Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-10-14
The Chicago Fire,

d,,d The Chicago Fire.
The best account we have met with Of this
terrible calamity, so appalling to every human
heart throughout the land, is the following
condensed report taken by the Cleveland
Hsrah. from the lips 0t a resident Of the ru.
ined ciiy-Mr. G. II. TAYLOR, managing agent
of the Chicago branch of the Cleveland Paper
Company Mr. TAYLOR left Chicago on Mon-
day Nsysning. His account is intelligent con.
else, clear and grapic, embracing as good
general view Of this perhaps unparalleled con.
fasralion as will be likely to lall in the read
er'sNay:
The fire commenced on the West Side, in
house on Hastead street, between Bunker and
DeKorcn streets, short distance north OF
Tweith street. From this point it travelled
enthusiastically, crossing the blocks diagon-
AllyEuhtil it reached Des PLANES street, near
Polk In this vicinity was large planning
min, which took fire and burned with intense
heat From this building came all the mis-
chiG The wind was blowing furionsy, and
fakrs Of fire from the burning mill wcIe
carrhd long distances, causing flames to burst
out in dozen places NJ once, though widely
separated. One line of fire Travelled rapidly
in q north.easiwardly direction ncross the
South Branch Of the Chicago river, between
Pope md Harrison streets, and reached the
lake at Congress street. At the same time
another line of fire was travelling more north.
wardy, crossing the river near Van Buren
street, whilst the flames continued to go due
north along Canal, Clinton, and Jefferson
strsgts
phe wind blowing furously from the south
carried the burning fragments so far north.
ward that fires burst out almost simultunc.
ously all over The district between Harrison
street and the Chicago river This territory
contains the best business portion Of Chicago
including the great Wholesale and retail cs-
tablishmenis, The banks, hotels, newspaper
Offices, court house, custom house and post
office, chamber of commerce, telegraph build
ing and railroad dcp0ts. With the speed Of
prairie fire the flames swept through this
vast amount of properly and converted 1t into
q raging hell. Sa sudden and unexpected
was the spread OF the flames that there was
little time for saving property.
But the fury of the lire was not stayed at the
river. The burning brands were carried
across far upon the North Side, and the flames
swept from the river up to Lincoln Park, car
rying everything before them. The water
works on Pine stscet and Chicago avenue,
were destroyed, and the supply of water being
Gu, off the flames had il all their own way.
The fire did its work perfectly. Brick,
stone and wood, fire-proof blocks and wood
shanties shared the same fate All were lev
eled 10 the ground Here and there a chin
ney stands. or q fragment Of wall, but over
what was the finest part Of Chicago the eye
can range unobstruc,ed save Ly smoke What
was once Chicago Is now plain covered with
confused heaps OF bricks at II white heat.
Streets are blolted out, and not landmark
remains TO show even tue Oldest resident
where he stands. Such complete obliteration
cannot be conceived possible. unless it Is seen.
The fire. after it had passed norlhward,
tumed for time and commenced travelling
southwark along Wabash avenue. Ii was ut
this iine that Lieutenant General Sherman
came OF the field and commenced blowing up
buildings. In company with Surgeon Ash
and Mayor Mason he drove rapidly through
the menaced dislricts with cans of powder
and blew up HOUSES wherever 1t wm ne
eess4ry to stop the names. A house on Wa
bash avenue, just south Of CnngFess street
sRAi next door to that OF Mr. haain, wa
blown up, which stopped tho soulhwasd pro
gress Of the aames
The river. Was crowded with shipping, an(
these az q matter OF course. were destroyed
30 rapid was the progress ol the flames TIA
twas impossible 10 remove them from The
danger in time. A number Of the finest el
eVators In the city were burned.
The Cours House records are supposed I,
be destroyed, though rumOr was eurren
that q portion had been removed To one O
ths tunnels and possibly sayed, There wer
grave fears as TO the safety of the bank vaults
bat the fact In regard TO them cannot b.
known until the rulhS cool of. The Nlchol
SON pavement burned up, the hTe travelling oI
the pavement as Il progressed along tive blockI
The wooden sidewalks burned lkc linder an
assisted In spreading the fire.
Thousands Of people were on the stree
Monday evening without food OF shelter
Men, who on eanday were worth million
were sfzing On Monday night on the curl
stone with thsif families pennless aud hungry
MANY or them who were supposed enormpnl
y wealthy are now worse than penniless, %
ing len without money and heavily 10 debt