Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-10-18
The Fire.

"Chicsgo 10 ashes :" short and laeon-
ie A. i this simple communication Of Mr.
Mason. the Mayor Of Chicago. u sTsks
volumes to the whole civilized world. For
DAYS We have been compelled 10 face the
fact that nearly al that was valuable IN
that great Western metropolis has been
DESTROYED and yet, i would still seem
almost incredible bat for the agoniEed cry
which comes continually Wailiug over the
telegraph wires imploTing cur broiheFly
aid aud sympathy.
Since our last many details OF the
vast conaagratiOn have reached Us but
an event Of this magnitude will make vol
ums Of history aud needs time TO prepare
il. The losses It Is now thought viii reach
fully $4,000, 900. The wires bring
the welcome intelligence that a few AZ
sassins aud thieves who sought to reap
rich benefits from the eity's great misfor-
tune, have been summarily dispatched,
either BY suspension from lamp-pos.s, or
by the leaden death messenger. \ few
New York thieves left for the scene Of
the FIRE upon receiving the FIRST despatch
cs, and arc now beyond this vale OF tears,
having been hanged or shot while prosecut-
ing their fcndish work.
As community, Chicago has sprung
up with such rapid growth as to excite
the wonder Of the world. New York.
Boston, New Orleans, and the older prin-
cipal cities of the Union, though OCCASION
ally indulgiug in jealous sneer at what
they were pleased TO term the "mushroom
growth" of Chicago, have all the while
felt an honest pride in this monument of
Western enterprise. Only thrty-hve
years ago Chicago had population Of
thousand souls. Last week over one hun
dred thousand of its inhabitants we're
sleeping on the shore of the lake, on the
prairie, or in its desolted streets. Many
more homeless ones arc cared for and
housed by the two hundred thousand of
their ielow.cltiLcns who have a roof left
over their heads.
The destruction of the entire business
portion of a city like Chicago, though
falling With terrific force on America, will
necessarily be felt in every great COM
mercial city in the Old World. The COM
munity which increases from one thousand
10 three hundred thousand in thlrty-hye
years is such one as deals with the I'M
iverse. The largest known grain and
packing market cannot be suddenly para
lyzed without the effect being felt where
ever telegraph wire reaches, whether
overland Or under the ocean-in London
aud Bombay, in Shanghai and in the
Brazis. But in addition to this central
and commanding trading position, the
merchants of Chicago have always been
remarkable for their spirit Of enterprise.
Railways, canals telegraph companies,
stcamboats--every form of inventon bears
testimony to their fostering aid. Every
Western emigrant who, worn out with
trying TO exc out scanty subsistence in
his own country, has sought the orpor-
tunites which the rich lands Of Ohio and
Illinois offer. has had reason to bless
Chicago. The lovers of the Union know
well what she did how nobIy she expend-
ed her blood and treasure in the dark
days when the preservation Of the ideal
was trembling in the balance. Is the
outpouring Of sympathy and more sub
stantial aid which this terrible calamity
has evoked not something more than mere
Christian charity? Is it not the offering
to Chicago OF her just dues, the acknowl-
cdgment that her merchants have done
honor to and conferred benefits on our
common country tribute of national
affection and pride }?
Chicago at this moment presents a
touching spectacle, which has made her
kin with all Christendom While crying
for help she bears up nobly and bravely,
and with characteristic spirit sets to work
to rebuild her dimmed but not lost great
ness. She means still to be one of the
most important marts of the world. AL
ready her bankers are opening new count
ing-houses; already her merchants are in
New York buying fresh stocks Of goods,
the great West will soon replenish her
empty grauaries. The fiat of her people
has gone forth. Chicago is to be rebuilt,
and that at once. She will rise Phoenix
like from her own ashes. and once more
astound the commercial world by her bust
ness enterprise.
Lamoile County was we'll represented
among Chicago's best citizens, and of
course have suffered with the rest though
the amounts Of the losses and the pros
poets of the sufferers is not as yet reported.
We can say, however they pos es large
amount of the "Lamoillc spunk" and true
Yankee grit" and will not be behind
those of any other locality in recovering
from the shock.