The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1871-11-02

the great plague Wulcn ussu cNrEtCu ou
one-third Of the population in the previ-
GUS year, and swept over nearly five
sixths of the space included within the
city walls at that date. 1t lasted four
DAYS, and the ruins covered 436 acres.
1t destroyed eighy-nine churches (includ-
lag st. PauPs,l the Royal Exchange, the
Custom Home, GmldhAli, Zion College
and many other public buildings, besides
1920 private houses. Four hundred
streets varo entirely laidwestyand about
zoe, 900 Of the Inhabitants Of the city
weps obliged to encamp for some time IN
theopen fields Of Isliagton and Highgate.t
The most disastrous fire in London since
that date occurred on the 25th of March,
l748, when two hundred houses in the
Cornhill ward were destroyed. Many
destructive fires have occurred in the
British metropolis at later dates, the
most recentfworthy of special notice be-
ing the burning of the cotton and other
wharves in Toolcy street in June and
July, 1861. The fire continued raging
with greater or less fury for nearly a
month. Several persons were killed,
and property was destroyed to the value
of e., 600, 600.
On the 9Th of May, 1872, fire broke
out in the city OF Hamburg, Germany,
which ragged with great fury for four
days, destroying about one-thlrd OF the
city. Sixty one, streets, containing
l,747 houses. were utterly laid waste
and thousands of people were rendered
homeless. There were few public build
ngs of value destroyed, and that por-
ton of the city was quickly rebuilt!
in much more substantial manner than
before.
In this country great fires, especially
before the day Of improved fire engines,
have been comparatively frequent, and
New York has had her full share. In
September, 1776, soon after the city
came INTO the hands of the British, five
hundred houses were destroyed, forming
1T that time large part OF the town.
The buildings were rather huddled to.
sctherat the lower end of the island, and
were mostly of wood, and the district
west of Broadway and below Cortland
street were swept bare. New York was
visited by another great coniagration,
the greatest in it's history, Oh the 10Th OF
December, 1885. Six hundred ware
houses and property to the extent Ofovei
S20,000,O0O were consumed. Our old
estinhabitants still remember the horrors
of that terrible disaster. On the 9Th OF
September, 1889, the city had another
severe visitation, when forty six buildingi
and property valued at SIC, O00, 600 were
destroyed. The next confagratiOn o.
large extent in this city took place or
the 18th of July, 1S45, when three hun
dred and two stores and dwellings in the
lower part of the city were destroyed
These, however, were Of comparatively
inferior value, the whole loss amounting
to s6,00O,O0O. Four lives were lost OF
this occasion. Since that time, owing t.
the increased efficiency of the means EN-
ployed to prevent and extinguish fires
they have generally been confined to
single building or a small group.
In the same year of the last great fir
in New York, 1S45, Quebec suffered ter
ribly from the same destroying element
On the 18th Of May, fire broke out il
the Faubourg st. Roch, which destroyed
L5QO buildings before it could be quell
Sd Several lives were also lost. Elk
hctly one month later 800 building
were burned, and by these two confla
grations nearly .two-thirds of the cit,
were laid in ruins. The pecuniay los
has been stated ut sS,0OO,OO0. In tn
same year, on the 18th day of June
nearly the whole town of st. Johns
Newfoundland, was destroyed, ant
5000 people were rendered homeless.
Albany suffered from a great c0nfa
grafton on the 9th of September, 1865
Six. hundred buildings, besides steam
: boats piers and other property yalue
together at s3,O0O,000, were burned
Twenty four acres ofland within the cit,
limits were covered with ruins.
st. Louis had q great fire in May
2 l849, when fifteen blocks of houses an
twenty steamboats, were consumed
causing loss of over 100000.
Philadelphia has been fortunate il
having few great fires, but one occurre
in that city on the 9th of July, 1855
which destroyed $50 buildings. Thes
were of inferior value, and the Who'll
loss was but 81 SOC, 900, though twenty
five persons were killed, nine drowne
and 120 injured. an
A large portion of San Francisco va
destroyed in 1851. On the Sd of May
fire broke out which consumed nearl,
$500 buildings, causing loss of IS, 900,
600 and several lives. A little over
month later, on the 22d of June, so
more buildings were burned, valued a
81, O0O, 900 or more.
Z Twelve acres of land, in Syracuse
were burned over on the Sth of Novem
Der, 1856 About one hundred building
were destroyed, and tho loss of property
amounted to 81, 100000.
The scene most naturally recalled By
this fearful disaster in Chicago is tn
terrible celebration of the Fourth full
IN Portland, Me-, in 1866. The leadin!
facts Of that great event are still fresh il
. the public mind. The fire beginning il
boat shop on High street. swept north
and destroyed in its course nearly one
halt of the city. The pecuniary los.
was about SIS, 1000, 900, and one-fourtf
Of the population were rendered house
less. 1910
It seems probable from the reports
thus far received that the terrible fire
in Chicago has no parallel in moderu
Il