Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-10-26
Scenes and Incidents Of the Great
Chicago Fire.

i!lc ilc, say > 4il9 ieSiVi, S'NSi y. LIZ
lake and the great Lincoln Park, seemed
to offer safety So great rush was made
for the palk, and the refugees made them
selves comfortable in the delusion Of secu-
rity. After ravaging to the limits of the
city, with the wind dead against it, the
fire caught the dried grasses, ran along the
fences, and in a moment covered IN .
burning glory the Catholic Cemetery and
the grassy stretches OF the great park.
The marbles over the graves cracked and
baked, and fell in glowing embers on the
hot turf Flames shot up from the rest
of the dead, and the living fu-
gitives, screaming with horror, made for
moment the ghastliest spectacle that ever
fell upon livingeyes. The receiving vault,
solidly built, and shrouded in foliage, fell
under the terrific flame, and the dead
burst from their coffins as the fire tore
through the walls of the frightful charnel
house. In the broad light of to-day the
place is the most ghastly l ever saw, not
even Cold Harbor exceeding it in awful
suggestiveness Above the graves char
red stones stand grim sentinels Of the
dead, no more memorials Of anything but
disaster. Every inscription has disap-
peared, and even the dead are robbed by
the flames.
1t seemed that eacl. hour of that long
night developed some new and terrible
phase of suffering. A woman came run
ming up to group of gentlemen and ask
ed # there was q doctor anywhere in the
crowd. One was soon forthcoming-a
DR.. Miller-and he was informed that his
services were required to assist the pro-
gress of child into the world. Hereturn-
ed in an hour and reported that the deliv
cry had been safely accomplished, and the
mother was "doing as well as could be
expected" No less than three children
were born in Lincoln Park within fifteen
hours-prematurelv, doubtless, by the ex
citement of the scenes through which the
mothers had passed 1t was very COM
mon sight 10 see people stretched out on
a pallet of straw, suffering from different
diseases, many Of them having been sum-
moned from sick bed at home to save
their lives.
A diminutive sheet, bearing the familiar
name of the Chicago Eccning Post, but
very unfamiliar in its makeup and gene
raj appearance gives forth the same un-
daunted, CHEEKY tone Of old, and speaks
encouragingly thus:
The people of Chicago are in ashes
and mourning but they are alive with
hope and courage. Only while their en-
ergies were employed in checking the de-
struction of their homes and business
houses We're they deferred from tie work
of beginning again Only yesterday Chi
cago seemed a smoking, charred and hope
less ruin. To-day it is almost itself again.
Enough is saved to make beginning
and beginning every man, woman and
child seems determined to make
The basement OF the Chicago Court
House WAS the County jail Nearly $50
prisoners were confined therein 1t is re-
ported, but ! know not with what cor
rectness, that nearly all these prisoners
were left locked up in their cells, and
that they were burned alive The sto-
~ is, that the jailor and the turkeys,
toreseeing the great danger, released some
twenty OF the prisoners and marched them
ac:oss the river to the police station Of The
second precinct. Thinking they would be
,ble 10 return in ample time, the officers
locked up all the great doors leading to
the Jail. On their rcturn, however, the
old Court House was one sheet of fam.
The intense heat kept every one back, lud
al thcs. human bcin9s were left to their
horrible late
There was large jewelry store and
6aak nearly opposite. The fire had touch
ed these, and the doors had been broken
open to let the fremen run their hose
through the buildings. William Tracey
and Barney Aaron went for the jewelry
store, while Brown and lIunday struck for
the bank. Both parties We're captured
Two lalap-posts were convenient, and
some Of lie citizens special police elcva-
ted Tracey and Aaron thereon but
sweeter irte befel Messrs. Munday and
Brown. They were captured by some OF
the infantry from Onlaha-men who speak
to thief with the butts of their muskcts,
md ask him where he is going with the
muzzle The consequence was natural.
SIunday and Brown were stood up with
,hcir backs against the wall Of house
md the rifles of The soldiers did the rest.
So ended the Chicago career Of the Aaron
gang OF thieves.
In three cases persons jumped from the
windows, and two children were tied up
in beds and thrown from the fourth story
window, and landed on the pavement un
INJURED A Mr. Jarvis had broken leg
rom springing from .hc second story win
low, and others were bruised from the
same cause.
Many people in the haste of their es-
cape, abandoned everything, even to jew
.lry and money. l saw one fellows pock-
It half full OF iewelry and watches.
spoke of it, but in an instant he lost him
.elf from my view in the crowd. saw
negro with a. ladies
,hatelaine chain suspended awkwardly at
Ms vest The little girl | had, walked
until the hot pavements blistered her lit
lie feet then We carried her. Is papa
md mama burnt -? Is Neddie burnt
up dead ?D she piteously asked. Late at
light we found them all safe, 1t was
nearly morning before we obtained shelter
md food. | never want to set eyes upon
Chicago again.
At the intersection of Randolph and
was large building (Cal
om's,) used for Offices. The janitor resid-
ed on the fourth flo with his family, con-
'isting OF wife aud four children. B.
his they were unable to escape Sur
rounded by fire, they ascended to the roof.
The babe was in the mothers arms, and
another child, little boy, clung to her
skirts. Two girls were clasped in the arms
of the father Their shouts were but faint
y heard over the howl of the winds and
.he roar of the flames At last the heat
oecame so intense that the woman was
overcome and fell to the roof The father
wildly threw out his hands and staggered,
vrithed and sunk by his wife's side. That
was all of that holocaust tragedy. The
shoes and clothing of all the party at
.ested the severity of the ordeal through