New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-15
PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES.
THE FRI DRIVEN BY A STIFF BREEZE TOWARD TIE
CENTRE OF THE CITY.

CENTRE OF THE CITY
CHICAGO July IL D.. m.-Another confagration
is raging in the heart of the city. The fire started
about 4:3J p N. in some small frame houses near
Fourth-ave. and POlk-st. Ii at first blown
southwark by a stiff breeze, but the wind soon
shifted. and by sunset II blew a gale from the
south. sending the fire toward the central part
of the city. At u o'clock the flames had
made almost a clean sweep up TO the corner Of
Third-ave. and Polk-st., burning up the homes of
thousands of people. At the above corner the Fire
Department began the process of blowing mp build
ings with gunpowder, but the buildings expert
mented with were small wooden affairs, and only
had the effect of making a quicker blaze. The
wind is blowing very fresh from about south south
west
The fire is now on the verge Of the fire line of the
great fire Of ISL at HarriSon-st The west side Of
Wabash-ave. is now in full blaze, which takes
many a stately building in its couIse winch offered
haven of refuge IN the Winter of 1871. The ire is
immediately in the rear of the First Baptist Church,
and should that structure 20 down II viii
have clear sweep 20 the northward and
eastward and the Exposition building Will IN
all probability be the final prey of the fire. and as
that is Immediately the lake shore, there will
be nothing for the ire to feed upon provided we
have the good fortune not to have a change of the
wind. A dense black pail of smoke is hanging over
the expected course of the fire dropping its advance
messengers Of cinders the roofs Of the buildings
Although private citizens doing their utmost TO
prevent the fire getting hold upon their homes,
vet the effort Is Us futile as child to make the
attempt.
The roar Of the advancing flames has the sound of
our old calamity and nothing short OF IT, final
plunge into Lake Michigan viii quench it, The
streets within a mile of the cOnlagration are
crowded with teams of every description, loaded 10
their utmost capacity with household goods, al
though stOrekeepers who fortunate 10 St.
team endeavoring 70 save their most val
liable stock. Whenever a vacant space north Of the
fire can he found il is at once filled with goods of all
descriptions and varieties. Men, women and chill
dren are doing all they to their little all.
and bring il place of safety. The fire from
this time on will burn up as much IN five
minutes it has previously done in 10. considering
the value Of dollars and cents. The heat is very
great and there is no doubt that, in addition to the
pecuniary loss. we Will have 10 mourn the loss of
lives il is next 10 impossible for a fire Of this
magnitude and fury. burning through such closely
settled district this without calling for the sacrl-
nee of many life Az the POst-Offce is directly
! IN line with the fire, it's employees will
\ have all they can do 10 the
mail matter in the building and consequently there
| Will be no mails from the city this evening and
| there can by possibility DO one sent before
tomorrow evening
! The nrin@inal Lines Of tic Western Union Tele-