The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-10-14

rance Block. first Methodist Church, Sc. Mary's
Catholic, First rrssbytesisn, Sscond Prosbyte-
nan. Trinity Episcopsl,) St. Pauls Universal.
ist,) Swedenborgisn Church, Wabash Avenue
Methodist lpartially J Birch Block. Palmer Block,
Michigan Southern Depot Acs6emy of Design,
Chicago Academy of Music, Bryant s. Str.ttons
Commercial College, Jewish synagogue, Phepix
Club House. Mayo Block, Orake-F arwell Block.
Tribune Block, Journal and Times Offices OF.
Gee of the Post, Mail, and Stats Zeitung, Repub-
lican Office. Lombard Block, Storxesl Block, Far.
we'll Hall. Morrison Block, Arcade Building,
Stones Block, Armcry, Hubbard Block, Chitten.
den Building, Root u Cadys Lyon & healys,
smith q Nixoa's kimbaIls. Bauer's s. Molter's
music stores, Metropolitan Hall and Music Hall.
This list, of course, includes only very few of
| the business blocks Of the South Division, but
| such as prominently occur to us in recalling the
former condition OF these once busy streets.
SCENE FROM THE TRIBUNE BUILDING.
The sight from the window of the Tribune
| Building was one the like of which few
have ever seen. At fifteen minutes to 2
| O'Clock the view was like this: To the south.
| west rose cloud of black smoke, which, col
| ored with the lurid glare of the flames which
| caused 1t, presented remarkable picture.
Due west another column of smoke and fire
rose, while the north was lighted with the
| flying cinders anc destructive brands In ten
minutes more the whole horizon to the west,
| Is far as could be seen from thu windows, was
frey cloud, with flames leaping up alo the
| whole line, just showing their heads and sub
| siding from view like tongues of snakes Five
| minutes more wrought a change. Peal after
peal was sounded from the Court House bell.
The flre was on La Sale street had swept north,
and the Chamber OF Commerce began to bech
forth smoke and flame from windows and
ventilators. The east wing of the Court House
was alght: then the west wing, the tower was
blazing on the South Side, and OF 2 o'clock
| the whole building was in sheet of flame.
The smok in front grew denser for minute
| or two, and then, bursting into blaze from
| Monroe to Madison streets, proclaimed that
Farwell Hall and the buildings north ant;
south OF it were on fire. At 10 minutes past
So'clock the Court House tower was a glori
| Gus sight. 1t stood a glowing, almost daz-
{ zllng trellis-work, around which was wrap
ped sheet--a winding sheet-ot flame. At
| quarter past two, the tower fell, and in two
| minutes more crash announced the fall of
| the building. The windows of the office were
hot. and the flames gave light almost daz-
| zllng in its intensity. 1t became evident that
| the whole block from Clark to Dearborn and
from Monroe to Madison must GO that the
| block from Madison to Washington must fol-
| low. Portland Block was ablaze, while
everything from Clark to Dearborn Oh Wash
lngton street was on fire. AT go the fire
was half way down Madison Street; the wind
blew hurricane the fire brands were hurled
along the ground with incredible force against
everything that stood in their way. Then the
flames shot up in the rear of Reynolds Block,
and then the Tribune Building SCENE doomed.
| "A uNal a 70 ,lo 4;
valuabes, which were moved into the compos-
ing room but the building stood like rock.
dashed on two sides by raging waves of fame,
and it was abandoned. 1t was a fre-proof
building, and there were not few who ex-
pected to see it stand the shock The greatest
| possible anxiety was felt for 1t, as it was the
Key to the whole block, including McVickers
Theatre, and protecting State street, and
wabash and Michigan avenues north OF Mad
lson street. When the walls of the REYNOLDS
Block fell, and the Cobb's BUILDING was no
more, the prospects of its standing were good.
several persons went up stairs and found it
cool and pleasant,-quite a refreshing haven
| from the hurricane of smoke, dust and cinders
that assailed the eyes.
Meanwhile the fire had swept along north
| ward and eastward The Briggs House, the
Sherman House, the fremont House, had
| lalen In few minutes. The bridges from
wells to Rush streets were burning: the
Northwestern Depot was IN blaze, and from
Van Buren, street on the south, far over into
the North Side, from the river to Dearborn
| street, the whole country was mass of
| smoke, flame and ruin. Itseemcd as if the CITY
| east OF Dearborn street and to the river would
besaved. The hopewa strengthened when the
walls iell OF Honore's. noble block, without
iigniting that standing opposite. The vacant
| lot to the south seemed to protect 1t, and at T
| o'clock on Monday morning the whole of the
region designated was considered saved, no
tire being visible except a smOuldering fire in
the BARRIERS shop under the Tribune office,
which, being confined in brick walls, was not
considered dangerous. Every effort was made
to quench it, but the Water Works had gone
up, and the absence OF water, while 1t an.
nounced how far north the flames had reach.
ed, forbade any hopes of qucnching the fire
below.
SCENES ON WABASH AVENUE.
The scene presented on Wabash avenue on
Monday, for period extending from 4
o'clock A. NJ. till late in the day, was a most
extraordinary one, calling to mind most wildly
the-retreat of a routed al nay. The lower part
of the avenue had, at an early hour. been &C.
cupied by residents OF burning quarters, who
sought safety for themselves and their chat.
tells by deposting them on the grass plats
skirting the side walks. For long distance
these plats were occupied by families, mostly
of the lower classes, with their household
goods They supposed that they had dis.
covered a place of security, but their conf
dcncc in this regard proved unfounded. As
the fire commenced snrea1lnp nm fha avanuo