The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-08-09

To the Editor Of the woRKNeMAS's ADVOCATE
After long silence have again taken
the opportunity to write few items upon
current events Of the day in this section Of
the country
THE LATE GREAT FIRE.
On Tuesday morning, the 18th ult, the
ominous notes Of the fire bells sounding a
general alarm, grated hsrshly upon the ears
os our citizens. who were seen running in
the direction from whence the alarm was
sounded Very soon the news spread that
dangerous conAagration had broken out
on the corner of Clay and Park streets, in
Thomas 6 Co.'S Planning Mill, which il
near the centre business heart of the city.
We soon arrived there, and discovered
Clay street for an entire block on fire. A
brisk wind was blowing at the time, and
the flames soon spread to the ad joining
streets. Much valuable property was near
by, and already the wall Of sorrow from
the poor people left homeless by the fire,
was borne to the ears Of the great crowd.
Amid the crashing of walls and the roaring
of flames, the danger was staring Balti-
more full in the face, and the fate Of Chi
cago and Boston seemed fairly impending
over our beautiful city Of monuments.
Park street for two or three blocks was on
fire 10 as far as Mulberry street, and many
fine buildings, mostly private residences,
were crumbling away in the path of the
flames The stoutest hearts lost faith and
trembled at the danger which seemed to
be impending over our city. High up over
the highest roofs and steeples, fully q half
mile in the air, the black volumes of lurid
fakes were flying fast and furious. To
one sitting on high place and looking at
the scene, the sight was one never to be
forgotten. Fifteen to twenty thousand
people witnessed the confagration men,
women and children running hither and
thither, with eyes following the course Of
the fire, horses and vehicles of every de-
scription passing to and fro homes deserted
and household effects thrown from windows
Of hundred of dwellings, into the surging
street, there in most cases to be trampled
in the dirt and water. Beautiful edi6ces
one after another crumbled away, giving
new food to the flames About one hour
after the fire broke out, Chief Engineer,
Harry Spilman, saw the necessity for more
engines than the Baltimore department,
and telegraphed to the Chief Engineer of
the Washington, I'd. C.) department for
aid, who promptly responded. and in one
hour after receiving the despatch, he was
in Baltimore with two steamers, with the
members Of the companies, and reported
to Chisf Spilman. They made the run by
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, . distance
of forty-two miles in thirty-nine minutes.
All thanks to the Washingtonians for their
noble services Besides the great number
of private residences and factories, and
stables, two churches were Destroyed
Lutheran church, on Lexington street, and
the Central Presbyterian, corner OF Lib
erty and Saratoga streets. Also st. AL
phonsus Hall, on Saratoga street, and St.
Alphonsns School-house, on Clay street, a
very large building. 81. Alphonsus church,
q noble edifice was on fire several times,
but the bells in the tower pealed forth the
alarm, which brought forth hundreds Of
the congregation, who risked their lives to
save their church, which they did nobly, and
without the aid of the fire department,
who were employed at most every other
point. The Cathedral, the Metropolitan
Catholic Church, in the United States was
also several times on fire, but there also
the members were on hand, and risked
their lives to save the noble structure, in
which they we're successful am happy
to say that the actual damages viii not ex-
coed half million dollars, upon which
there il en- insurance Of about two hundred
thousand dollars. The poor and destitute
have BEEN relieved, to some extent,
by o committee Of the City Council and
private subscriptions.
TIE eALLows IN BALTIMORE.
This engine Of death has once more
made its appearance in our city, the first
time since April, 1859. On last Friday,
the LIST inst, Joshua Nicklason and Thoa.
Hollahan paid the penalty Of death for the
murder Of Mrs. Lamply, ON the End Of
January, 1873. Mn. Lamply was m aged
Lady, and the grandmother Of NicklAson's
wife. On the night Of the End Of January,