Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-10-10

Der. 9-2P M.-Tho most extern
sive fire ever known is now raging
in this city. Over one-haif of the
South Side and a large portion of
the North Side are reduced to ashes
The city is ablaze from Twelfth TO
Erie streets, and the fro is spread
ing rapidly in all directions making
clean sweep along its course The
fremen have actually lost all control
over the fire. The streets are literal.
ly packed with thousands of wagons
loaded with furniture and valnables,
saved from the burr ing buildings
The loss of life is great. As yet no
estimate oflbe numbers can be made
Thousands are leaving the city to
seek new quar-, The Court House.
Chamber of Commerce, Western
Union Telegraph office, Revere, Sher
man and Palmer Houses, several
Elevators and Railroad depots ho in
ruins. Assistance from all parts is
hurrylug to the city Business is
entirely suspended. All the inmates
OF the jail under the Court House
were roasted alive. Their number
Is not known. AZ communication
with the East destroyed.
CHICAGO, Oct. 9-5:l5 P. M.-The Illinois
Central Railway elevators and the Union de-
pot have gone. The fire on the South side
worked back to Twelfth street, taking all be-
lore II. The West side is comparatively safe
Not newspaper building in the city was
| standing at o. clock this morning The pris-
oners III the Jail were not burned, but were
let out and escaped The Sherman House is
IN ashes. A gentleman who was in it when
the hames enwrapped the building gives a
graphlc description OF the terrific vet gor-
geons scene. The great sparks fell from hea-
ven like the flakes of a driving snow storm,
when they fail so thick as 10 blind, and they
drlited IN the streets as snow drifts. when Il
falls TO great depth, in gale of wind A
dozen lives were lost in this hotel, for escape
was Impossible TO many Some were sick and
could not be moved. Three persons sprang
from fourth story windows, one escaping with
| his lie. The heat was so intense, that when
1t smote the great Court House, with walls OF
rock and ribs of iron, il seemed to explode
like rocket. II burst and crumbled to moth
ing when the flames touched it. All men stood
aghast and parayzed they were dumb with
| norror ana despair. The greatest fires ever
known in New York were but bonfires com
pared TO this indescriba5e riot and fury of the
flames. Old firemen say they were well nigh
crazed by the events of this night and morning
of terror
| Trains that arrived in Chicago Sunday
night by way Of the Pttsburg and Fl Wayne
Railway fought fire for ninety miles approach
ing the city. Fences, bridges, woodples, tn,
forests and swamrs were everywhere OH fire
The LATEsT.-Dispatches received late
last night and tins morning at Boscobsl report
over nine square miles OF Chicago already
burned, and the fire still raging. The North
side is entirely burned over, and the South
side clear TO Van Buren, street All the bus
mess blocks, hotels. railroad depots, elevators
public buildings, and the Chicago Docks ar,
burned. Not printing Office is left in tn,
city. The Galena division of the Chicago s
N. w. r. r, Co lost three elevators with ov
er one million bushels of wheat Both Mich
igan, Union and Southern depots are burned
Boscobel, Oct 10th. L. p. l..