The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-10-11

and for houses from the river Their
are thousand people camped about fou
miles out, and perhaps four times as man.
more at Lake View, and on Fulton ave
nue. near Prairie. The people are beinl
fed in the remaining churches and schoo
houses, in sheds, and by the road sides.
was cold and chilly this morning, causing
great suffering, but 1t is now clearing u
again, But instead Of this being welcome
the people are praying for more rain, s.
fearful are they of continuation Of tn
fire. This IS the situation this morning
Further information will be sent as rapid
ly as received, meanwhile we give re
port of the fire and Its incidents, especial
ly prepared for the Associated Press, b,
those who witnessed and fought tn
flames throughout,
Late Sunday evening, a boy wen
into a stable on DeKover street
near the river on the West Side
to milk COW, carrying with him
kerosene lamp, this was kicked 0Ve'
by tho COW, and the burning fluid
scattered among the straw. This was
the beginning of the great fire. A single
extinguisher on tho ground, or active
work by the police in tearing down one
or two shanties, would have prevented the
spreading of the flames. But the engines
were waited for, and when they arrived
the iremGn, stupifed by their exertiona
at the fire Saturday night, worked slowly
and Clumsily, and their efforts were un
availing, The wind from the southwest
blew gale rapidly tho flames shot from
house to house and from board yard tC
board yard, until the district burned the
night before was reached. Meanwhile
the flames had crossed the river north oI
Twelfth street to the south side and made
for the brick and stone business blocks
railroad freight depots and manufacturing
establishments. The full extent Of the
danger was then realized for the first time
Tho fire department, already tired out
worked like heroes. Tho Mayor and
his city government that had supineIy
rested, now began to exert themselves
but the opportunity had been lost at the
time when thorough organization could
have blown up buildings, or prepared for
the emergency, was neglected. 1t was
now Il fight for lie. Tho wind blowing
a swift gale had possession, and the beau.
tiful buildings of Chicago's glory lay be.
fore them. Harrison, Van Buren,, Adams,
Monroe and Madison were soon reached,
and intervening blocks from tho river to
Dearbourn street on the east being con.
suned. Three.quarters Of mile Of
brick blocks were consumed rs II Iby
magic. ILbeing Sunday, proprietOrs and
employees were at home, and those who
saw the flames, supposed 1t was the re.
mains of Saturday nights fire, and hav.
ing confidence In the Fire Department,
were unconCerned, but between=11 and
19 o'clock, a rumor got abroad that the
fire was in the business portion Of
the city, then the people com.
menced running, horses were brought
into rcquisition to take the pro.
prictors and others to the Confia.
grafton. What q scene met their gaze.
The Board of Trade, Court House, West.
ern Union Telegraph and Associated
Press Office, and hundreds Of other
buildings were all aname. The air was
filled with live Goals, which were hurled
to the north and east, bosom Of de.
struction. Fire engines were powerlesS
for saving, all that men could do was to
blow up the buildings, but this Nvallcd
but little. The Times, Tribune, Post, Re.
publican Journal and other newspaper ofIl.
ces, Western News Company, Blockheld
& Senters establishment, Drake Block re.
Gently built and Farwell's & Co., all were
soon in ashes 1t seemed that no sooner
hadthe flames struck wall than II went
directly through. A very few minutes
sulIlced to destroy the most elaborRtely
built structure. Tho walls melted and the
very bricks were consumed. The wooden
pavcments took fire, making q continuous
sheet OF ilamo two miles long by a mile
wide. No human being could possibly
survive many minutes. Block after
block fell and the red hot coal
hot higher and higher and spread
farther and farther until the North
side Of the lake was a vast sheet OI
flame from the river to the lake. At one
time so hemmed in were the people that
II was expected thousands must perish
The Sherman, fremont, and other hotels
were cmptied Of their guests and re.
markable sight presented itself in hurry.
ing throngs, with trunks, sacks, or bags
on their shoulders, fleeing amid tho flames
for their lives, and those who could were
making for the remaining bridges, and
others got next TO the lake shore and
SOUTH One block In the vast business
section was all that remained at daylight.
The Tribune block, the Custom House
and lTonori block, in Dearborn street, had
burned, and those who had fought the
flames here thought Mt last that this block
could be saved. A patrol Of men under
Samuel Medill, swept OIL the live Goals
and put out the flames on the side.
walk, and another lot o! men under
direction of Hon. Jos. Medill, watched the
roofs. AT 1880 this appeared safe, and
most of the men went to get rest or food,
A number went to sleep in the Tribune
building, but there was a change Ofwind
the flames reached Wabash, State street,
and Michigan avenue, and soon McVick.
er's Theatre caught fire, and in few mo.
mnnIs the TribMnh Mns In namea Al lhr