Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-10-12
these lines the whole surrounding countr


/, burning city, and the scene even at this
distance is appalling. The roads are
thronged with fugitives, who are vainly
seeking shelter for the night. Vehicles of
every description are constantly arriving,
and learn that all the roads leading from
the city are in similar condition. The
agony and terror at present prevailing in
the immediate neighborhood of Chicago
are simply awful and heartrending, and
the spectacle is one that will probably
never again be witnessed on this continent
In century.
THE FIRE RAGING AT $50 THIS NOR
L. NING-oNE-FoURTH OF THE CITY DE-
i sTRoYED.
The same correspondent again tele-
: graphed at 2:30 this morning more def
} nitely this: One-fourth of Chicago is in
ruins. The fire is still burning. 1t began
at 81 o'clock Sunday night. The West
division in Taylor and Halstead streets
are swept to the Northeast and South,
burning an entire area of five square miles
from Halstead North to the river and
from the river East to Lake Michigan.
/ The fire then crossed the river to the North
side and swept uninterrupted to Lincoln
Park, taking in its way churches, schools
and dwellings. No business house is left
in the South division. All the railroad
depots, theatres and newspaper offices, in
Guiding the Tribune, Post, Times, Jour-
nal, Mail, Zeitung, Union and Ad0ance
The water works and gas works went
early in the night, so there was no water
in the city. Steam engines arrived from
Milwaukee, but were useless. A fearful
loss of life was occasioned because of the
falling of walls. A vain attempt was
} made to tear down blocks to check the
flames. Buildings are now being blown
up on the South side. Ten thousand
business men will be compelled to make
assignments, and an insurance crash is
inevitable.
Desolation and sorrow universally pre-
vail. The river is impossible between
the West and South divisions, except at
the twelfth bridge, all others being burn
ed, and it is feared this remaining one
will be crushed beneath the overwhelm-
ing traffic Five thousand poor families
are homeless and penniless. Help should
be sent at once to the poor. The wind is
still boisterous, and if it turns North
nothing can save the Western division.
The present loss is estimated at from one
hundred to two hundred million dollars.
The fre-proof buildings burned like tim
der, especially banks, not one of which
remain. Few business houses saved even
their papers. The whole population was
busy all night, aud the streets are now
like bivouac with sleeping men. The
loss of life is impossible TO estimate. The
shipping ordered into the North branch
} of the river was sent adrift into
Michigan. Many vessels were burned
All business is suspended, and must re-
main so for the present. Tremendous eff
forts were made to save the Tribune and
Post, as we'll as the City Hall and govern
ment buildings. Nothing remains but
blackened stores and cracking cinders.
No papers can be published until the type
, comes from elsewhere, as the type foun-
dries are also burned.
The origin of the fire was in stable,
where a woman took kerosene lamp at
milking time.
large number of fremen were killed,
they did their duty nobly, hut the streams
of water on the burning blocks were like
fountain jets against the awful heat of the
conf lgration.
The new hetel, eight or nine stories
high. just completed, sent up pyramids Of
solid fame, making the water OF Lake
Michigan ruby -colored for miles the
burning bridges along the river swinging
graceful arch of fire from shore to shore
Burning ships sailed in the crimson
waters All the churches in south divi-
sion, the Convent of Mercy, all railroad
buildings and front mansions on Michi-
gan and Wabash avenues are gone. Tde
very pavements are burned, Rumor says
|
Park, a southern suburb, and is moving
north. If this be true, the destruction of
the remaining portion of the southern di-
vision cannot lie prevented. Oae hundred
squares are already burned in south di
vision. The population will probably be
reduced $4,000 ia ii month. Business
men cannot resume unless substantial
help is sent from E at and West. About
100000 employees, engaged in mercantile
business, are out of employment. Streets
leading to the unburnt part of the south,
and all leading to one unbroken bridge
west, are completely blocked by all kinds
of vehicles, carrying sick and injured
people and blackened furniture. The
county records are safe, but the city
records are lost. Mayor Mason has re-
ceived dispatches from st. Louis, Mil
waukee, Detroit, Louisville, and else
where, inquiring what they shall send.
He asks for cooked food for 10000 house
less persons. Let every person contribute
hi. full share at once.
| THE FIRE ALL oUT-HEAvY RAIN FALL
SOUTH DIVISION DESTROYED.
New YORK, Oct. 10.
The fire drove the operators of the
Western Union Telegraph Company from
their temporary location at the corner of
Sixteenth and State streets, last night, at
II o'clock, They then removed to the
corner of Twenty secondhand State streets,
but were driven from that point at three
o'clock this morning. The fire has swept
down Wabash avenue and State street to
the suburbs. The whole southern por-
ton of the city is in ashes.