The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-20
Thousands Of Families
Rendered Destitute.
Cuisines Completely
Suspended.

From the Chicago Newspaper Union, Extra, Oct. O.
Chicago seems doomed by the fire
tiend. On Saturday afternoon, Sept.
Goth, a conflagration visited that city in
the shape of the destruction of bonded
warehouse and property to the amount
of about 100000. During the week
following several minor fires took place
in the city, the engines and firemen re-
naming in their houses scarcely three
hours at time without call, and on
Saturday evening, Oct. 18th, about III
o'clock, while engaged in eXtinguishing
a fire on Wells street, South Side, an
alarm was sounded from box No. 24S,
West Division. This alarm, it was as
certained, was occasioned by the dis
covery of fire in the boiler room of the
planning mill Of Lull & Holmes, situated
on Canal street, between jackson and
Van Buren,. All the engines not en-
gagged at the Wells street fire immediately
repaired to the scene Of destruction in
the West Division, but before they got
into operation the building in which the
fire originated was enveloped in flames.
The absence OF rain for the past three
or four weeks, has rendered everything
so dry and inhammable in Chicago, as
we'll as elsewhere throughout the West,
that spark will start fire-will
sweep for miles without interruption.
Only few minutes after the striking
Of the alarm, flames were seen sweeping
to the sky, and the lurid light that H.
Illuminated the horizon grew more and
more powerful, casting its brilliant rays
in every direction, bringing out in bold
relief the fronts of the buildings which
faced the burning element. The wind,
which was blowing very strong from the
southwest, carried with it sparks. Gin
ders and partially burned pieces of
wood, which covered the sky in daz.
cling spanglcs, and fell in fiery showers
upon the buildings lying north and
northeast Of the burning mill These
soon ignited, and, at one o'clock were
one mass Of flame or charred ruins. By
this time every engine in the city, and
those belonging at Bridgeport and Blue
Island, were at work trying to arrest the
progress Of the devouring element.
This, however, was not done until nearly
a fifth block was destroyed.
The boundaries of the CONFEDERATION
were as follows; Between Clinton and
Canal streets, about three-fourths of
the area south toward Van Buren, street.
Between Canal street and the river,
about nine-tenths of the area south
toward Van Buren, street. Between
Canal street and the river, and Adams
and jackson streets, the entire area.
Between Canal and Clinton streets. and
Adams and Jackson streets. about
seven. eighths Of the entire area. On
the east side of Canal, north of Adams.
about one hundred feet frontage, this
being the freight sheds of the Adams
and United States Express Companies.
As nearly as can be estimated,
the total area burned over covers about
twenty acres, which is by far the largest
district ever devastated by fire in Chi
cago, even eclipsing the famous confa-
grafton of 1857.
On jackson street, aside from the
planning mill above mentioned, and the
lumber yard connected with it, the
property consumed consisted of dwell
ings barns and outhouses, which were
all old and dry as finder. Clinton street
north Of Jackson was also covered with
dwellings and few small carpenter
shops. On Canal street in the rear of
the planning mill was box factory of
Mr.. Foster which was DESTROYED.
Among the most prominent sufferers
on the east side Of Canal street, next
the river were the Union wagon works /;
Chaplin N Foss, manufacturers of lath
and shingles, John Sheriffs & Son, lum-
D1l 4
W. f. johnson, coal dealer; and the
blacksmith shops of the Pittsburgh and
Ft. Wayne II. II. Co. The majority of
the sufferers on Adams street between
Canal and Clinton were families who
lost nearly all they had The Adams
street viaduct wa wrapped in flames and
damaged to the amount of about 81 900.
The losses in the above fire cannot be
less than Il million dollars.
THE WEST SIDE.
Last night about nine o'clock a fire
broke out in barn on the corner of
twelfth and De Koven streets. occa-
stoned by cow kicking over lamp.
An alarm was quickly sounded. but the
high wind prevailing at the time caused
the building to burn and the fire TO
spread rapidly, and before the engines
reached the ground several buildings
were in flames and the firemen were
forced to give way to the devouring ele
ment.
ITS COURSE.
The fire spread rapidly in am easterlv
and noftheasterly direction, devouring
everything in its track, and soon the
two blocks from Jefferson to Clinton
and from Clinton to Canal, were envel.
oped in one sheet of flame. Crossing
Canal street, the fire crept steadily