, 1873-05-19

Special Di.patch to The Chicago Tribune.
AURORA. ILL.,, Nay 18.-The citizens had about
reached home from the various churches, when
the shriu and prolonged shrek Of the Workshop
whistle sounded the alarm, and in a few mo-
ments the fire bells s1elled the chorus. Dinner
tables we're abandoned, and from Ill parts Of the
city people hurried to the disaster. Tho news
that the car-shops, in which Aurora took
= just pride, we're in flames, affected
every citizen, and all we're ready
and willing to lend hand to arrest the progress
Of the damee.. Men, women, and children lined
the bluff to the west, and looked down upon the
rapid work Of destruction. In twenty minutes
the immense paint-ship, with it's valuable con-
tents, was level With the ground, but not before
the enormous pile Of lumber Immediately to the
west WAS blazing furiously. Itwaa quickly out Of
reach Of salvation, and the amal and entirely
equate supply Of water WAS concentratedu upon the
coach shop, where it was thought it would do the
most good. All efforts were futile, The flames
mounted upward and travelled with awful speed
along the roof in direct line south, enveloping
the carpenter and blacksmith shops, at the same
time spreading laterally and swallowing in Its
voracious nav q number Of storehouses and
Offices. The wind WIS fortunately east, blow
ing in the direction OF tho river. It
WAS at this juncture that telegram waa sent to
Chicago for assistance, every one believing tho
entire west side OF the city was in danger. The
fate of Chicago WAS in every mind The dames
rose high, and roared in the wind, which carried
the sparks and burning debris across the river,
where the dwelling Of D. B. Waterman and John
McInhills brewery caught fire. They were ex-
tinguished without serious damage. me
ire burned on until every stick
of Bood on the ground WAS consumed. Fortu-
natelv, the large blacks1nith-shop and the round
honaes were constructed OF stone. 4nd formed
barrier, which the flames assailed but could not
pass:
done it's worst, the appeal Tor aia itoa @ oshPound
The smonldering ruins cow co{Wbsn a1oot tbs adS1 1e
ter Of 3 mile square, h"sinas, "nTa 'Io man -
burned mos: fiercelyn ynrenarinc s for djels, and
the west side ,rg gfti fti1nid had their removed
10 safety out OF the te o notbn
Had 70 vino a ean1gedw I Vest side. aa tho supply Of
...4s~ rat. co7,fd ~ oe depended upon.
The HcIy Water Wo1s are uselesa, on account
-, ~, loss OF the dam, which WAS carried away
according to al accounts, are poor concerns.
The origin Of this destrnctye eonhagrat1on,
which seriously mars the prospects, OF Auroras
future advancement as manufacturing town,
has not been definitely ascertalned, though the
officers Of the Railroad Company have BEEN ana
solution Of the mystery. 1ncendiarism ia strong.-
" hiuted at: there would eeem to be several
valid reasons for grave suspicion in that direc-
tion. When the fire was first discovered,
small Of s%ot1 and ,n' as sbns mefe aodI2
built structure about half a block in length. No
smoke could be aeen rising from cracks in the
roof, IS is ueua1 in burning buildings. The fre
seemed to be confined altogether to the end OF
the building where it first appeared. 10 IN IN. y.
minute. flames and smoke burst through the