The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-10-11

the whole city, and almost everybody,
men, women and children are in the
street, and praying, weeping AID vail
ing is heard in every direction. 1t
now looks as if the whole city might
be destroyed. OF course large num-
bers of lives have been sacrificed, but
how many and who cannot be known
until the progress of the flames have
been arrested. The alarm bell has
just commenced ringing an ~unceasing
peal which is intended to call every
sleeper from his bed. The panic is
increasing and the people seem almost
crazy with alarm. The vessels i'll the
river are catching fire in every direc-
ton and all in the south river will
probably be destroyed.
CHICAGO, Oct. 9-1:45 A. MA
raging, roaring hell is developing
twenty blocks of the city. 1t is al
ready within a block of the telegraph
office where this dispatch is written,
and is sweeping onward, Il whirlwind
of flame against which human efforts
are power.ess, and it is impossible to
tell where it will stop. The bridge
across Van Buren, street is burned,
shipping in the river, cars on the
tracks of the Chicago aad Alton and
Fl. Wayne railroads, with immense
freight houses. These are swept
away. No language can describe the
scene The flames sweep through
blocks of wooden houses with the Ia
pidity of prairie fires. Thousands of
people fill the streets, rushing out OF
their dwellings in many instances
barely in season to save their lives.
The Mayor has telegraphed to mn.
merous tities for help. Food is badly
needed and assistance is asked from
St. Louis, Cincinnati and Detroit. A
dispatch has been received from the
Cleveland Board of Trade proferring
aid, and asking what is most urgently
needed
CHICAGO, Oct. 90 P. M.-Presi-
dent Grant has telegraphed to the
military authorities here to issue ra-
tions and such other supplies as may
be needed Ivy the municipal authori-
ties, and TO make acquisitions on the
military authorities at st. Louis, Ion
what additional supplies are needed.
Dispatches have been sent from
here to all points, stating that cooked
food, bread and cheese, and tents, are
needed Immediately. Thousands are
houseless and will be starving unless
aid comes at once Assistance Is com
ing in rapidly and in vast quantities,
but the demand is still far III excess OF
the supply.
CHIcAGo, Oct. 8, LATER.-The
entire business portion of the city is
destroyed. All the banks, express,
and telegraph offices, all the newspa-
per offices except the Tribune. six
elevators and the water works are
gone, No water is i'll the city. Not
less than ten thousand buildings have
already been destroyed. 1t has burned
a distance of five miles and is still rag
ing with the wind blowing a gale.
CHICAGO, Oct. 9.-Hon. William
Ortor, New York:-We are trying to
get established a supply depot, but as
the fire is now coming up this way on
Wabash avenue, W. will probably be
driven out of here before night. The
Water Works are burned. Every
banking house and every railroad de
pot i'll the city is burned.
CHICAGO, Oct 9-Afternoon.-No
one can now tell, perhaps no one a
ever tell, how many, but some are
known to have persisted, and there is
a heartsickening fear that the victims
of the fiery monster may be counted
by scores. Hundreds of horses and
cows have been burned in stables, and
on the North Side numbers, though
released from confinement, bewildered
and confused by the sea of fire which
surrounded them, rushed wildly to
and fro, uttering cries of fright and
pain, until they were sccrched and
killed.
CHICAGO, Oct. "a P. M.-1he
awful work of destruction 6 ,es on
with relentless fury. From Harrison
street south to Division street, north,
and from the river to the lake, and
four miles long by n wide, the flames
have swept everything before them
1t is estimated that at least Il hun
dred thousand people are homeless
and in q suffering condition. The
streets in districts still unburned are
lined for miles with such household
goods as have been saved from destruc-
ton. Most generous offers of assis-
lance in money, food and everything
wanted are coming from every city
and town by telegraph The Mayor
has responded to several offers, asking
that cooked food be forwarded as soon
as possible. Firemen are on their
way here from Cincinnati, ST. Louis
and other cities. The water works
are entirely destroyed, and we are now
blowing up buildings in the line of the
fire in the attempt to arrest it's pro
gress.
CHICAGO, Oct. Go P. M.-The
progressing flames in the South Di-
were fully arrested about one
This was accomplished by
the blowing up and demolishing of
buildings on Wabash avenue
and Congress street by Lieutenant
General Sheridan. The district burn
ed over in the South Division embra-
ces everything from the main branch
of Chicago river to the lake, en-
bracing about one hundred blocks,
and this district contained all the
leading business houses, banks, insur-
ance offices, hotels, etc. A large
number of churches, including the ST.
81 " M. D.1-l4z