Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-09-25
ANOTHER C0NFLAGRiTION IN CHI.
CAHO.
FtNy-seyen Rutldi ngs Hu med, Cover.
Ing PORTION Of Four sqaares-Loss
&26D,OOO

! CnlcaBO was VlSlteu on "wednesday
afternoon by the most disastrous con.
aagration that has occurred since the
memorable fire of Oct. 9, 1871. The
fire originated in q two-story frame
building at tine intersection of New.
berry avenue and the tracks of the
Chicag. Burlington and Quincy
Railway Company, and for .
time it seemed as though the
''great blaze was about to be dupii-
Gated. The conditions were extreme
~ favorable for such an event. The
wind, being a Southwestern, almost an
preached to gale the buildings.
being of frame, were like tiuder-boxes.
and the many tons of hay stored in the
building in which the fire originated
gave it Roadway that very near defied
the best efforts of the fire department.
The flames soon swept through the
block to Halsted street. The stemmine
of the flaming flood on the west of Hal
sted street was not accomplished until
it came to the packing house of
Richard NJ. Oliver, at No. 593
Halsted street, corner of Wright
street. When . furious gust Of wind
that had in the meantime arisen, aud
threatened to aid the fire f<nd in lick
ing up everything that came in its way,
were blowing their tiercest, and carry
ing the torches 81 humiliation from
house to house, the fire leaped Halstei
street to the east side of that thorouRh-
fare, and laid hold of the buildings
fringing it with tie grasp Of u hun
dred handed demon. y Quickly the first
house son, the northeast corner of
Meagher street was in fanny
folds and then the second, third,
and fourth followed = in rapid
succession. The small cottages, barns,
out-housos, ETC., located on and In the
rear OF. Meagher, Catherine and Bar
Der streets, speedily succumbed when
the east side of Halsted street beganto
go. The noFthessterly~ direction was
still preserved, and as the fire went on
and on, jumping vacant lots, dancing
on the shingled roofs, in hellish glee,
forced forward by the ever increasing
wind, and ,lashed into . frenzy
by every new object, it ate
its way. from Meagher. to Cath
crime street. leveling the frames
that were in it's way, aud taking about
three Fights Of the square from Hal:
sted to Union streets: 1t then continued
its march,, and held on its way to Bar.
Der street. Inch by inch, in The face
of flying, sparks, binding smoke,
scorching dames; in sudocatin9 atmos-.
phere, and With tremendous odds
against them, : the brave aremen
met their foe. A stand had been
made on the tanks, and at Barber
street the Fire Department did the
work that proved the salvation ?!of the
West Division = There they stopped it
by sheer pluck, and all the plumber it
was allowed north of Barber street was
comprised in the store on the northeast
corner Of that aud Halsted street and .
couple Of dwellings in the rear. With
this the fire demon seems to have been
satisfied, and the city's annual sacri-
flee TO the memorable monster was de-.
clared complete, r
The only loss of life, 50 far a. r.
ported. occurred about 8 o'clock, in q
tenement building OH the east side of
Halsted street. A baby belonging to
q poor family that occupied rooms in
the house, was left with some goods
while the people were moving out.
Several loads had been taken away,
and as they were entering to remove
the balance the roof fell in, and direct
~ afterward the structure collapsed.
OF course the infant must have been
calcined in short order.
A careful ms pection of the ground
showed that somo fifty seven houses
were destroyed. These will not average
over 81, 500 each in value, making .
total loss of $125, 900 on buildings. The
loss on the contents thereof, damage
done to buildings not destroyed and to
their contents, will probably aggregate
as much more, though many we'll
posted are of the opinion that $3.50, 900
will be an outside estimate.
The insurance will not exceed. as far
as can be estimated. twenty, per cent.
of the loss.
Seventy-five families, numbering
about 300 persons, were rendered
homeless.
The excitement throughout the city
during the progress of tho fire WAS in
tense, and fears were at one time en-
tertained that the fire would agrin des.
olate the city. Happily these fears
proved groundless.