Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-16
ALEXANDRIA,, VA.
THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1874.
The Chicago Fire.

refinery the interior or WHICH, Will No ldi ~
tanks Of oil, was all abaze in a very few min
utes, and but little time after the hrst streaui
began to play upon it the whole neighborhood,
for thirty rods around, seemed to burst forth IN
simultaneous flames The area burned over,
it is stated, covers fifteen squares, or distance
all told, of about half mile long and little
less in width. The total loss is estimated at
81 O25, 900, about two tths Of which Is insured
10 numerous companies. The tire began at :
O'Clock on the afternoon Of Tues lay aud ragged
until daylight the next morning, when Its pro-
yress was stopped aud people we're at liberty
to comprcheud the extent OF the disaster
From point to point Of resistance the march OF
the flames was fought; driven from one the
saviors of the city rallied upon another, only to
again retreat before the advancing wall OF hre
After midnight, when it bad almost reached
the centre of the city, and was threatening the
new Chicago that had been built upon the
ruins of 1871, when the vast aud costly ware
houses stores and hotels that have arisen IN
the last three years were in the utmost peril,
the flames we're turned back, batting before
one 6re.p proof wall from which they were sepa-
rated only by the narrow width OF small al
lev. From that time forward it was known
that Chicago had escaped second destruction
The quarter of the city burned over was occu-
pied by the very drcgs of its population, whom
it is hardly likely will be permitted to again
occupy the locality from which the flames drove
them.
Yesterday afternoon auothe: fire broke out
in the northwestern section Of the city, several
miles away from the smouderlng ashes OF
Tuesdays coufagratiou, but it was conquered
after fifteen or twenty buildings OF COMPARE
lively small value had been destroyed. The
worst side Of human nature was manifested 10
the actions of some wretches who by lncendlar-
isms endeayored to aid the spreading OF the
flames. The loss by this fire amounts to $780,
900.
The following general description of the pro-
gress of the first fire and efforts Of the fire de-
partmcut to get it under control is furnished by
the Times:
Nearly east of the shanty where the fire orig
mated was the large brick oil refinery OF Fitch
Bros, the interior of which, with Its large
tanks of oil, was all ablazc before the arrival OF
the second engine. The heat emitted by the
burning of its contents was intense, and when
the walls fell, but few minutes after the first
stream began to play upon it, the whole neigh,
borhood for a radius OF thirty rods around
seemed to burst forth in one simultaneous
4 L., st. II III stp
and a. half barn, filled with hay, which famed
up in an instant, and flying wisps of burning
hay lit on roofs nearly block away. With
such rapidity did the fire spread after it was
first discovered that two horses in this barn
we're burned to death before they could be res
cucd.
Eight or ten engines in the first district were
speedily on the ground, and most of them took
their stations on Clark street, where Marshal
Benuer attempted to check the northern spread
OF the flames. Engine No. ~ and one other
were stationed on Fourth avenue, and Vigor
Gus fight with the advancing fire was commcnc-
ed at this poiot. Ten minutes after the first
alarm the pine shanties stretching eastward to-
ward Fourth avenue were all 10 flames for uear-
~ half square.
At $40 o'clock, eleven minutes after the first
alarm, Assistant Marshal Sweeney turned on
the second alarm, and the engine from the
greater part Of the south division, and several
from the west side engine houses, were soon at
the scene Of peril.
The heat arising from that half acre of blaz
lug pine shanties was terrible, ana the breeze
s,itfcned as the heat increased, bearing destruc-
ton to the dry roofs that lay 10 the path of the
destroyer for rods ahead. A large part of the
augmented fire force was concentrated on
Fourth avenue, half way between Taylor and
Twelfth streets, where they worked with terri
bic energy to stay the progress OF the advanc-
ing enemy. ln twenty minutes after the first
alarm the roots OF buildings on Fourth avenue
were all atire for the width of dozen buildings
north Of No. 2S5. At Isl general alarm
was sounded. This last warning brought out
the entire fire force of the city. At the time
the alarm was struck seven OF the west side Gu
land avenue and Twenty second street, and
they were thus retarded nearly half an hour.
In less than half an hour the engines that we're
posted on Fourth avenue. directly in the path
of the fire, were compelled to retreat, and all
succeeded IN getting away except engine com
pauy No. p, the colored company, who delay
ed minute too long, and the flames bursting
upon them before they had attached their
horse to the engine, they were compelled to
abandon it,
The fire had swept diagoually across the
block 70 The corner of Taylor street and Fourth
avenue, end was rapidly eating It's way through
the remainder OF the block fronting on Clark
and Taylor streets. The marshal stationed
number of engines on Clark street, and every
effort was made to stay the northern progress
of the flames along that thoroughfare, but the
from which poured a swarm OF fallen
women loaded with their wardrobes aud furni-
ture, were ripe for destruction, and no sooner
had the torrents Of water extipguished the fire
10 one building than the roofs of finder boxes
still further to the north would burst into
fame but most of the marshal's attention was
directed to the front of the fire, and every en-
engy was exerted to stay its eastward march.
At the corner of Taylor street and Fourth aveu-
ne large amount of hose was concentrated,
aud every effort was made to keep the fire on
the west side of the avenue. but the driving
wind was laden with burning brands W ich lit
% the roofs beyond and kiudled them in au in