Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-05-08

a Fen picture Of her n8srchan'
Rrinoe Of Ngusie.

Chioago'. enterprise 10 The worlds Won
der, aud every citizen OF this great country
whether foreign breszsI fan his cheek or be
he mingling in our many busy marts in
S,luOtivsly feels proud Of the homage that all
the word pays to the brave men whom the
demon Of Ere could not dAunt or discourage :
who saw their palaces Of trade with all
their costly contents, the result OF years OF
careful management disappear in . vhiri-
wind Of Ere, and before the cloud Of smoke
had lifted from the doomed city, thsy-ths
men whom we nov meet on her streets, we're
gathering their resources 10 replace and
rebuild the greatest city Of America. His
tory nowhere tells Of = greater undertaking
IN the face Of disaster which would have
made the stoutest hearted faint. But not so
the men of Chicago. They are made of
sternsr material, with grit that is as true ~
steel and determination that knows no
such word as GAil. The thousand incidents
Of the ere told what the future Chicago was
TO be. Many Of these incidents will never
be known 70 the world. There is one, how
ever, that has come to our knowledge which
for true herOism can have no equal and
is worthy Of record beside the exploits OF the
worlds greatest deeds.
Among the proudsSt architectural monu'
msnts of Chicago, filled with the untold
wealth Of grand pictures, musical merchan-
disc and articles Of vertU, was the Chicago
Opera House, in which was the magnificent
tsmpls Of music owned by that pioneer Of
music in the west-Mr. julius BAusr-to
whose efforts we are indebted for the per
lection Of musical art in the West.
Just as the raging see Of FIRE had reached
this place aud when thousands were fleeing
for life, Mr.. Bauer, who had just returned
FROM The East, appeared upon the scene to
be greeted by the FIRE Send with his red
hand grasping his wealth, and rs il trans
pred, almost his own life and that Of his
friends who accompanied him.
fastening 10 the door Of hiI already ignited
warsroom, he found himself lcithout a key,
and the only member Of the firm on the spot
Looking about for something with which to
force m entrance, he siezsd . orippls's crutch,
aud, dAshinR to atoms the immsuce plate
glass Of huge show window, rushed into
che burning building accompanied BY .
young friend only. They made their way tc
about the center Of the great store where,
under lofty sky-lighI stood the office and
the safe. Lighted only by the terrible glare
Of the flaming city, Mr.. Bauer proceeded to
unlock hls iron treasure chest, but had hard
ly succeeded in doing so when, with = fear
ful crash, the skylight above him fell in and
buried himself aud his companion under .
mass OF blazing brands, broken glass, aud
glowing Goals. There Was scarcely time for
thought, but even then the brave merchant
remembered his friend, aud having his own
hsAd and face somewhat protected BY 9
broad brimned hat, he succeeded in thruS,inl
the young man up through his fsry covering
and quickly s1tricatIng himself from BIZ
horrible burial, the two fed, bruised aud
scorchsd, through the broken window into
the street and . moment later the Who'll,
Establishment was one roaring sea ofhSmes
vithOu, the door thereof having been opened
or so much as 6ddls-Stripg having beer
saved. In the burnt distrio. they Lost owe
400 pianos When the last wall Of the glor
ious old opera houss had orumblsd into dust
the head Of the house OF J. Bauer 4 Co
turned sadly 70 the telegraph aud forwarded
the following dspAch 10 hiS'pArIuer in New
York; 1--WE have saved our lives, bu
lost everything else But mark what Chica
go enterprise H. Before the smoke of th'
mighty eondAgrAtion had rolled away, th
iudsfatigAble nan, burned and wounded as b,
vas, had two stores started outside the burn
district, at Nos. 27O aud GA Michigan
avenue, aud to-day they are crowded viii
'KnAbe and Bauer pianos" which hav'
come on from Baltimore and New Yorl
since the downfall Of our city.
Theodore Thomas, who 10 . neAv persona
friend Of julius Bauer, arrived in town i
the midst of the burning, and when h
behsld only vacant space in place of ih
towering opera house wherein for the tw
succeeding weeks he had expected to b
bartering his maichless notes for the gree
ones of Uncle Sam, he threw himself int,
the arms Of his friend, overcome with emo
tion. But = moment later his faith in ChicA
60 revived, and a remembrance Of he
provsrbiAl enterprise oalmsd him. "Afisi
all" said he, "ihey may get ii up again il
time for the concerts. What do you think
Bausr2',
Aud Bauer smiled and said "Wsi. ant
sec, Theodore"
When in Chicago We did see, thousand
from al parts Of the world have seen. Ii
the church Of the Messiah al Wabash, ave
nus can be seen what Mr. Bauer has done
The large auditorium 10 filled with Rrant
pianos, organs and musical merchandise o
the most elaborate pattern and finish. Tn,
The archsd ceiling, the richly stained wIn
dovs only add q mAgni6osuos to the scene
which has It's reflex in the character Of hin
who has brought Il all about Such j
Chicago pluck, and we'll may the world b
proud Of such men. To them does Chicag
owe her future grsa,nsGs-they verify tn
Scriptures which say "a nation shall Surel
be born in q day Think Of this ineiden
when you contemplate the possession o
= L. II.