Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-11
THE GREAT FIRE,
TERRIBLE SCENES IN CHICAGO,
FE.sRFUL Loss OF LIFE.
1ncendiarieo Hung by the Excited People.


duty, and has issued an order for one hundred
thousand atoms. Five hundred soldiers are on
duty there. This nrecaution is rendered neces-
sary, for, as remarkable as it seems there were
hends who sought to extend the disaster
INCENDIARIEs HUNG.
Two men were caught in the act of fring
houses IN the west end of this city. They were
arrested and Immediately hung to lamp posts bv
the Infatuated people.
SEEMING BUSINESS LOCATIONS.
A few business men with some nerve are sock
ing houses for business in the west side Room,
that rented last week for $50 now readily com
mand $4,000. There are not many of these but
enough to allow few business men to start.
~ THB NEWSPAPERS
VIII be started again in few DAYS or weeks.
Hon. Joseph Medill, OF the Tribune, who was
one OF the heaviest sufferers succeeded in leasing
a brick building on Washington street, at the
tunnel. He also purchased two single cylinder
presses, used in a job Office on the west side and
has telegraIhed East for paper and type, there
being nothing left in Chicago. Mr. Story nj.
the Times, viii erect a rough one-story Building
and begin the issue of that paper as soon as
material can be procured. The journal is pro-
vided for on the the west side, and the Post.
Republican. and Stats Zeitung will also ar
range for business as soon as practicable but
everything must come from elsewhere. There
Is nothing left. Water, for drinking and house
h0id , use is secured cure frcm lake and parks
THE PEOPLE CAM NC OFT.
, There are a thousand people camped about
the artesianwell, four miles out, and perhaps "a
many more at the lake and on Fullerton and
Victor avenues, near the prairie. People were
led in the remaining churches and school
house, in the sheds, and on the rOadsdes.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN OF THE
PIRE.
Late on Sunday evening a boy went into a
stable on Dekoven street, near the river, on the
west size, 10 milk COW, carrying with him a
kerosene lamp. This was kicked over by the
COW, and the burning fluid scattered among the
straw This was the beginning of the fire. a
single extinguisher on the ground. or the active
work of the police in tearing down one OF two
shanties, would have prevented the spreading of
the flames; but the engines were waited for, and
their eXertioDs at the fire of SATURDAY. night
worked slowly and clumsily.
THE WOODEN PAYMENTS
burned readily, making a continuous sea of fire
miles in length. Block after block fell, and red
hot Goals shot higher and higher, spread further
and further. until the north side was a vast sheet
OF lame from river TO lake. At one time it so
hemmed the people that it was expected thous-
ands must perish
CONSERVATION OF THE PEOPLE
Inc sherman, fremont. and other hotels were
emptled OF their guests, and the remarkable
slght presented itself of hurrying thrOngs, with
trunks, sacks, or bags on their shoulders fleeing
amid the flames for their lives. Those who could
made ior the remaining bridges; others got next
to the lake shore and to the south. One block in
all the vast business section remained at day
light, viz The Tribune block.
There was change in the wind; the flames
reached Wabash, State street and Michigan ay-
enue. Soon McEicker's Theater caught fire.
In few moments the Tribune was in flames
and at the last moment the sleepjnp men were
aroused and rescued. By 10 O'Clock in the fore
noon this remaining block was in ashes.
TERRIBLE SCENES IN THE DISTRACTED CITY.
There were from fifty to seventy-fve thousand
men, women and fleeing by every avail
able street and alley to the southwark and west
ward. attempting to save their clothing and
their lives. Every available vehicle was brought
mo requlsition for use, for which enormous
prices were paid, and the streets and sidewalks
presented fearful sight. Thousands of per-
sons and horses inextricably cOmmingled. Poor
people, OF all colors, shades, and of every ma
tlonality, from Europe, China and Africa mad
with excitement, struggled with each other to
get away. Men and women loaded with bundles
ana Their household goods, to whose skirts were
cfnging tender infants, half dressed and bare
footed, all were seeking a place of safety.
Hours afterwards, these might have been seen
III vacant lots, or on the streets tar out in the
suburbs, stretched i'm the dust.
A PITIFCL SIGHT.
One OF the most pitlful sights was that of a
middle aged woman, on State street, loaded with
o., struggling through the crowd, singing
the Mother Goose" melody,
'Chickey, chickey, craney crow,
went to the well to wash my toe"
There were hundreds of others likewise dis
uacted, and many made desperate by whiskev
or beer, which from excess Of thirst they had
drunk in the absence of water in great qIanti-
ties, who spread themselves in every direction
that there were
Five HUNDRED PEOPLE BURNED TO DEATH.
-Four men were seen to enter a burning build
ing, and in moment they were overwhelmed
by the falling wall There was a crowd of men
around the corner of building trying to save
property, when the wall yielding, some of them
were buried beneath it. About twelve or fifteen
men, women and children rushed into the build
ing of the Historical Society," fire. proof build
lng-fOr safety. In few moments the flames
burst up and they were burned to death. Among
those who took refuge in this building was the
venerable Col. Samuel Stone, eighty years of
age, for long time connected with the society:
also, John b. Gerard and wife, and Mime De
Pelgrove, noted teacher of music. 1t is feared
that DIR. Frcar and family were also burned
Mrs: Edsall, whose husband was murdered last
week, and who was suffering from an Illness
was carried away for protection to a building
which was afterwards 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,
iPresldent l.incon's,) for which the society paid
S25,CC0. 1t is feared that
LARGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN
inmates of the Catholic orphan asylum, on
State street, were also burned, as MANY of them
are missing. On Chicago avenue a father
rushed up stairs, to carry his three children
away, when he was overtaken by the flames.
forwards seen on the street a raving IN aniac. In
the same neighborhood family OF five persons
persisted.
THE LOSSES.
A careful survey of insurance shows that there
were written on property DESTROYED over $500
C0O,OCO. Add another 500, OO0, 900 to this sum-
anu estimate can De reached or the loss,
BUSINESS TO BE RESUMED AT ONCE.
All the leading merchants express a determi-
nation to resume business at once. At meet
ing OF the business men yesterday a spirit was
manifested to at once set to work and rebuild
the city and restore business. A special meet
ing of the legislature is to held to provide for
aiding the business men and provide employ
ment for the poor.
Fears are entertained that the desperate dis
tress Of so many will create squad of pillagers
and that lite will not be safe. To relieve this
Gen. Sheridan is telegraphing for more troops,
and special police force is being organized by
the citizens.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE PIRR.
Flames issuing forth from buildings on both
sides Of the street would unite, and present a
solid mass Of fire, completely filling the street
from side to side, and shooting up hundred
feet above the housetops. Huge walls would
topple and fall into the sea Of fire without an
audible sound, the roar Of the fierce elements
being 50 great that all minor sounds were swat
lowed up. Many buildings situated along South
Water street buried their red-hot rear walls In
the water, into which they plunged with hiss
INSTANCES OF MEANNEss AHD SELF
IsHNESs.
One person was trying to remove valuable
papers from his office, and asked two firemen 70
help him, but they refused unless he paid them
eco. The papers were destroyed. The drivers
Of express wagons have taken 800, and even
$500 for one hours use of their vehicles in get