Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-10-13
PREVIOUS GREAT FIRES.
Some Figures and Comparisons,


"There was suddenly and unexpectedly
seen glorious city laid in waste the hab-
itations turned into rubbish; estates de-
strOyed the produce and increase of many
years hard labor and careful industry all
in few moments swept away and con-
sumed by devouring flames. To have seen
dear relatives, faithful servants, even your
| selves and families, reduced from plenti-
full, affiuent, comfortable trade and fortune
over night, to the extremist misery next
mOrning! Without a house to shelter
goods, to accommodate, or settled course of
trade to support. Many forced in old age
to begin the world anew; and exposed to
all the hardships and inconvenience of
poverty"
Could the condition of Chicago be more
faithfully portrayed? The number of
houses destroyed in London seems, as far
as we can Judge at this writing, to be not
far from those burned in Chicago. The
fire spread over three hundred and seven
ty-three acres Thirteen thousand two
hundred houses were consumed. More
churches and depots-eightyseve of the
former and six of the latter-Were de-
strOyed than have probably met the same
fate in Chicago. The amount of property
lost in London was estimated at &10, $780,
800, about $50, 100000 a sum much greater
in the 18th than in the 10Th century. At
present values it would equal $3.50, 100000.
FIRE CHECKED BY BLOWING UP BUILD
| ' INGS.
| CHICAGO, October So p. M.-ThG pro-
| crossing flames in the South Division were
| finally arrested about l O'Clock this after
noon. This was accomplished by the
| blowing up and demOliShing of several
| buildings, on Wabash avenue and Con-
! gress street, by Lieutenant General Sherl-
| dan. The district burned over in the South
| Division embraces everything from the
main branch of Chicago River to the lake.
embracing about one hundred blocks, and
this district contained all the leading bust
| ness houses, the banks, insurance offices,
| hotels, &c; a large number of churches,
including st. Mary's, (Catholic), Trinity,
| First Presbyterian, Second Presbyterian,
| st. Paul, Swedenborgian, &c.
! The Methodist Church, on the corner of
| Wabash avenue and Congress street. is
saved. The Michigan avenue Motel, on
| the corner Of Michigan avenue and Con-
| gress street, and Congress Hall, directly
| adjoining on Congress street, are saved.
| Michigan Terrace. on Michigan avenue,
| embracing the residences of Lieutenant
| Governor Bross, Hon. John ScammOn, 5.
| G.. Griggs, Peter l.. Ross, and other lead
ing citizens are completely destroyed, with
| furniture and nearly all other contents.
THE INTENSE HEAT.
The heat was so intense at times from
some of the burning buildings that they
could not be approached within $50 feet,
which accounts for the manner III which
! the fire worked back and often against the
wind. The fire, after reaching the bust
ness portion, Randolph and South Water
streets, leaped the river into the north
side in an incredible short space of time,
and thence among the wooden buildings
on that side reached Lake Shore. After
| touching block after block, after happily
dwelling with its fierce blaze, q scene of
more pOwerless effort to fight an enemy
| was never presented than that of this-the
people trying to combat the fire fiend, The
combat was not of long duration, for the
people bowed their heads in anguish of
spirit and suffered the fiend to have I'M
trammeled sway; and we'll and thorough
ly has he done his work, and nothing Of
past history of civilized nations chronicles
any effort of his to which this present
one can be compared; SO in all future time
the great Chicago fire, when mentioned,
will bring to the hearts of its participants
pang of anguish, to future generations a
simile Of everything that is frightful and
terrible.
THE!.sOULLEss.
While there are a great many instances
of generous devotion on the part of rich
and poor in dividing with the destitute,
there are painful instances of meanness
and selfishness. One man was trying to |
remove valuable papers from an office and |
asked two firemen to help him, which they |
refused to do unless he paid them fifty dol |
lars the papers were destroyed. Drivers |
of express wagons took as high as one, and |
even five hundred dollars for an hours use
of their vehicles in getting distressed peO- |
pie away.
A CARNIVAL OF DRUNKENNESS.
Among the sad accompaniment of the |
calamity was to be seen hundreds of men |
and bows beastly intoxicated around the |
streets of the North Division, where saloon |
keepers stocks were turned into the |
street, and furnished convenient oppor-
tunity for the qualification of those slavish |
prOpensities. There can hardly be doubt !
that many of these poor wretches found |
their death in the flames.
STARVING IN THE STREETS.
The Herald reporters furnish the follow
ing:
Women and children are going around |
the burnt district vainly seeking some
thing to satisfy their hunger. They ask |
for relief but there is none to give them.
No one has provisions or money. what |
provisions there were in the city are now
burned or eaten, and some few people have |
pION1SIOuS W 1eloO AOA q INV |
longer. Provisions have arrived from De-
troit, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and st. Lou
is, and are being distributed as fast as pos
sible. HEEe tE0H-s |
THE HARVEST OF DEATH.
TWenty-three bodies have been taken to |
a station on the north side. At the present |
time it is impossible to know who they t
are.
AS night comes on, the want of gas is
keenly felt. There are few candles in the |
city; no water except what is gotten from
the lake.
Very grave fears of outrages by thieves |
are felt on every hand.
Gen. Sheridan, who has been hard |
worker all through the fire, is still sending
for troops to keep order. -... s-.. ..-.
All business is suspended and every one !
is seeking something to eat and shelter.
TERRIBLE SUFFERING ON THE NORTH SIDE i
IL, 4, j l. NJ