The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-18
A Great Cennagration That
Threatened the Destruc-
ton Of the City.
SIXTY-FOUR HOUSES DESTROYED.
Intense Excitement and Alarm of
the Citizens.
SPLENDID WORK OF THE FIREMEN
The Fire Conquered After a Gal
liant Struggle.
TOTAL LESS FROM $25O,O0o TO 100000.

CHICAGO, Ill, Sept. II, 1879.
About three O'Clock to-day IRE broke out In the
lumber district, near the corner OF Seventeenth
and Halsted streets, and burned with the greatest
fury. spreading over distance Of mile and carry
ing destruction with It, The wind was
blowing gale from tho southwest
and forcing the flames a long distance In advance.
The entire Fire Department was Immediately out
and worked splendldly, but Tor a time without
avail. Intense excitement prevailed. many beev.
Ing that they were about to witness repetition OF
the awful scenes OF 1871.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The fire originated In large wooden shed used
by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and North
western railroads for storage and transfer OF hay,
situated at the corner OF Newberry avenue and
the railroad track. between Fifteenth and Six
teenth streets. One end of this shed was open,
and the IRE caught from spark which few IN
from passing train. Almost before an alarm
could be sounded the entire shed, with Its infam-
mable contents, was
MASS OF FLAMES,
and there being at the time swift breeze from
the southwest the first engines had scarcely ar
rived before the fire had spread to row of wooden
houses on the north. and from them to the buildings
on the east side OF Halstead street.
A SECOND ALARM
was now struck, and soon afterwards a third,
which called to the scene the entire Fire Depart
ment. which was soon at work with courage and
energy which challenged the admiration OF every
one. Meantime the streets In the line OF the fire
were literally swarming with people, burdened
with every variety Of household goods. rushing to
places of safety. Vacant lots west OF Halstead
street were soon covered with furniture, bedding
clothing, &C. which the fleeing Inhabitants of the
doomed dwellings had managed to save.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT
prevailed in the neghborhood, and many people
living several blocks from the line OF the fire
began to pack up and move their portable prop
erty. The dry goods firms OF Field, Leiber q Co.,
aud Farwell & Co., as soon as they heard Of the
extent OF the fire. sent all their trucks and teams
to the spot and placed them at the disposal Of
those whose houses were threatened, and they
we're all soon employed in removing those whose
fears impelled them TO seek
SAFETY IN FLIGHT.
One OF the Omnibus lines also sent their vehicles
to the relief OF those who desired to leave the
dangerous neighborhood.
Owing to the magnificent work OF the IRE de
partment however, the removal Of many proved
unnecessary. At Mitchell street the flames were
stopped in their progress northward, while 1t!
spread In westerly direction was
STAYED ON THE WEST SIDE OF HALsTEAD STREET
The east line had not ut any time crossed New
berry avenue, and the track Of the Chicago, Bur
lington and quincy Railroad formed the southern
boundary.
THE TOTAL LOSS s25o,OoO TO $500, 900.
The total loss by the fire Is estimated at from
$250oOO to $sOO0O0 The total number Of buildings
destroyed Is placed at sixty-four, only one OF
which-the packing house OF Richard M. Oliver &
Co.-was OF brick, the remainder being wooden
tenements, from one to three stories high, and
occupied mainly as residences and stores or shops
and dwellings combined
The Fire Under Control and tho Danger
Past.
CHICAGO, Sept. 17-s p. NJ.
The fire is now under complete control and not
withstanding the strong wind blowing from the
southwest no further danger is apprehended. The
people who when the excitement was at Its
height, removed their goods from houses severa
blocks distant from the 1re are now moving then
back.
The loss in the aggregate Is quite light for the
space burned over, but the loss to the poor people
rendered homeless is severe. The prairie west O
the fire Is covered with household goods.