The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-09-27
ANOTHER CONFEDERATION In CgI.
CAGO
Fity-seven Buildings burned. Cover
ing Portion of Four SQUARES
Loss $3.50 600.

Fnty-seven buildings burned, Cover
ing Il Portion of Four SUuares-
Loss S25O,DOO.
Chicago was visited on Wednesday
afternoon by the most disastrous con-
tiagratlon that has occurred since the
memorable fire of Oct 9, 1871. The
fire originated in two-story frame
building at the intersection of New
berry avenue and the tracks of the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
Railway Company, and for q
time 1t seemed as though the
great blaze was about to be dupli-
Gated. The conditions were extreme
ly favorable for such an event. The
wind, being Il Southwestern, almost ap-
preached to d gale; the buildings.
beng OF frame, were like tinder-bo
and the many tons of hay stored in the
building III which the fire originated
gave 1t Roadway that very near defied
the best efforts of our fire department.
me flames soon swept through the
block to Haisted street. The stemming
OF the flaming food on the west of Hal
sted street, was not accomplished until
1t came to the packing house of
Richard nj. Oliver, at No. 593
Halsted street, corner of Wright
street. When the furious gust of wind
that had III the meantime arisen, and
Threatened to aid the fire fiend In lick
ing up everything that stood in it's way,
were blowing their fercest, and carry
ing the torches of humiliation from
house to house, the fire leaped Halsted
street to the cas-. side of that thorough
| fnr. nd InII al e
fringlng it with the grasp of hun
dred-handed demon. Quickly the first
house on 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.
cut houses, etc, located on and in the
rear of Meagher, Catherine, and Bar
Der streets, speedily succumbed when
the east side of Halsted street began to
go. The northeasterly 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 dashed into frenzy
, by every new object, it ate
I it's way from Meagher to Cath
: crime street, leveling the frames
! that were i'll its way, and taking aoout
three eighths of the square from Hal
sted to Union streets. 1t then continued
| its march, and held on it's way to Bar
Der street Inch by inch, in the face
of flying sparks, binding smoke,
scOrching flames, sutfocating atmos-
! phere, and with tremendous odds
!, against them, the brave fremen
met their foe. A stand had been
made on the TANKS, and at Barber
I 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 at the northeast
corner Of that and Halsted street and a
: 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 Inc yorable monster was de-
/ clared complete.
The only loss of life, so far as re-
ported, occurred about 3 o'clock, in a
tenement building on the east side Of
iialsted street. A baby, belonging to
a poor family that occupied rooms N
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
ly aiterwarI the structure collapsed
OF course the infant must have been
calclned IN short order.
4 careful inspection of the ground
showed that some ffty-seven houses
were destroyed. These Will not average
over 81, 500 each in value, making a
total loss Of 1926, 600 on buildings. The
loss on the contents thereof, damage
done 10 buildings not DESTROYED and to
their contents, Will probably aggregate
as much more. though many well post
ed 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-fve families, numbering
about 800 persons, were rendered home.
less.
The excitement throughout the CITY
during the progress of the fire was in
tense, and ears were at one time enter
tanned that the fire would again DESC
late the city. Happily these fears
proved gToundless.