The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-06
Incidents of tne Chicago Fire.

pictIf Of thei-egne =
The ~ burned across Clark street,
destroy yd d. fence thatbounded the old
German cehsstsry from the street, and
swept across O. grass and devastated
the graves. AEllnt many family lots
were enclosed m wooden fence. In
every instance these FENCES were burned,
aud where the head boards We're of wood
these also We're consumed. Stone
memorials We're overturned, and the
fire in its utter iendishness actually
burned into the ground to the depth Of
foot in some instances. Not satisfied
with this it continued on its destructive
career and burned all the vaults and
their contents. One lnrge receiving
vault must have containedIt 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 most
fantastic manner, 1t appears now like
n flagstaff, with flag on its peak, lior.
rible idea The demon Of fire waving
Il flag OF victory over death The whole
surface of the cemetery is scorched 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, II number of women who
were bearing bedding and other inham-
mablc articles, We're overtaken and their
dresses and their burdens fred and it
was only by the presence Of mind exer-
cised by the men, who forced these wo.
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 MI the dead by the fire have
been buried in the County Pottcr's
Field, no one being able to recongnize
the bodies.
A correspondent relates the following
Notwithstanding story: As l was pass
ing by the burning Post-oilice / was
chained to the spot by the shrieks and
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 We're sleeping of the
effects OF intoXication and debauch.
Crazy drunk and petritied with fear, Il
number OF them were trying to get out
through the alley entrance. The flames
,, from the Post-oilice building drove them
bnck, and with horrible curses on their
lips they staggered back to perish in the
ruins. No one could assist them from
; that side, but signal was made fol
them to go around to the Dearborn
street side, and here II number were
assisted to the ground by firemen and
citizens. About twenty-five rushed oui
through the Madison street door with
nothing but their night clothing on and
a dress hastily snutched up in theii
hands, All were possessed with the one
idea Of personal safoty. They ran wild
| ly up and down the street, all in the light
!, of n thousand fires, exposing their naked
l ness to the eyes Of thousands, but nc
: one took note Of such scene then. hui
y to many who saw it the recollection
thereof will not fade for many day
: How they bewailed their fate How
5 some OF them cursed their luck, then
Maker and the day they came to Chi.
cago
OF the courage of those who lost all
e by the fire, the following incidents arc
: reported by a correspondent | met II
: friend walking thoughtfully around with
piece OF lead pipe. As l approached
Q and saluted him he stopped, slapped the
{ lead pipe down on brick wall till il
| mashed flat, and then said ado, that
4 pipes all I've got in the world but |
I begin again tomorrow" | met mnn
, on the night of the fire who had lost first
his store and then his handsome resi-.
| dcnce on Michigan avenue. He was
/ Juggling around 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 If |
} can't find another and build house to
, it," One more Il saw Bakcly, editor
| of the EreHing Post, lowering around in
front OF the ruins Of the Office. He pick
| ed up II brick iacetiously, and spat upon
it. What for" asked. "Seeing
whether they're cool enough 20 clear ont
aud build over again" was the reply.
This reveals all Of the spirit of cheer.
tulncss there is. The mirth is rather
, forced there is plenty of pluck, but it
has solid substrltum of serious med
itatiOn.
\ story is told Of wcll-lnown ban.
kcr, ms Enthusiastically morning, be.
fore the fire had reached TINT building,
Mr.. Tincham, OF the Illinois National
Bank, went to the safe, and succeeded in
getting ont $500, 900 dollars. This pile
Of greenbacks he packed into common
trunk, and hired II colorcd man for 81 600
TO convey it to the Milwaukee depot,
Fearing 10 be recognised with the pre-.
ciOus load, Mr.. Tincham followed the
man Mt distance, but soon lost sight o.
him. He WINS then overtaken by the fire,
and driven toward the lake. After sev.
eral narrow escapes from suilocation, he
succeeded in working his way to tug.
boat, and got round to the Milwaukee
depot, where he found the cUlOrcd man
waiting for him with the trunk, accord.
ing to promise. Mr.. Tinchnm paid the
man the $1,000, and started for Milwau.
kec, where the money was safely depos.
itcd in the bank.
saw man on Monday night looking
intently and seriously at his block Of
tive-story houses, on Water street, then
writing and roaring in the flames.
knew him and watched him. Ills glse
was rivited. | ptied him heartily, for
judged that he was ON the verge of
despair. At last ventured to approach
and break his reverie. "Well, Blake,
what are You thinking of ?" said /.
"Ah-hl" said he, with a smile, 81 was
thinking that the rats must be catching
l,,IItN