The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-15
IANoTHER CALAMITY IN CHICAGO.
THE CITY AdArN THREATENED WITH
DESTRUCTION By FIRE. 4: B
THOUSANDS oP PEOPLE RENDERED
HOMELESS.
THE PosT.oFFlcE AND oTHER PROMINENT
PUBLIC BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
Tho Fire still Raging and Beyond
Control.

WASHINGTON, July 14.-Telegrams re-
ceived here tonight report another large
fire in Chicago, which has destroyed over
half mile of the southern portion Of the
city. It began on Twelfth street, on The
south side, and so far It has been confined to
old rookeTies, but it Is feared that it will ex-
tend to the lake side, the wind blowing fresh
from the south. The First Baptist church
has been destroyed, and at this time the
flames have reached the post-office. Assis-
lance has been asked from all adjoining
towns. Telegraphic communication is nearly
suspended.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY-THoUsANDS
RENDERED HOMELESS.
CHICAGO. July 14-Another copfaeration
is raging in the heart of the city. 1t broke
out on Twelfth street, and at haIf-past 6
O'Clock the flames had made almost q clear
sweep up to the corner Of Third avenue and
Polk street, burning up the houses of thou
sands of people.
At the above corner The Fire Department
commenced the process of blowing up the
buildings with gun powder, but the build
ings experimental with were small wooden
affairs, and the process would only have the
effect of milking greater blaze of them.
The wind is blowing very fresh from about
south southeast, aud the fire is now on the
very verge of the fire line of our big fire at
Harrison street.
The west side of Wabash avenue is now
in full blaze which takes many q stately
building in its course, and which offered a
haven of rest in the winter Of 1871. The fire
is Immediately in rear Of the Baptist church,
and should that structure 60 down the fire
will have a clear sweep northward and east
ward, and the Exposition building will in
| all likelihood be the final prey Of the fire,
and as that is Immediately on the lake shore
there will be nothing for the flames to feed
| upon, provided we have the good fortune
I not to have change of wind.
A dense, black pail of smoke is hanging
| over the expected course of the fire, drop
ping its advance messengers OF cinders on
| the roofs Of buildings. Although private
citizens are doing their utmost TO prevent
the fire getting hold upon their homes, yet
the effort is rs futileas for child to make the
attempt. The roar of the advancing furnace
has the sound Of our old calamity, and no.
thing short of its final plunge into Lake
Michigan will quench it.
| Our streets within mile of the confla-
grafton are crowded with teams Of every de-
Scription loaded to their utmost capacity
with household goods. Although store
| keepers who are so fortunate as to secure
| team are endeaYOriD9 10 save their most val.
liable stock, wherever vacant space north OF
the fire can be found it is at once filed with
goods Of all varieties. Men, women, and
children are doing all they can to save their
little all and bring it to some place OF safety.
The fire from this time 70 z. NJ on will
burn up as much III five minutes as it has
previously done in fifteen, considering the
value of dollars and cents.
| The heat is very great, and no doubt that
in addition to pecunary losses, we will have
| to mourn the loss Of lives, as it is next to inn
possible for fire of this magnitude and
fury, and burning through as closely set
tied district as this, without human sacrifice.
AS the post-otiicc is directly i'll line OF
the fire, its employees will have all they can
do to save the mail matter in the building,
and consequently there will be no mails
from this city this evening, and there can by
no possibility be one sent before tomorrow
| evening.
The fire has burned over so far about half
mile in length and four blocks in width,
and although the explosion of gunpoWder
| is still heard every now and then there is lit
| lie hope of staying the fire short OF the linn.
| lis given above.
Third Dispatch
THE POST OFFICE DEsTRoYED-TnE FLAMES
BEYOND CONTROL, &C.
CHICAGO, July 1.-THE ire broke out at
the corner of Twelfth and Harrison streets,
and has so far swept 10 the corner OF Harrl'
son and Lake streets. The rost.oftice has
been destroyed, but the contents are saved.
hn, in
danger.
The fremen have no control over the
fumes, and the excitement is intense.