Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-10-12

CHICAGO, Oct. S-I2:3O A. NJ.
The most terrible conflagration
that ever occurred in this city
broke out about ten o'clock last
night. The fire started in large
planning mill situated between Clin-
ton and Canal, and VanBuren and
Jackson streets, about the center of
of the block formed by those streets.
The wind was blowing very fresh,
and the flames spread with almost
incredible rapidity, and in a few
minutes the entire structure was a
mass of fire. The inmates of
many of the houses around here,
startled from slumber, had barely
time to rush from their houses in
the scanty attire of night, leaving
their household goods to destruc
ton. In many instances children
were hastily wrapped in blankets and
quilts to break the force of their
fall, and thrown from second story
windows to the ground. When the
alarm sounded for the fire, another
Of considerable magnitude was
burning on Wells street,n Adams
and several engines were necessarily
kept at work upon this. The rest
of the engines in this city were soon
on the ground, but before they ar
rived the fire had spread over so
large an area, and was so rapidly
spreading, that their efforts seemed
of little avail.
The scene in the vicinity of the
confagration is indescribable. Halt
the population of the city seems
gathered there. The tugs in the
river are engaged towing to places
of safety the vessels moored in the
neighborhood. The locomotives
are hastily pulling out the great
number of cars standing on the
track in the path of the flames.
CHICAGO, Oct. 81: 80.
The fire is apparently raging as
fiercely as ever. The block of
buildings on the north side of Van
Buren street, which it was thought
an hour ago would be saved, is now
wrapped in flames. The elevator is
safe so far, and the fire seems to be
spreading south and west, notwith.
standing the wind is now direct from
ly the south and blowing hard. The
glare from the blazing buildings
lights the streets half a mile away
so that one may see to read. The
entire fire department is now on
the grounds, and making almost
superhuman efforts to stay the
flames. The loss is probably already
in the millions, and the end is no,
yet.
CHICAGO, Oct. 9-12:45 A. M.
Tonight is the most awful in
the annals of the city. The fire
which commenced at 10 p. m. has
already swept over a space at least
three times as large as that of last
night, and is still rushing on in its
path of destruction, the engines ap-
pearing almost powerless. Fire
Marshal Williams has just tele-
graphed to Milwaukee for all the
steamers they can spare. The con
fiagration has already devastated at
least twenty blocks, mostly compos-
ed of the smaller class of dwellings
inhabited mainly by poor people.
The wind is blowing almost a
gale from the south, and showers of
sparks and burning brands are
over the city, threatening destruc-
tion on every hand.
CHICAGO. Oct. 9-l:l5 A. NJ.
The fire is still raging and with
increased fury, and has spread al
most with the velocity of the wind.
and has now reached West Monroe
street, distance of more than n
mile from where it started, and it
covers breadth Of nearly half a
mile, reaching from the river to
Jefferson street. The district al
ready burned over embraces an i'm
mense number of lumber yards,
freight depots of the Chicago and
St. Louis, and Pittsburg, Fort Wayne
and Chicago Railroads. The task
of arresting it seems to be five-fold
greater now than it did an hour ago
and no one dare venture the opinion
as to where or when it will stop.
Brands from the fire have blown
across to the east side of the river
and wooden buildings are on fire di-
rectly adjoining the Chicago gas
house.
The flames spread in every di-
rection. The adjoining buildings
being all of the tinder-box kind,
the prospect is that the gas house
will be destroyed and the city wrap
ped in darkness. A terrible panic
is prevailing through the whole
city, and almost everybody, men,
women and children are in the
street, and praying, weeping and
wailing is heard in every direction.
1t now looks as if the whole city
might be destroyed. The alarm
bell has just commenced ringing an