The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-10-21
The Chicago Fire.

The country has not yet recovered from
the severe and terrible shock it experienced
from its centre 70 it's circumference, by tho
sudden aud appalling calamity which has
befaTen Chicago, the fairest city OF the
great Northwest Almost literally may 1t
be said, Chicago was, but is uot-it has van-
ished, rolled together like the heavens and
the earth in the awful vision of the Apoca>
lypse, ''as a scroll in the flames" The
human mind may conceive, but no pen can
adequately describe, the ruin, woe and des-
olstion that have swept over that doomed
CITY. The stoutest heart sickens and grows
faint at the very thought. In all modern
times. no conhagratiOn can compare with 1t
in the fearful sweep and extent Of its devas-
tation Beside ITS ravages, those of all other
fires are dwarfed, as the boy is to the giant.
The two most extensive and disastrous fires
Of modern days were those of London in
1866 and Moscow in 1912. The great Lon
don fire lasted during three days. extended
over .foe hundred acres of ground. and de-
stroyed thirteen thousand houses. The con-
Hagration of Moscow covered four hundred
acres and consumed ttcelre thousand bouses.
The Chicago 6re burned over sirtesn hum
dred acres and destroyed fifteen thousand
houses. No fire which has ever occurred in
| the world has been attended with such pc
cuuiary loss as that suffered by Chicago, nor
was there n either London or Moscow such
! r ~ ohap 4 liza
or so many costly and magnificent buildings
destroyed. 1t is ptiable, dreadful sight
and her naked, homeless and starving peo
| pie have called on a charitable, sympathiZ-
ing world for help and succor in this, the
hour of their great calamity. Their appeal
has not been made in vain. The great heart
| of tie nation has been touched as though by
magic and has nohly, generously responded
to the cry of suffering thousands, by prOfuse>
ly showering upon them its best and most
acceptable gifts. Strong men and delicate
women and helpless children will not be FER
mitted to starve and perish in a land over
flowing with plenty and abundance. Thii
is creditable to humanity and makes one
think better Of his species. Money. clothir s
aud provisions have flowed and will con
tinue to flow in steady stream into tn,
charrod and scourged city Of the Lake from
every section of the country. The work 0
benevolence has become one of rivalry
throughout the whole Union. Nor is il con
fined to this country, fIr in less than forty
eight hours. thanks to the wonderful powers
Of the cable telegraph. the astounding new
had been flashed to all the commercial cen
tres Of Europe, and in London. Liverpool
Dublin, Edinburg, Paris. Berlin, Vienna
and other cities, large sums Of money wert
subscribed and relsf societies organized t.
mitigate the suffering ard reiicvethe distress
Of their stricken and afflicted brethren OIL
the distant shores Of Lake Michigan.
The people of Chicago are manifesting al
admirable spirit. and have gone to wort
with their world renowned energy to repai
their lost fortunes and to rebuild their vast
places. In view of its past history and tn
unequalled enter prise Of it's population. VIII
doubts but that Chicago, in less than de
cade, will rise fIom her ~shes. more solid
beautiful and magnificent thcn ever.