The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-10-17
continuation of the fire. This Is the
situation this morning.

situation this morning.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
Further information will be sent as
rapidly as received, meanwhile we give
a report of the fire and its incidents, es'
pecially prepared for the Associated
Press, by those e'who witnessed and fought
the flames throughout
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
Late Sunday evening boy went into
a stable on DeKovenf street, near ths
river, on the west side, to milk COW,
carrying with him kerosene lamp
This was kicked over by the cow, and
the burning fiuid scattered among the
straw. Such was The beginning Of the
great fire "A Single extinguislier on the
ground, or the active work Of the police
in tearing down one or two shantie.,
would have prevented the spreading OF
the fames, but the engines were waited
for and when the firemen arrived, stupa.
fed by their exertions at the fire on Sat.
urday night, they worked 80 slowly and
clumsily their efforts were unavailing.3
The wind from the southeast blew gale
rapidly the aanhes shotfrom house 10
house, and from boardyard to boardyard,
until the district bcrned the night before
was reached. e ao,sss 4-'e lsl7s 20
SPREAD OF THE FLAMES.
Meanwhile, the flames had crossed tho
river north of Twelfth street to the south,
side, and made for the brick and stone
business blocks, railroad and freight de-
pots, and manufacturing establishments.
Only now the full extent Of the danger
was realized for the first time. The FIRE
department, already tired out, worked
like heroes; the Mayor and his city gov:
ernment that had supinely rested, now
began to exert themselves, but the, ,op,
portunity had been lost. The time when
thorough organization could have blown
up buildings or prepared for the emer-
| eency, was neglected, and it was now q
! fght for life. The wind blowing stiff
gale had possession Of the flames, and
the beautiful Buildings, Chicago's glory,
= Harrison, Van Buren,, Adams, Monroe
and Madison streets, were soon reached
the intervening blocks, freih the river to
! Dearborn street on the east, beiug con-
sumed. Three; ;fourtls of a mile offbrick
blocks were consumed IS If by magic
It. being Sunday, proprietofs and EN-
ployes were at home utterly unconscious
of what was transpiring. Those who
saw the flames supposed. it was the re-s.
mains of Saturday nights FIRE, and hav-t
! ing confidence in the fire department
were unconcerned; but between eleven
and twelve o'clock rumor got abroad
that the ire was in the business portion
of the city, when people commenced
running. Then horses were brought into
requisition to take proprietors and eths
ers to the cenfagration. EiSoG ~
What scene met their gaze. The
Board of Trade, Court House, Western
Union Telegraph and Associated Press
Office, and hundreds of other buildings
were all afame; the air as.flled with
live Goals which were hurled to, the north
east, bosom of destructi on.
The Ere engines were powerless for
saving. All that the men could do was
to blow up buildings, but this 1availed
but little The Times, Tribune, Rephb.
lican, Journal, and other newspaper Off
ces, the Western news Company, the
BlockGeld establishment, the Drake
Block, recently built, ,Farwells 4 Co.'S, all
were soon in ashesi z 1t seemed that no
sooner had the flames struck wall,tha
/ it went directly through, and-a very few
minutes sufficed to destroy the most
elaborately built structure. The walls
melted and the very bricks were con:
sumed. e. yire 49, aciyssi,:s - -.
/ The wooden pavements took fire, ma.
king continuous sheet Of fame two
miles long and mile wide.s No human
being could possibly survive many min;
utes. Block after block fell, and the red
| hot Goals shot higher and higher and
spread farther and farther. until the north
4 side was vast sheet of fame from the
j river to the lake.
i At one time, 80 hemmed in were the
i people that it was expected that thou.
sands must perish The Shefnans sTre.
mont, and other hotels were emptied of
their contents, anda remarkable sight
presented itself in the hurrying throngs
with trunks, or bags, or sacks on their
shoulders, fleeing amid the flames for
their lives-tliose who; could making for
the remaining bridgesi Others got next
i to the lake shore, and so to the south. II
THE LAST PRINTING OFFICE.
But one block in all thisysst business
| section remained at daylight,the Tnbtine
block. The Custom House and Honore
block, on Dearborn street, had burned,
and those who had fought the flames
here, thought the Tribune block could be
saved, and aspatro. of men, under Sam.
uel Medill, swept off live Goals and put
/ out the flames on the side walks, and an
other lot of men, under the direction OF
Hon Joseph Medill, watched the roof :
At half-past seven o clock this appear
ed safe, and most of the men went to get
rest and food A number went to sleep
in che Tribune building. but there was a
change of wind, and the flames reached
Wabash avenue, State street and Michi-
gan ayenuei and soon McVieker's thea,
ter caught fire, and in few moments the
Tribune Office was in flames. At the last
moment the sleeping men were aroused
and rescued from the flames. s si@aes
| By ten O'clock in the forenoon, this re-
naming block was in ashes
MOST REMARKABLE SIGHT TIE. WORLD EVER
SAW. S-'
Now was to be seen the most remark
able sight ever beheld in this or any
/ other country. There were from fifty
to seventy five thousand men, women
and children fleeing by every available
street and alley to the southwark and
westward, attempting to save their cloth
ing and tlleir lives. = Y ~
Every available vehicle was brought