The New York herald., 1872-11-12
CHICAGO AND BOSTON.
An Interesting Comparison of the Two Fires
Singular Condolences the
More Fortunate Sufferer.

BOSTON, NOV. III, l572.
On Sunday evening, October s. 1871, AZ the wor-
shippers in the city of Chicago were returning to
their homes from their respective churches, the
Are alarm broke upon their ears. 1t had been
ringing necessarily for several days, and the peo-
pie had come to look upon 1t as q daily visitation
and. Notwithstanding two entire blocks had boen
consumed the previous night, no serious fears
were created by the fresh outbreak. This alarm
was the precenstus of the city's doom. The fire
spread with fearful rapidity, continuing all
| through the Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday,
being only extinguished when nothing was
left to burn. 1t destroyed all the thea
tres, all the hotels nearly all the
churches and every public building of note.
The loss in property, real estate and personal
| cred more than two hundred million dollars
100000 persons were rendered homeless; the CON-
merce OF the city was for the time being swept
away; the grain interests were almost killed, and
the iourishing and beautiful Queen City OF the
West was left
MOURNING HER DEsOLATION
amid the ruins Of her greatness. disaster 50
sweeping and destructive in the history OF con-
fiagrations swept upon the country like thunder
bolt, and when the crisis was passed men fervently
thanked God that such visitation came but once
In a century. On last Saturday the mighty heart
OF the American Continent was shaken by the fear
full intelligence that Boston, the scdate the staid and
the conservative capital OF the New England States
was envelOped in flames In all its business part
that the Chicago tragedy was being repeated, and
all that was finest, n0blest and best In the far
famed
HUB OF THE UNIVERSE
was threatened with a sweeping overthrow. In
some respects the two fires in the western and
Eastern cities have wonderful similarity to each
other; in others they widely different, and
as your correspondent has had the good fortune
bad fortune, to have been present In both cities
In the period of their destruction, comparison
between the two and the manner In which they
were assaed by the names may prove interesting.
In the first place may be noted the difference in the
appearance and construction Of the two cities.
Boston Is of the Oldest cities the Continent,
teemlng with historical recOllectiOns and Impress
edly associated with the growth and the greatness
OF the American Republic. Built after the old Eng
sh models, It's narrow Streets crooked lanes and
winding alleys have long been the abomination OF
travellers accustomed to the more noble thorough
fares of New York, Philadelphia and Chicago Its
buildings are constructed with view that they
should endure for centuries and its massive blocks
OF brick, granite and marble met the eye OF the
stranger on every slde No waste ground has been
left by the designers, and every available spot Is
covered with structures OF every kind down to the
waters edge, the warehouses and stores extended,
and the whole city presented the appearance Of
COMPACT MASS OF MASONRY
and brick work. During all the changes Of these
centuries the salient features OF Boston had not
changed until an element burst upon 1t last Satur
day night which respected not antiquity, dura
bility nor historical associations. but envcloped all
In one common ruin. The Chicago OF the past was
in every respect different from Boston. 1t
rcscmbled 1t not In the formation OF the streets or
construction Of its buildings and public edlfces.
1t was, in the first place, the youngest OF all the
cities of all the west which had risen to greatness
1t having, though youngest in the race, outstrpped
all rivals in the struggle for supremacy, and gained
the proud title OF Queen OF the Western
portion OF the Continent. Forty years ago
the Indian hunted where one short twelvemOnth
since stood the monuments which enterprise had
raised to science, commerce and art, and dismal
swamp nourished where since a city has been
raised on foundations OF granite. Modern In its
growth, Chicago was modern In Its appearance,
and though 1t had many drawbacks In Its design,
as its sudden destruction had proved. 1t had many
excellent features for the transaction OF trade and
commerce. It's streets were spacious, lengthy and
wide, and the buildings which lined them were
elegant, handsome and commodous. The
public edifces were erected with lavish
but prudent outlay, and were designed
to be hreproof with what result the fire
infinitely inferior to Boston, that in the more
fragile nature OF her dwelling houses, which,
springing up at early period Of the city's exis-
tence were mainly composed OF lumber and boards
This the fatal cause and origin OF the fire, and
from II o valuable lesson has been learned by the
architects OF the new and more fourshing COM
munity which Is rapidly springing up from the
ashes OF October, 1871. In another respect 1t DIFF
fered from Boston; it covered larger area OF
ground in proportion to its population, and the
buildings it contained scattered OF wider in
teryals from each other. In hotel accommodation
IL was superior and in this feature was unexcelled
by any city OF the continent. There Is
WONDERFUL RESEMBLANCE
TO be traced In the condition OF the weather In
Chicago on October 3, 1871, and in Boston on No
yember o. 1872. The Sabbath evening In Chicago
was calm and placid, refreshing and beautiiul as
summer eve. Before the fire broke out gentle
breeze was blowing, which was delicious alter the
heat OF the day, and the streets were crowded
with pedestrians Of both sexes. In Boston, on
Saturday evening, the weather was trlne coid,
but not cold enough to be unpleasant. The streets
were thronge4 with people, shopping was going on
In endless variety, and all went merry us
marriage ben until the deep funereal knell from
the braZeyl mouthed voices OF the big alarum beils
announced the near approach Of danger. twas on
MOONLIGHT NIGHT
the fire broke over Chicago beautiful moon
shop 9 In the heavens last saturday night over the
city of Boston. The harbor looked sea oil glass
IND the tall masts Of the shipping stood out IKE
J, sentines OF the deep. The wind In chicago was
blowing from the northwest and in Boston from
the northwest. Neither cities had been visited
with rain for several days before their respective
visitations The ground In both was parched anc
dry and the atmosphere sngularly conducive "
sudden connagratlon and combustion.
ANOTHER POINT OF RESEMBLANCE.
The Fire Department In both cities was pgrtiall