The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-10-25
TORNADO UF FIRE IN CHICAGO.
Origin and Progress Of the Great
ConAagration.
Pictures Of Extraordinary Street
Scenes.

Pictures Of Extraordinary Street
Scenes.
THE FLAMES SWEEP Across THE RIVER
Intense Excitement on the East Side-Sub-
lime and Awe-Inspiring Spectacle
Fleeing Before the
Fire-Cloud.
THE HOMELESS MULTITUDE.
We copy as follows from the St.
Louis Republican:
CHICAGO, ILL.,,
October 10.
The greatest confagration of modern
times has been raging in this city since
10 O'clock on Sunday night. We have
been visited by an appalling calamity.
Only two days ago this was one of the
prondest cities on the American CONT
nent; to-day more than one third in
extent, and twO-thirds in value, of this
great city are but ashes, and brnken
walls and heaps of rubbish. Those at
a distance can have not the slightest
remote conception of the extent of the
ruin wrought. Even the coolest intel
lects are awe stricken at the magnitude
of the disaster. Language is made
quate to describe the scenes by which
we are surrounded. Dispatches could
have given but faint conception of
the vast extent of the district devasta-
ted and the value of the property des-
troyed. Your correspondent realizes
to the full the utter inpracticability of
any effort to give your readers any
thing like complete account of the
great confederation which has destroy
ed this fair city. In the midst of con-
fusion, of the widest scenes, with
smoke clouds over me, and black and
smoking ruins before and around me, l
undertake to give as succinct account
of the origin and progress of the fire,
and describe such scenes connected
with it as the circumstances of the case
seem to require. Perhaps nothing like
the disaster of which / write has Oc-
Cured since men began to keep records
Iof events.
SCENES DURING THE FIRE.
In a catastrophe of this character it
is impossible that any thing like a full
presentment of details can he made, or
indeed ever will be made. As in a
great battle, even spectators of the
whole progress of the terrible devasta-
ton are poor reporters of what they
actually saw. The excitement, the
magnitude of the panorama of horror
so absorbs, SO fascinates the faculties,
the incidents and particulars of each
minute are forgotten even if clearly
seen. Standing in comparatively
safe spot near the junction of the North
and South rivers, surveyed waste of
ruin and fame extending to the lake in
front and on either hand far beyond
what it was possible to see, and then,
perhaps, more than at any other time,
the magnitude of the great calamity
burst upon my mind. The conflagra-
ton was still furiously progressing,
but I looked not so much at the fiery
line fighting so fiercely, as to the will
derness Of ruin over which it had so
remOrselessly swept. Where are the
traces of architectural statelihess p
Where are the proud structures, the
magnificent stores and business palaces
which had been the glory of Chicago
Vanished as if before the breath of an
enchanter. Nothing left even to iudi-
cate their misunderstanding but the
reverse Of their greatness and beauty.
Here, where stood a proud and exul-
tant city-is nothing but rugged,
chaotic expanse of desolate destruction
Ian unsigltly broken plain, still hot
with unsnbdued fame, and rolling up.
ward dun colored cloud of smoke
Here and there were walls in which
were hinge gaps, and Jagged peaks rose
with bleak uneven profile, while be.
tween such stark sentinels were wide
spaces covered with that black and
horrible debris which only tempest O.
flame can leave behind. The lines o
streets were obliterated, for SO intense
had been the action of the heat and the
force of miles or flame famed by {
wind-storm, that houses not merely
crumbled and fell, but burst open ant
scattered the materials of walls on al
sides, while the lighter wooden stuff 0
the interior was tern up into the air by
an awful suction and shed abroad from
a great height. Before the power o
such fire even the biggest structures
yielded up its whole space-it seemed
as if in moment. Walls fell outward
or inward as if melted or uprooted
and the flames bounded onward with
speed uncomfortable. The extraOrdi
nary speedy demolition of building,
was owing mainly to their being at
tackled on two or three sides by fame.