The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-10-17

be a slow proceeding, rs there are parts
Of districts over which it is almost impos-
sible to travcl--prcscnt indeed harrow.
ing scene.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
Different reports have been given oil
the origin of the terrible calamity, but the
following is believed to be correct Late
on Sunday evening II boy went into sta.
BILE on Dekovcn-st., near the river, on the
West Side, to milk COW, carrying with
him kerosene lamp This was kicked
over by the COW, and the burning fluid
scattered among the straw. This was the
beginning of the great fire. A single
fire.cxtneuishcr on the ground, or active
work by the police in tearing down one
or two shanties, would have prevented
the spreading of the flames but the en-
gines were waited for and when they ar.
rived, the 6rcmcn, stupefed by their ex-
ertions at the fire on Saturday night, work.
ed slowly and clumsily. Their efforts
were unavailing, however, as the wind
blew a gale from the southwest. The
flames spread rapidly from house to house
and from yard to yard, until the district
burned the night before was reached
Meanwhile the flames had crossed the
river north of Twelfth-st., to the South
Side, and threatened the brick and stone
business blocks, railroad freight depots
and manufacturing establishments.
The full extent of danger was then re.
allied for the first time. The wind blow.
ing a stiff gale had possession of the
flames, and the beautiful buildings, Chi.
cago's glory lay before them. Harrison
Van Buren,, Adams, Monroe and Madi.
son-sts. were soon reached, the interven.
ing blocks from the river to Dearborn-st
on the cast being consumed. Thrce-quar.
tors of mile Of brick blocks were con.
sumed as if by magic. 1t being Sunday
proprietors and employees were at homt
utterly unconscious of what was taking
place. Those who saw the light Of this
fire supposed it was the remains Of Sat
urday nights fire, and having confidence
in the Fire Department, were unconcorn.
ed but between ! and II o'clock a ru.
NOR got abroad that the fire was in the
business portion oil the city. Then the
people commenced moving Horses were
brought into roquisition to take the pro-
prietors and others to the conhagration
What a 3ene met their gaze The air
wa filled with live Goals, which were
hurled to the north and east carrying de.
struction everywhere. The fre.engue'
were powere,s tor saving. All that mel
could do was to blow up buildings, but
this availed little. The Times, Tribune
Post, Republican, Journal, and other
newspaper offices, the Western News
Company block, Field Il Letters estab.
lishment, the Drake Block (rccently
built, Farwell d Co.'S, all were soon in
ashes. 1t seemed that no sooner had the
flames struck wall than it went directly
through, and very few minutes sufliccd
to destroy the most deliberately built
structure. The walls melted, and the
very bricks were consumed.
The wooden pavements even took fire,
making q continuous sheet Of flame two
miles long by mile wide. No human
being could possibly survivcimany min
utes, Block after block fell, and the
red-hot coal shot higher and higher, and
spread farther and farther, until the north
side Of Lakc-st. was vast sheet Of flame
from the river to the lake. At one time
so hcmmed were the people that it was
expected thousands must perish. The
Sherman, Fremont, and other hotels were
empticd of their guests, and a rcmarka-
Bile sight presented itsclfin the hurrying
throngs, with trunks, sacks, or bags on
their shoulders, fleeing amid flames for
their lives. Those who could, made for
the remaining bridges, others got next to
the lake shore, and - south.
Az ISLAND IN SEA OF FLAME.
One block in all the vast busin IS sec
ton remained at daylight-viz, The
Tribune block. The Custom.IIouse and
Honore block, in Dearborn-st., had burn
ed, and those who had fought the flames
here thought at least this block could be
saved \ patrol Of men under Samuel
Medill swept off live Goals and put out
fires in the side walls, and another gang
of men, under the direction Of the Hon.
Joseph Mcdill, watched the roofs. At l.!
all appeared safe, and most Of the men
went to get rest or food, \ number went
to sleep on The Tribune building, but
there was a change Of wind. The flames
recched Wabash-ave., Safest, and
Michigau.ave., and soon McNicker's
Theater caught fire. In a few moments
The TriJune building was in flames, and
at the last moment the sleeping men were
aroused and rescued from the flames By
10 o'clock in the forenoon this remaining
block was in ashes.
THOUSAND PEOPLE FLEEING
FOR THEIR LIVES.
Now was to be seen the most remark
able sight ever bcheld in this or any coun-
try. There were from $4,000 to 10000
men, women, and children fleeing by
every available street and alley to the
Southwark aud Westward, attempting to
save their clothing and their lives, Every
available vehicle was brought iuto re-
QUESTION for use, for which en~rmous
prices were paid Thousands of persons
commingled with horses and
vehicles, poor people Of all colors and
shades, and of every nationality-from
Europe, China, and Africa-mad with
excitement, struggled with each other to
get away. Many were trampled under
foot. Men and women were loaded with
bundles, to whose skirts children were
half-drcsscd and bareiooted, all
seeking place of safety. Hours after
ward these people might have been seen
in vacant lots, or on the streets far out in
the suburbs, stretched in the dust. These
are the homeless and destitute, who now
call on the rich world for food and cloth
ing. One Of the most pitiiul sights was
that of middle-aged woman on Safest,