Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-07-23
The CHICAGO FIRE.
Loss More than Four Millions.
An Area of Fifteen Squares
Burned Over.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE,

CHICAGO, July 15.-This time the
fire originated in low frame building,
used for storing rags, and adjOined an
oil factory that stood between Fourth
avenue and Clark street, on Taylor
street. The great fire of 1871 originated
in stable. Ia both cases the fire COM
menced in the center Of the neighbOr-
hood occupied by wooden buildings.
There Was also stiff southwest breeze,
so that by the time the flames had con-
sumed the small dwellings,, stables,
carpenters shops and buildings filled
with oil, paper and rags, had reached
State street where there were Substan-
tial business houses, they were like the
heat of furnace, and all-consuming in
their power. Thus the conditions for
great CONGREGATIONS were not wanting.
Fortunately after burning up nearly
twenty blocks, and destroying the First
Baptist Church, two other church
buildings, the POstotfice, Michigan Av-
enue and st. james Hotels, the Inter
Oceanic and other elegant blocks erect
ed after the fire of II, and numbe, of
tiue residences, the flames were stayed
right at the very doors of the heaviest
business .locks and the three or four of
the best hotels.
LIMITS OF THE BURNT DISTRICT.
Following are the exact limits of the
fire, as viewed this morning.: The fire
burned small portion of Clark street,
near Twelfth, where it originated;
thence took Third and Fourth avenues
between Peck court and Twelfth street,
and burned them as far as Harrison
street. State street was burned from
Harmon court to Van Buren Wabash
avenue, from No. 452, near the corner
of Peck court, to No. 267, near Van
Buren. Michigan avenue has been
burned from Harrison street to Van
Buren street, short distance.
FIGHTING THE FIEND.
At eight O'Clock the fire was checked
on Clark street, and then there was no
danger that it would pass westward.
After that two engines carried the en-
tire field from Polk street south on
Clark, around by Twelfth street to
Wabash avenue, where the engage
ment was growing hotter and hotter
every moment. When the southern
and western ends of the fire had been
made secure, the northern and eastern
lines of attack were reinforced, the en-
emy confined into narrower and mar
rover quarters on Harrison street, and
the winds forced to give up Fourth and
Third avenues. At Van Buren, street
the monster was driven out OF State,
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 Bureu. On the west side
stood massive row of four or five
story marble fronts; on the east side
the St. James; beyond the st. James,
northward, was an open space several
hundred feet square.
WHERE THE FINAL CHECK WAS GIVEN.
There was good hope that if stand
was made at this hotel. the flames
would be prevented from crossing this
open space. On the west side there
was no such barrier, it was certain that
the whole row would go, and then
crossing Van Buren street, making its
way to the Palmer House. Opposite
the st. James stood row OF four story
marble fronts, covering about four
numbers. These were divided from
the building south by Il single lot
TWENTY-FIVE feet wide, "a mere baga-
telle, Sdtu oNCl uOuy, anu hoOOuy oh-
ticipated that that little open space
would check the flames; but it did.
Fortunately, a splendid fire proof wall
had been reared to the south. Madly
the flames beat against it and went
clear over the building, setting fire to
the st. James, but this wall stood the
test grandly, and though there was fire
to tie south and fire to the east and not
pint Of water thrI wn upon it, the
building stands there at this writing
the savior of untold millions. 1t was
the citadel of the conflagratiop. Its
surrender would have given the whole
city over to the ravagiug enemy. In.
stinctively every one in sight of the
scene appreciated the Importance of
the position, and when the building to
the south tumbled to the ground with
laundering crash. thereafter harm
less, and shouts from fifty thousand
throats rose high above the roar of the
contiagration. 1t was
THE MOMENT OF MOMENTS
during the progress of the fire, and titly
was it commemorated. While this
building stood the brunt and onslaught