Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-07-23

Having reached State street tn, fire was in
its glory. Two-story frames was the rule and
substantial structure the exception. The
flames leaped gaily from building to building,
now and then skipping structure or two to
facilitate progress, but never neglectlng to
bring up the rear and made clean work Of it,
The firemen fought valiantly among these
shanties. The most that could be done was
70 prevent it spreading southwark and this
was accomplished. A steamer was stationed
at Harmon court. which forms nearly the
southern limit on State street, and the bows
connected Herewith did valiant service. They
fought the fire into it's very teeth. and to en-
able them to do so they reared barricade out
of theatrical sgn-board which was held in
front of the pipemen, and thus the fire was
approached so closely that the sign-board took
fire.
The wind increasing in fury, it broke through
the alley dividing State street from Wabash
avenue. Now, for the first time-about 6
o'clock-the fire began to feed upon the aris-
tocracy. 1t began putting CD airs so to
speak. 1t struck up high to bring down fancy
cupolas and observatories. Thousands of dol
lars were consumed every minute. The danger
of utter destruction became more imminent
every moment. More help was wanted, and ac-
cordingly kilograms were sped over the wires to
Milwaukee, Racine, Joliet, and other places
They read, "A great fire is raging. Chicago
is threatened with destruction. Send us your
fire department" In the course of the night
came responses in the shape Of stalwart men
with apparatus, and they did valiant service in
fighting the flames to smaller and smaller
limit. Having reached Wabash avenue, with
a wind blowing from the southwest Michigan
avenue seemed doomed TO destruction In
fact the thought of saving any portion of it
from Eldridge court to point at least as far
north as Harrison street, was abandoned and
yet, contrary to all expectations every house
in that section stands intact. Every house
on Wabash avenue parallel to this was de-
stroyed, but the narrow alley between the two
avenues stood barrier as il it had been an
intervening mountain. Every house on
Michigan avenue was vacated, the street was
lined with trucks backed up against the resi-
dences, but about o clock most people moved
back again. The ordeal was safely passed
and the handsome lake front was preserved.
Having reached its eastern limite, the flames
fed their way rapidly northwsrd, three blocks
abreast.
There was little use trying to fight it in the
face. Every moment the wind rose more
fiercely, and in the vicinity Of the conhagra-
ton a regular gale blowing. The heat
was increasing. Firemen could not stand
within hundred feet Of it in the direction
1t was speeding. 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 it's rides.
This policy WAS adopted. though efforts
were not abated to cave Michigan avenue.
At 6 o'clock all danger was passed that
it would make it's way further southwark. In
that direction it's limit WAS reached, and the
force there deployed was soon dispatched to
more threatening points, though it was not
safe to leave the whole line exposed. At
o'clock the fire was checked on Clark street,
and then there was no danger that it would
pass westward After that two engines COW
cred the entire field from Polk street south on
Clark around by Twelfth street to Wabash
avenue, where the engagement was growing
hotter and hotter every moment. When the
southern and western ends of the fire had
been made secure. the northern aud eastern
lines of attack we're reinforced, and the
enemy confined into narrower and narrower
quarters.
On Harrison street the iend was forced to
| give up Fourth avenue, and Third avenue
At Van Buren, street the monster was driven
out of State, tine st. James being the last
| building to sucumb.
When the fire reached that point the inter
| est 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 fve-story
marble-fronts, on the east side the ST. James
| Beyond the st. James, northward, WAS an open
space several hundred feet square. There
| was good hope, If a stand was made at this
| hotel, the flames would be prevented from
crossing the open space. On the west side
there was no such barrier 1t was thought
certain that the whole row would go, and, then
crossing Van Buren, street, MAKE its way t
the Palmer House. Opposite the st. James
stood a row of four-story marble fronts Gov
ering about four numbers. These we're divided
from the building south by single lot twenty
| five feet wide. mere bagatelle said every.
| nnhO6y cd tbaf fhaf X
open space would check the flames. But i
did. Fortunately splendid fire-proof wal
had been reared to the south. Mady the
flames beat az sinst it, and went clear over the
building, setting fire to the st. smes, bu
this wall stood the test grandly, and though
there was fire to the south and fire to the
east. and not a pint of water thrown upon it
the building stood there savior of millions
Il was the citadel of the confagration. Iss
| surrender would have given the whole city
over to the ravaging enemy. Instinctivell
everyone in sight OF the scene appreciated th,
Importance Of the position, and when tn,
building to the south tumbled together with
laundering crash-thereafter harmless
| shout from $4,000 threats rose high above the
roar OF the confagration. 1t was the moment
| OF moments during the progress OF the fire
and fitly was it commemorated.
While this building stood the brunt and on
| slaught of what might be called overwhelm.
ing Odds four-story brick, apparently out oil
all danger, on the corner of WABASH avenue
aud Van Buren, streets. took fire from the st
James Hotel. An upper window had been left
| open, a curtain was set fire by STRAY
spark. and in a moment the whole inter or
| already filed with hot air, was sheet OF
| flames. As the flames shot forth a cry OF
anguish was wrung from the spectators, for
it seemed inevitable that now two more
squares must fall a sacrifice. But, fortunate
ly. the flames were confined to that and the
adjoining building, and the northern limit was
| reached.
Having hitherto Stunned Michigan avenue,
it now turned venomously upon it, making its
way along Congress street, and consumed the
i Oceanic building, the structure that once did
duty as the fremont one or two others. and
then was finally and effectually squelched jus:
| in time to save those noble structures the
Matteson aud Gardner Houses, and the Expo
sition Building. The wooden cupola of the
German Evangelical Church, corner Polk and
| Third avenue. was set on fire by the sparks.
and the church almost destroyed before the
flames reached the wooden buildings immedi-
ately south of it. At this point an effort was
made to blow up some OF the buildings. Un-
der the direction of Mark Sheridan. Col. Lip
pincott. aud Capt. A. McCloud, keg of pow
der was placed in No. % Polk street, q two
story frame building. The destruction of the
building was complete. Powder was next