Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-10-18
The ClIIcag0 MOrrOr.
DETAILS Am PARTICULARS.


week, that the rayages of the fire in Chicago
had been overstated, and that on inyestiga-
ton it would be found that the damage would
not be as great as it was estimated has been
destined to a cruel disappointment. The fol-
lowing details of the calamity we have CLEAN
ed from various sources and they are I'M
doubtcdly correct
THE BOUNDARIES or THE FIRE.
Twenty thousand acres have been burned
over. On the south side the fire was stopped
at Harrison street, which street it did not
cross at all. From this everything is burned
north to the main river. From the south
branch on the west, to the lake on the east,
excepting block Of five stores, including
Fuller Finch d Fullcr's, the largest drug
house in Chicago, between Market Street and
the south branch and the lake, and Randolph
street and Illinois Central elevator which are
not injured On the north side everything
from the river north Into Lincoln Park and
from the lake to Clairbourne avenue, aud the
north branch, is swept clear, except the resi-
dence Of WIN. b. Ogden, situated in the cen
tire Of aud occupying an entire square.
GENERAL APPEARANCE.
One thing particularly strikes the passen.
gers through all the stroets-the absence Of
everything Of a combustible nature Brick,
stone and iron abound, aud make up what
ever is left Of the most magnificent and cost.
ly structures Dirt, in the ordinary sense Of
the term, has vanished all is clean, but oh,
how desolate Another thing is the uniform
ity Of the destruction The marble palaces
and cheaper brick and mortar blocks lie in
common disorder There is no distinction,
except in the presence Of iron pillars and
marble door and window ornaments The
pavements are burnt broken aud strewn with
dcbris-not impossible, but dusty and smoky.
THE COURT HOUSE.
Bleak smoked, hollow and dc,olate, upon
the scene, rear the walls Of the Court House
--scene Of many distressing and exciting
trial, of local legislation and public business
Not only have the roofs "buckled," but the
entire structure looms up ruined monument
Of departed greatness. The old fence re-
mains, with the tessellated pavements, but the
glory of the tribunals aud Council chambers
are things of the past
IN THE NORTH DIVISION.
The "scene" in the North Division from
the time the flames showed their terrible pres
ence there, beggars description approaching
anything like what really occurred Those who
had time, caused their furniture aud other eff
fects to be placed on the sidewalk 10 front of
the various buildings in which they resided,
ready to be carried off. Before however, We.
hcles Of any kind could be procured the
flames had deyoured the interposing struct-
ures and in less time than it takes to write it,
had seized upon the piles of furniture and
driven the owners away to seek security
This occurred in thousands of instances.
Many succeeded in reaching what they con-
sldered safe distance from the FIRE, but in
half an hour were forced to fee again and
again, many families moving" halE.dozon
times in the face of the fearful element each
time leaving behind the portion of the goods
they had saved, until finally they found they
had lost all.
Towards the lake, northward northeast
ward, westward and towards the northwest
focked the thousands of pallid featured citi.
zens, in all conditions Of health and distress.
1t would take too much time and space to-day
to describe the heart-rending spectccles which
were presented and witnessed. All means of
communication with the South Division were
cut of, which fact tended to render the general
horror, dismay and confusion the more general
as the flames steadily pressed onward, and no
one knew where to 60 or where the dreadful con.
hagration would end Expressmen aud others
demanded from S25 to 500 load, to even
take sufferers and their baggage out of reach
Of the flames, and in many instances such sums
were paid by persons who soon found the
flames close at hand and then, being unable
to obtain more aid, had to leave their good:
to the fury of the greedy element
NORTH SIDE.
All of that portion of the city lying be-
tween the river, east Of Clark street and wes
Of the lake, and as far north as Fullerton av
enue, is entirely destroyed, except the resi-
dence Of w. b. Ogden, corner CLARK and Oal
streets, and nearly the glass conservatory, ant
also three or four buildings west of Lincolr
Park. These few land marks are all that re
main of that once beautiful part of the city
even the "city of the dead"--the old bury
ing ground-was not exempt from the ravage
of the fire, it being burned over, leaving thu
tomb-stones looking most sad
The wind, when the fire was raging south
Of Lincoln Park, was so strong as to blow
down shade trees, and at this point some 70 ul
blocks were consumed in twenty minutes
Even the vaults were burned in the bury
ing ground. The drives in the park, in
stead Of being as once scene of pleasur,
driving, were filled with vehicles carryin,
homeless sufferers, and what could be saveC
from the wreck. Near the junction of tn,
river, on the North Side, there remains few
buildings, and the coal yard Of Blake, White
house & Co. The saving of this coal yarC
is as much mystery as the fire itself Will
the foregoing exemptions, the whole district
north Of the river, west Of Clark street, L
Fullerton avenue north, and to Mohawl
street on the west, is one complete scene o
desolation, except one block on Sophia street
and how this block could escape none coulC
comprehend. The northwest part of the nortl
side, being the outskirts Of that part of Tia,
city, remains. This however, is 80 small
part as to furnish but little house room fol-
the sufferers.
A NEW LEADER.
Yesterday afternoon, when the fire wa
rushing southwark along Michigan and Wa
bash avenues like race.horse and hremei
and people were paralyzed, new leader sud
denly burst upon the scene General Sheri
dan, fighting Phil, who can fight rebels o
flames, spraDg upon FIRE engine and mad
one of those sharp, stirring speeches for whic
he is noted. He told the people that if the
would save the city the FIRE line must be broke
by gunpowder; the buildings must be blow
up, and if they would 20 to work systemati
cally he would assist them. The effect wa
electrical. The crowd recognizing the her
Of 80 many battle fields, and having faith i
his leadership, replied with long hurrahs, an
acting under the Generals orders, in a fe,
minutes so many buildings had been blown u
that the FIRE line was broken and the souther
portion Of the city was saved from destruction
TUE WIND.
The palm Of devastation must be accorde
10 the wind. Had it not been for the fore
Of that element the ravages would have bee
checked before they became serious. Burnin