The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-07-23

WOEG COH6utu6o CNCTJ ulAHulSs II
danger of utter destruction becam
more imnliRent every moment. Nor
help was wanted, and accordingl
teIegrams were sped over the wires t
Milwaukee, Racine, Joliet, and othe
places. They read: "a great fire
raging. Chicago is threatened wit
destruction. Send us your fire de
partment." In the course Ofthe nigh
came responses in the shape of stal
wart men, with apparatus, and the.
did valiant service in lighting tn,
flames to a smaller and smaller limit
Having reached Wabash avenue, will
a wind blowing from the southwest
+ Michigan avenue seemed doomed Il
destruction. In fact the thought o
saving any part of it from Eldridgt
court to q point at least as far nortf
as Harrison street was abandoned
and vet, contrary to all expectation
/ every house in that limit stands intact
Every house on Wabash avenue par
allel to this was destroyed, but The
narrow alley between the two avenues
stood q barrier. as if it had been an
| Intervening mountain. Every house
Ton Michigan avenue was vacated
The street was lined with trucks
backed up against the residences
but about nine O'Clock most OF
the people moved back again. The
ordeal was safely passed, and our
handsome lake front was preserved,
Having reached their eastern limit,
the flames fed their way rapidly north
ward. three blocks abreast There
was little use trying to fight in the
face. Every moment the wind rose
more fiercely, and in the vicinity of
the confiagration regular gale was
blowing. The heat was intense. The
firemen could not stand within hun
dred feet of it in the direction it was
spreading, and hence it had to be fought
in the flank. There being little hope
of saving Michigan avenue. though it
was saved, the policy seemed to be
to fight it into the lake by closing on
its sides. This policy was adopted,
though efforts were not abated to save
Michigan avenue. AT six O'Clock all
danger was passed that it would make
its way further southwark. In that
direction its limit was reached, and
the force there employed was soon dis
patched to more threatening points,
though il was not safe to leave the
whole line exposed. At eight O'Clock
the fire was checked on Clark street,
and then there was no danger that it
would pass westward. After thattwo
engines covered the entire field from
Polk street south on Clark, around by
Twelfth street to Wabash avenue,
where the engagement was growing
hotter every moment. When the
southern aud western ends of the fire
had been made secure. the northern
and eastern lines OF attack were rein.
forced and the enemy confined into
narrow and narrower quarters. On
Harrison street the fiend was forced
to give up Fourth avenue and Third
avenue. At Van Buren, street the
monster was driven out of State street,
the st. James being the last building
to succumb. When the fire reached
that point the interest in its progress
became intense. 1t was moving along
both sides of State, between Harrison
and Van Buren. On the west side
stood q massive row of four or five
story marble fronts on the east side
the ST. James. Beyond the st. James,
was an open space several
hundred feet square. There good
hope if stand was made at this hotel
the flames would be prevented from
;rossing this open space. On the
west side there was no such barrier.
It was certain the whole row would
20, and then crossing VanBuren street,
make its way to the Palmer House.
Opposite the st. James stood row of
marble fonts, covering about |
four numbers. These were divided !
from the building south by a single |
ot of tWentg-fve feet wide-a mere |
said every body, and no.
body anticipated that that little open I
space would check the flames; but it |
lid. Fortunately splendid fire-proof |
wall had been reared to the south.
NadIy the flames beat against it, and |
went clear over the building setting |
ire to the st. James, but this wall |
stood the test grandly. and though |
here was fire to the south, aud fire to
he east, and not pint of water thrown
lpon it, the building stands there at
his writing, savior of untold mil
ions. 1t was the citadel of the con-
Migration. Its surrender would have
yiven the whole city over to the raVag-
ng enemy. InstinctiVely every one
n sight of the scene appreciated the
Importance of the position, and when
he building south tumbled together
With laundering crash, shout from
fifty thousand throats rose high above
he roar of the conhagration. 1t was
he moment of moments during the
'rogress of the fire, and fitly was it
While this building
TODD the burnt and onslaught of what
night be called overwhelming odds, q
Our-stoTy brick, apparently out of all
anger, on the corner of Wabash ave-
Iue and Van Buren, street, took fire
rom the st. James Hotel. One
window had been lett open. and cur
ain was set on fire by a stray spark, L
nd in q moment the whole interior,
lready filled with hot air, was
beet of flames. AS the flames shot
Orth cry of anguish was wrung
rom the spectators, for it seemed in
vitable that now two or MOI squares
aust fall q sacrifice, but fortunately j
he flames were confined to that and /:
be adjoinining building, and the |
orthern limit was reached. IA
Having hitherto stunned Michigan
venue is now turned RenomousIy up [
n it, making its way along Congress {
treet, and consumed the Oceanic I
the structure that once did
uty as the fremont, one or two 9TH {
RS, and then was finally and effectual-
' squelched just in time to save those
eble structures, the Matteson and
fardner Houses, and the Exposition
The wooden cupola of the
herman Evangelical Church, corner
f Polk and Third avenue, was set on
re by the sparks, aud the church al
lost destroyed. Before the flames
cached the wooden hlildings inn
lediately south Of it at this point, an \,
fort was made to blow up some of
he buildings. Under the direction of
lark Sheridan, Colonel Lippinoott
nd Captain A. McCloud, q &eg OF ,
owder was placed in No. 2S Park
treet, a two-story frame building.
he destruction of the building was j
omplete. Powder was next placed in ,
he frame building on the southwest
orner of Polk street and Third av-
nua nv this fima hoNavar fhe