Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-11-11

new comers had no preparation and were
utterly bewildered BY the confused noises
and distraction that existed among those
who having large interests at stake had
been present ct the Ere from al early
hour.
The banks destroyed are the National
Bank of North America, No. 75 Franklin
streAt, and the National Revere Bank, No
IA Franklin street. After repeated solicita
tlon on the part OF the business men and
owners of real estate and others. Chief
Engineer, Dsrnell, just before two O'Clock,
gave orders to rope the streets leading into
Milk street, preparatory to blowing up build
ings on the south side of that street,
body of United States marines from the
navy yard marched up Washington street
about three o'clock and rendered their scr
vices on police duty, which was INN ediately
accepted.
! The report of the buildings bloxu up, in
dicating that gun powder was being used to
stop the FIRE, was heard at five minutes past
three O'Clock, and was q most welcome
sound, for it betokened . fearless, honest
and radical effort to save Boston from Chi
cAgo's fate. Three discharges were made in
q block on Dsvonshire street, and these
threw the buildings partially down, but with
out apparent byneft, for the flames Jumped
over the gap almost instaptly. The build
ings we're close to the Ere and unless the
blocAs more distant are speedily prostrAted
the etfsot will of course be simply nothing
The trains were laid in Federal street about
two o'clock, and the street Immediately
| cleared for action. At three forty-fve o'clock
this morning the destruetio of buildings in
the south part of the conhagrstion BY the
explosion of gun powder was begun in good
earnest, the shocks shaking the CITY 10 it's
| foundation. AT four o'clock this morning
the FIRE extended from Washiugtons treet On
the west to wharves on the east and from
! Mix street on the north 10 the Hartford Il
Erie railroad bridge on the south. The area
OF the burned distaiet is roughly estimated
at two hundred Acres. The estimate of well
known real estate men ia that the loss on
buildings will average $l2 per foot for this
area, and therefore We have q grand total
loss 10 buildings Alono of upvsrds Of $780,
100000. So fierce is the march OF the
flames and so irresistible, that the msrch-
ants on Oliver street, when they we're frat
made aware of their danger, esssyed to move
their goods, but could not ON account of the
heat, and therefore they burned where they
| we're.
| The extreme limit OF devastation in 9
southwark direction is the Hartford & Erie
railroad depot, extending, however, out on
the road and burning the bridge. Then it
runs along Broad street to India wharf, tax
ing all the intermediate wharves and de-
stroying few vessels. No one branch of
business suffers SO extensively as the
boot and shoe and hide and leather
trade. All residences in the Fort Hill
section, so-called, ibcludiDg Gridley, HIgh
SDd Broad stree S, have been DESTROYED, ren
deripg hundreds of families homeless or
destitute. 1 he Washington street FIRE was
checked by five o'clock this morning in a
sontheriY direction 1t had not reached
beyond SamRer street. The holdings ob
the southerly side of the latter street re-
mained standing, knd those west of them
we're untouched by The flames, with the
except.oC 0; the three nearest Chappcey
street. They were burned out, though the
walls remained standing, and there was no
further danger in this direction IN Wash
'ngsoD treet. The building Of the Amcri
can Watch CoDpsuy, on the corner of
Washington and SGmner str.ep, has bsen
completely gntted, but the walls remain.
| North OF this, on Washington street, IN the
same side, all are destroyed ss far as this
Transcript building, though a portion of
the walls Of sone OF the hRildings are
Jeff. Washington and Summer streets are
filed with bricks, noftas aud huge stones
TO tie depth of several feet. Portions of
the front of Trinity church ere sanding
alone. TO mark the location of the late
Oeaasifnl eddce The Mount Vernon Ma
tionsl Bank al No, l63 Washington street
is desuoyed. An Ettempt TO blow up Cur
rier l. Troli's jewelry store, corner o, Milk
and WashIn gton streets, this morning wa 8
unsuccessful, The explosion spending it's en-
IRE strength through the windows, scarcely
airing the solId wall. The windows neig h.
boring were all shattered BY the concus-
SION. Superintendent Ferrstall did q nc
bic work in sending out all the city teams
at an early hour ana keeping them at work
all through the night and early this morn
ing removing goods to the city stable
{ yards. 1t Is estimated that a. lesst 81 900, :
600 was saved BY the prompt and efficient
sction taken by Farristall. Several of the
sttem mpts to bios up buildings net with the
ill-sucoess that attended the experiment on
the corner Of Mia and Washington streets
The windows only being shattered.
It was rumorsd that about six o'clock the
f blow up, but on inquiry it was found that
, those in charge had resolved to risk tn.
matter OF that corner, and look to the
heavy walls of the Transcript opposite
The pioprietors of the Transcript did moi
{ remove any of their material. 1t was
packed, however, and lowered into the Gel.
ar. 1t having become necessary to blow
up the building coruer of Congress street
aud Congress Square, it was mined and
exploded shortly before nine o'clock. The
args granite front buildings at the north.
u vest corner oi Lincoln aad Klloy street,
VAS also blown up a. nine O'clock, though
the effect was apparently OF 40 material
l. advantage. The inside was shattered, bui
:, The walls and much of the wood work wal
eft standing, the latter in q Condition tC
accelerate rather than retArd the progress O
e The IRE. BY half past eleven o'clock The
progress of the FIRE towards the water il
= the direction of Kilby and Central streets
e seemed to be effectuAlly stopped aud stream,
e of water were used 10 e1tinguishing Ia,
l. flames among the ruins, which present th,
e appearance of utter devastatiou. By tht
Z most strenuous exertions the fremen sue
D ceeded In subduing the flames about th,
n postothce, so that BY noon nothing WAS dis
II tcEA3OtH IL NuS IN l1S way OF
s blaze, and strong hopes are entertained ihs
= the building may be saved, though the va
q rlOus departments ou the inside will b,
b thoroughly drencbed with water. The Shaw
3 NUT apd Hide and Leather Banks wer
burned before daylight. Just before 81,
n u'clOek Stale. Drvolshire, Congress au,
h hilby streets and Congress Square we're, a
d tar as merchandise was concerned, d
ID wheels and aAoAt, for everybody was NOV
r ing Whatever Eas portable, and large part
d OF men We're enRsg-d 10 tearing down sign,
re The steamer Ketrssrgs, from Portsmouth,
New Hampshire arrived at seven O'Clock
4 The men who came sith it report that III
he lighi of the 67e eouid be seen from Ports
lr mouth A steamer from Portland ia CON
ID Ing on the Pullman Train.
u The coufsgAtor WAS got under control &
about enc Cock, ha'irg in Ibe space {
et itteen hours destroyed hundreds OF the Gee
lest and most sab@t4B;iHl warehouses !
50 the eount'y,and temporarily pAralizlns tare