New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-18
CHICAGO FIRE.

CHICAGO Sept 17-i:45 D. ma fire broke ont
about o'clock in the lumber district, near the cor
ner of Seventeenth and Halstead-sts. and has been
burning ever since with the greatest fury. having
spread at this hour distance OF nearly mile.
The wind is blowing gale from the southwest, ana
carrying burning brands long distance III advance
of the fire. The entire Fire Department IS on the
ground, and doing everything possible to stay the
advance of the flames. There is considerable ex-
element among the people.
pm.-The fire started in the hay depot Of the
Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company
at Newbury-st and the railroad crossing in the
West Division and is burning in a northeast dree-
ton having already passed dagonally across some
four blocks to point about /! miles distant in a
straight line from the Court-hOuse. OF the center OK
the business portion Of the city. The locality
where it originated is built up of almost
entirely wooden buildings, mainly dwellings
of the smaller class, and the fire must
have already inflicted great amount of damage
upon the families living in that quarter, many OF
whom are Of the poorer class. There is a continued
excitement among all classes of the people. The
locality of the fire and the direction of the wind
nearly the same those of the great fire OF two
years since Many of the people living on the line
of the fire are packing up their household posses
sons and removing them TO places Of greater safety
The point where the fire started is about half
mile nearly south from the point where the great
fire of October, 1871, originated.
Up ma dispatch from a city telegraph Office
near the of the fire says is now under con-
troll and that it is believed it viii be prevented from
spreading further. No estimate OF the loss be-
made at this writing
Sp m.-The ire is now under complete control,
and, notwithstanding the strong wind blowing from
the south west, no further danger is apprehended
The people who, when the excitement was at its
hight, removed their goods from houses several
blocks distant from the fire. are now moving them
back.
The loss in the aggregate is quite light for the
space burned over as not over 200 houses have been
destroyed. The loss to the poor people rendered
homeless, however, is severe. The prairie west OF
the fire is covered with household goods. Full par
tculars will be forwarded later
I'D m-The total loss by tho fire to-day il est-
mated at from S2J00OO to 100000 The total num-
Der of buildings destroyed is placed at a. only one
of which, the packing house Of Richard M. Oliver
| & Co.. was Of brick, the remainder being wooden
tenements from to three stories, and occupied
mainly us residences aud stores OF shops aud dwell
! ings combined. The fire originated IN a large
wooden shed used by the Chicago, Bnrhng-
ton and Quincy and Northwestern Railroads
for storage and transfer of hay situated
tween Fifteenth and Sxteenth-sts. One end of this
shed was open, and the fire caught from a spark
which flew in from passing train. Almost before
an alarm could be sounded the entire shed with its
nhammable contents was mass of flames. and there
being at the time a tiff breeze from the southwest
the first engines had scarcely arrived before the hrc
had spread TO row OF wooden houses
on the north and from them the buildings
on the east side of Halsted-st A second alarm
now struck, and afterward third which
called to the scene the entire Fire Department,
which was 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 Haltsed-st
were soon covered with furniture, bedding, cloth
ing &c. which the fleeing inhabitants of the
doomed dwellings had managed to save. Intense ex-
element prevailed in the neighbOrhoOd and many
people living several blocks from the line OF the lire
began to pack mp and move their portable property.
The dry goods firms of Field Letter Il Co and Farwell
& Co.. as soon as they heard of the extent Of tho
fire sent all their trucks and teams 10 the spot and
placed them at the disposal of those whose honses
were threatened, and they all soon employed
in removing those whose fears impelled them to
seek safety in flight. One of the omnibus lines also
their NeDlcltS 10 the Tcllel Oh lloSc WHO
sired to leave the dangerous neighbOrhood
Owing to the magnificent work of the Fire De-
partment however the removal of many became
unnecessary. At Mitchell-st. the flames
stopped in their progress Dorthward, while their
spread in a westerly direction stayed the
west side of Halstead-st The east line had not at
any time crossed Newbery-ave., and the track Of
the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad formed
its southern boundary.
12P MI is impossible at this hour to give any
detailed statement of individual losses. They are,
however, DIVIDED among so many people
that, with few exceptions, no person loses
over $4,000. Seligman Hebron, manufacturer
of furniture loses $4,000; fully insured. The loss
by the burning Of the hay depot where the fire
started cannot be ascertained but will probably not
be over $4,000. One freight car standing on the
track of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Rail-
road was burned.
RECEIPT OF THE NEWS ~ WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17.-News of the great fire in
Chicago did not reach here till about o'clock. It
spread rapidly however and an hour later the news
paper offices were filled with anxious crowds. The
early dispatches wildly recalled the first which fol-
lowed the breaking out of the fire of 1871. The FIRE
was reported TO be in the same quarter Of the city,
great gale to be blowing and the general direction
of the fire the same two years ago. The scene in
the evening here was a repetition Of the after
the great fire.
THE NEWS IN THE CITY.
The news of the fire was not generally known
the city last evening, and reporter who visited the
principal hotels failed ind any Of special
terest outside OF socSiobbing cliques. Some OF
principal stock operators with great facilities for obtain
ing early and trustworthy information Of affect
in1 al AL