higher and higher, and spreaC
further and lurther, until the north side
was a vast sheet Of flame from river to lake
At one time it so hemmed the people thai
it was expected thousands must perish
The Sherman, fremont, and other hotels
were emptied of their guests.
REMARKABLE SIGHT
was presented in the hurrying throngs
with trunks, sacks, or bags on their shoul
dcrs, fleeing amid the flames for their lives
Those who could made for the surround.
ing bridges others got next to the lake
shore and to the south.
FLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE.
NOW was 10 DC seeu tue iuOSI lCiii"i hApiS
sight ever beheld in this or any country.
There were from sc, 900 to 5000 men, wo'
men, and children, fleeing by every ayaila::
BILE street and alley to the southwark and
westward, attempting to save their cloth
ing and their lives.
Every available vehicle was brought into
rcolisition for use, for which enormous
prices were paid, and the streets and side.
walks presented Il fearful sight. Thousands
of persons and horses, ineXtricably COM
mingled poor people, of all colors, shades,
and every nationality, from Europe, China,
and Africa, mad with excitement. strug-
pled with each other to get away.
SCENES OF DISTRESS AND DISTRACTION.
Hundreds were trnmpled under foot,
men and women, loaded with bundles and
their household goods, to whose skirts
were clinging tender infants, half-dressed
and barefooted, all seeking places of safety.
Hours alter they might have been seen III
vacant lots, or on the streets far out in the
subu1 bs, stretched in the dust. These are
the suffering lambs whom Christ calls on
the rich world to feed and clothe. God
belp them, if the heart OF man should
prove obdurate.
THE LOSS.
The New York Eoening Express, writing
in q reassuring vein, makes the following
statements
,r, ,,,1,,,tian of y,r0nnrfV in