The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-11-03

the Chicago Are. They give rs sad
picture Of the scene -
The fire burned across Clark street,
destroyed the fence that bounded the old
German cemetery from the street, and
swept across the grass and devastated
the graves, A great many family lots
we're enclosed by wooden fence. In
every instance these fences were burned,
and whore the head boards were OF wood
these also were consumed. Stone
memorials were overturned, and the
fire in its utter tiendishness actually
burned into the ground "a the depth Of
foot in some instances, Not satisfied
with this IL continued ON it's destructive
career and burned all the vaults and
their contents, One large receiving
vault must have contained at least twenty
dead bodies, every one of which was
destroyed utterly. Grave after grave
is ruined beyond all hope Of recognition,
One wooden tomb is burned in a most
fantastic manner In appears now like
flagstaff, with flag ON is peak Hor.
rihle idea The demon of fire waving
a nag of victory over death The whole
surface of the cemetery Is seorched black,
and every tomb is either overturned or
burned, and the graves devastated. As
the flames swept across this cemetery,
securing with relentless fury the living
and the dead number of women who
were bearing bedding and other inilam-
mAhle articles, were overtaken and their
dresses and their burdens fired, and il
WAS only by the presence of mind exer-
ciSed by the men, Who forced these NO
men directly into the lake, that their
lives were saved, and even now the shore
is covered with half burned ticking,
nearly buried by the sand and action OF
/ the waves
Nearly all the dead 10y the fire have
been buried in the County Potter's
Field, no one being able TO reeongniEe
the bodies.
A correspondent relates the following
heart-Siekening story; As / was pass
ing by the burning Post-oilice was
chained TO the spot 10y the shrieks aud
curses emanating from Reynolds block,
well knows resort Of the demi-monde.
Some two hundred prostitutes had rooms
here, and when the fire reached them a
number Of them were sleeping OFF the
effects of intOxication and debauch.
Z Crazy drunk and petrited with fear.
number OF them were trying IL get out
I through the alley entrance The flames
from the Post-ofiee building drove them
{ back, and with horrible curses ON their
I lips they staggered back 10 perish in the
ruins. No one could assist them from
that side, but signal was made for
them to go around To the Dearborn
street side, and here a number were
assisted to the ground by tiremsn and
citizens. About twenty-five rushed ont
I through the Madison street door with
nothing but their night clothing ON and
a dress hastily snatehed up in their
hands All were possessed with the one
idea of personal safety. They ran Wild
ly up and down the street, all in the light
of athousand fires, exposing their naked
ness 10 the eyes Of thousands, but no
one took note Of such u scene then, but
10 many who saw il the recollection
thereof viii not fade for many day.
How they bewailed their fate How
some Of them cursed their luck, their
Maker and the day they came TO Chi
eago
OF the courage Of those who lost all
by the fire, the following incidents are
reported by a correspondent met a
friend walking thoughtfully around with
a piece of lead pipe As l approached
and salnted him he stopped. slapped the
lead pipe down on a brick wall till il
mashed fiat, and then said "Jo, that
pipes all I've got in the world but /
begin again tomorrow. | met man
on the night OF the fire who had lost first
his store and then his handsome resi-
denee on Michigan avenue. He was
lugging around a marble mantle, with
the heavy sides attached. He laughed
as he saw me, and remarked. That's all
there is, now but I'm going TO see IL !
can't find another and build house 10
fit One more II sAw Blnkely. editor
OF the EreaiRg Post, lowering around in
front Of the ruins OF the Office. He pick
ed up brick facetiously, and spat upon
II. What for" / asked Seeing
whether they're cool enough 20 clear out
and build over again. was the reply.
This reveals all Of the spirit Of cheer-
fulness there ia The mirth is rather
forced there is plenty Of pluck, but il
has solid substratum of serious med
itation.
A story is told OF o well-knOvn ban
ker, as follows:-Monday morning. be-
fore the fire had reached that bHilding.
Mr.. Tincham, OF the Illinois National
Bank, went to the safe, and succeeded in
getting ont 5000. 600 dollars. This pile
Of greenbacks he packed into common
trunk, and hired a colored man for 81 goo
TO convey it to the Milwaukee depot.
Fearing 20 be recognised with the pre-
cious load, Mr.. Tincham followed the
maa at a distance, but soon lost sight o.
him. He was then overtaken by the FIRE,
and driven toward the lake. After sew
erRl narrow escapes from suGocation, he
succeeded in working his way to a tug
boat, and got round 10 the Milwaukes
depot, where he found the colored man
waiting for him with the trunk, accord +.
ing to promise. Mr.. Tincham paid the
man the 1000, and started for Milwau-
kee, where the money was safely depos-
tied in the bank.
/ saw q man on Monday night looking
intently and seriously nt his block Of .
tive-story houses, on Water street, then 1
writhing and roaring in the flames. I
knew him and watched him. His case 4
was rivised.- / pitied him heartily, for
judged that he was on the verge OF .
despair. At last ventured 10 approach 1
and break his reverie. "Well, Blake, I
what are You thinking OF 2" said 1. /
" Ah-hl said he, with smile, al was /
thinking that the rats must be catching
hell |"