Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-11

Monroe and Madison streets were soon reach
ed, the intervening blocks from the river to
Dearborn street on the east being consumed.
Three quarters Of mile Of brick blocks were
consumed as if by magic. 1t being Sunday
the proprietors and employees were at home,
utterly unconscious of what was Transporting.
None who saw the flames but supposed it
was the remains of Saturday nights fire, and
having confidence in the fire department
were unconcerned. But betweed III and IL
o'clock a rumor got abroad that the fire was
in the business portion of the city. Now the
people commenced moving. Horses were
brought into requisition to take proprietors
and others to the confagration. The board
of trade, court house, western union tele-
graph and associated press offices, and hun
dreds of other buildings were all in flames.
The air was filled with live Goals which were
hurled north and east. The fire engines
were powerless. All man could do was to
blow up buildings. But this availed but
little 1t seemed that no sooner had the
flames struck a wall than it went directly
through, and very few moments suff1ced to
destroy the most elaborate buildings. The
wooden paved streets took fire making
continuous sheet of flames, two miles long by
mile wide. No human being could posi-
bly, survive.
$40 z. M. Word is just brought that
a fierce fire is raging on 3lst street, two miles
south of the southern limit on the south side,
and little less than that from the west side
This has been set on fire for the purpose of
destroying the remainder of the city. 1t is
largely occupied by wealthy residents. 1t is
also known that two men caught in the act of
firing building have been shot and two others
let off with ropes round their necks. As the
mi is htntpipp a.
not be foretold.
Hundreds were trampled under foot Men
and women loaded with bundles and household
goods to whose skirts were clinging tender
infants one-half dressed and barefooted wera
all seeking place of safety Hours after
wards these might have been seen in the va
cant lots or on the streets in the suburbs,
stretched in the dust. 1t is fearful to think
of the loss of life. 1t is conjectured with
good cause that nearly 500 have been burned
too death. We saw four men enter bum
ing building and in a moment they were over
whelmed by falling wall There were crowd
of men around the corner of a building try
ing to save property when the wall yielding
some were buried beneath it. Twelve or if
teen men women and children rushed into
the building of the Historical Society, a
ire-proof building, for safety. In a few
minutes the flames burst upon them and they
were burned to death. Among those who
took refuge in this bnilding was the venerable
Col. Samuel Stone, so years old; also John
b. Gerard and wife and Madame Defelgrame
a noted teacher of music. 1t is feared that
DIR. Fererar and family were also burned, as
they were in the building and have not been
seen since. Mrs. Edsall, whose husband was
murdered last week and who was suffering
from illness, was carried away for protection
to building which was afterward consumed,
and it is feared she also persisted.
All the books and papers of the Historical
Society, including the original copy of the
famous Emancipation Proclamation of Pres-
dent Lincoln, for which the society paid S25.-
600, were destroyed.
1t is feared that large number of children
inmates of the Catholic Orphan Society on
State street, were also burned, as many of
them are missing. On Chicago avenue, a
father rushed up stairs to carry three chill
dren away, when he was overtaken by the
flames and persisted with them. The mother
was afterward seen on the streets a raving
maniac. In the same neighborhood q family
of five persons persisted. The lists of such
fatalities are very long and can only be fnlly
verified after the smoke is cleared.
There are hundreds of families on the
northwest side who saved no clothing but
barely their lives. Among these are the fam
lily of Perry Smith, formerly President of the
Northwestern Railroad Company.
LATER.
A CAREFUL survey of assurances to-day
shows that there were written on property
destroyed over $500, 900, 900. Add another
800, 000,0 600 and a fair estimate can be
reached of the loss. All the leading mer-
chants who have been seen express a deter
mination to resume business at once.
The evening Journal and Tribune hope to
publish small sheet tomorrow.
The temporary office of the Western Union
Telegraph Company is thronged by thous
ands, anxious to advise their friends of the
arrangements made by the post office author
tiles for sending, receiving and distributing
all mail matter.
Trenton, N. j., 10. Gov. Randolph has
issued a proclamation urging all people of
State to give literally for the relief Of Chica-
go. He will personally attend to the prompt
transmission of cloth, food, &C., and will
appoint assistance throughout the State to aid
the committee to forward their donations
Portland, 10. The Mayor has called a
meeting of citizens Tomorrow morning to
raise money for Chicago sufferers. A con-
siderable amount of clothing, &C., has al
ready been given.
Buffalo, n. y, 10 A mass meeting of citi-
zens, presided over by the mayor, to-day en-
dorsed the action of the city authorities in is
suing the $4,000 in bonds yesterday for
Chicago. A subscription was opened at the
Board of Trade after the citizens meeting,
and liberal amounts subscribed. Another car
load of provisions left for Chicago to-day.
News From Washington.
Washinuton 10 The Drinfprs in tho cav