Connecticut western news., 1873-09-26
Chicago Fire No. g. From our Special Correspondent,

From our Special Correspondent,
 CHICAGO, Sept. l7, 1873.
 Ar. J. {. Pease, Salisbury, Cona.- DEAR SIR: l wired you last evening of a terrible fire then raging in our city, and also later wired you that the fire was under con. trol. now write few particulars. The greatest confagration since October, 1871. occurred in our city yesterday afternoon. The flames broke out at 3.30 P. M., on New bery avenue, near the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy R. R., as is supposed from sparks from locomotive. At the time a very high wind prevailed from the south west. The locality was filled up with frame structures, perfectly dry, and was good food for the flames. While the fire was in progress. everybody for a mile around expecting the fire would reach them. packed up their goods ready to depart. The excitement was intense, and the scene was similar to that of 1871, only on great ly reduced scale. Most of the buildings destroyed were two story wooden struc- lures. The loss will reach about one hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars. The pop- ulatcn was mostly Irish, Bohemian and German. During the fire several accidents occurred, but I believe no lives were lost The area burned over is about ten acres. Many of the occupants of the houses save their household goods, while some lost everything. It is very severe blow 10 a class of people who cannot afford the losses. Intense excitement pervaded the city while the fire was in progress, the ap- prehsnsion being repetition of the great calamity of 1871. Men and women rushed to and fro, their arms filled with traps of all sorts, and their wives and children stood by crying and wringing their hands. The scene at this time was truly appalling. Pillars of flame ascended high in the hea- vens, and the air was filled with sparks and flying embers. The streets in every direc. ton were filled with the hurrying and frightened throng. There was seen once again the spectacle of moving multitude of men, women and children, kurrying away to no particular place, and each bear ing burden of most indiscriminate char acter; women with baskets of clothing, articles of bedding, tables, chairs, baby carriages and other articles. Strong men tugging away at stoves, or struggling under great arm loads and back loads of house. hold goods, while numberless children en- gagged in similar occupation helped to fill up that vast moving mass of humanity that was seeking safety in flight. Mothers clasped their children in their arms, and imprinted upon their soiled cheeks kiss after kiss, in such wild joy that one would suppose they had been rescued from thou
 sand deaths. After the fire was extin- guished, crowds of people visited the ruins, and kept coming and going far into the night. The wind was in the same direction | as at the great fire of Fl, and blew nearly \ as hard for some two hours and half, when there came Hull for 8 short time, ! and the firemen taking advantage of this, became masters of the situation. Had the ! wind continued as high as when the fire first broke out, undoubtedly it would have | crossed over to the south side, and have done ten times the amount of damage. We sincerely hope that our citizens will l not be called upon to witness another con- fagration of like proportions during the | next hundred years. Yours respectfully, R. B. MITCHELL.