Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-10-26
THE GUN.POWDER PLOT.
Demolition of Buildings in Chicago to Check
the Fire-Ex.Alderman Hildreth as Guy
Fawkes.
From the Chicago Times.

Demolition of Buildings in Chicago to Check
the Fire-Ex-Alderman Hildreth Guy
Fnwkes.
From the Chicago Times.
The history of the powder brigade has
not vet been written, nor can the ex-
ploits of the few fearless men who ac-
companied the powder wagon be fitly
described. The chief credit for the or
ganiEation of the company and the ex-
ecution of the work of blowing up the
buildings which prevented the fire from
extending south of Harrison street is
due to ex-Alderman Hildreth, of the
Eighth Ward. Great praise is also due
to Civil Engineer Locke, Commissioner
Mark Sheridan, and ayoung man named
Homan, nephew of A. H. Burly.
After the fire had been burning about
two hours on Sunday night. Mr.. Hill
dreth sought out Fire Marshal Williams,
who seemed to act as though water and
his few feeble engines were the only
means of checking the flames. 1t was
suggested that some given line be Sc
lected and the work of tearing down
and blowing up be commenced at once.
The poor marshal was completely
knocked out of time and unfit to think
or act with reason. Civil Engineer
Locke was called upon, and second
visit made to the demented Fire Mar
shall, and the proposition to blow up
line of buildings urged again with re-
newed force; he replied that he could
do nothing; had no powder, etc. Hill
dreth said he would get powder, and the
Fire Marshal, who seemed willing to
perish in the flames with his engines,
| said, 6 Well, 60 and get your powder"
Hildreth and Locke, strengthened by
| the order from the head of the Fire De-
| partment at once started OFT; got the
new insurance wagon which afterward
cut such figure in the grand tragedy,
| and proceeded to the powder magazine
at the corner of State and Water streets,
| burst in the door, and took forty kegs OF
powder and started back toward the
Westl Division. When approaching
Madison street bridge, they discovered
that the fire had leaped the river and
was burning the old Bridewell.
| The horses heads were turned toward
the Court House, with the hope that
some officials might be found to consult
with in regard to the new danger. None
could be found: The powder was placed
in the basement of the Court House and
Lock and Hildreth drove along the line
of fire in the West Division with the ex
pectation of finding the Fire Comlnis
sioners. They were disappointed, how
ever, and returned to the Court House
just in time to catch Mayor Mason anc
Judge Miller. Here Mr.. Hildreth un
folded the gunpowder plot for BLOWN.
up line of buildings in order to saw,
the balance of the city, at the sam'
time askingthe Mayor to give writer
authority for doing so. The Mayo
wrote an order, which was amended b,
Judge Miller so as to have the worl
done under the direction of the Fir,
Marshal. The following is copy of tn,
document, which was written on let
ter-head of the Police Department:
CHICAGO, Oct. 9-To the Citizens O
Chicago You will please actunder tn
orders of the Fire Marshal in adoptin
such measures as hemay direct to checl
the confagration now raging the city
| 1:15 a. m. R. B. MASON, Mayor.
After writing this polite and rather in
explicit letter, Mayor Mason asked in
nocently, who would see that the orde
was carried out, to which Hildreth re
piled, 81 will" The powder was re
placed in the wagon. and two men VIII
believed in fighting fire with fire jumpe,
in and drove rapidly to the West Div
sion, where Fire Marshal Williams wa
still engaged in the unequal combat
He was found to be very much excite,
and unable to grasp the situation. h
would have nothing to do with tn
blowing up of buildings, and could no
be prevailed upon to give any orders a
to where the work of demolition shoul,
commence, nor would he tell the appl
cants to act as they saw fit, and wen
back to his engines.
II Hildreth and Locke then returned t.
the Mayors office and called him out
} 1t was evident by this time that the fir
! would reach the Court House, and
was suggested that it would be we'll t
commence blowing up in that vicinity
The Mayor said, "Go on and do as yo
} think best" In few minutes Hi
: dreth entered the Union National Ban
building with twenty kegs of powde
and a fuse ten inches long. The pow
: der was placed in a closet, and in
short time it was exploded, shatterin
the building completely. Next, charg
was placed under Smith & Nixon
building, at the corner of Clark an
Washington, and that, too, was razee
By this time the fire had crossed Clar
street, and it was obvious that chang
of base should be taken to save th
South Division.
: The Mayor, who saw that the blastin
process might be made to do good Sc
5 vice, ordered more powder to be ol
tanned, and his own son took load I
Hildreth on the corner of Washingto
street and Wabash avenue. A call wf
. made for volunteers for the powder br
gade, but very few persons manifested
disposition to engage in the dangeror
service, for the sparks were falling a
around, and often fell upon the powds
kegs in the arms of the men. Your
Herman and two Hildreths, howeve
stuck to their posts, and occasionally
= policeman would lend helping han
Three wagons were secured, and tt
: powder transportation became ivel
!, and the blasting was conducted wit
, system. The next building blown I
was on the northwest corner of Wabas
, avenue and Washington street, and the
, came the one on the southwest corne
!, and the large block on the north side
= Washington street.
s The flames were approaching rapid
f and the powder train moved sout
: leaving Mr. Hildreth in building. II
}. wagon stopped at Harrison street, an
! after consultation, it was determined
# make Harrison street the line on whi,
= to blow buildings to prevent the Fl
t from extending further south. A lar
?? number of citizens were suddenly il
o pressed with the virtue of gunpowds
and volunteers were plenty, and M
with advice to offer were abundant. T.
work of blowing up was resumed at t
corner of State and Harrison stree
and continued as far as the Method
e church; then turning north, the bull
It ings were leveled in succession on t
5, west side of Wabash avenue as far
n Congress street. By this time t
l. doughty ex-Alderman had become
g expert that he could raze a buildi
3 every five minutes.
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