The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-17
TEE CHICAGO FIRE.
Further PEticuinrs.

Further PIticuinrs.
We continue, in our issue to-day, the
general description of the great fire in Chi
cage, last Wednesday night, which we
were obliged TO omit yesterday.
The southern boundary of the burnt dis
trict extended in almost straight line,
running nearly parallel with Twelfth street
about 800 feet north of it, The aim of the
marshal was still to fight the fire from the
front, and to contest as ably as possible its
progress toward the better built portion OF
the city. The front line of the fire was
nobly battled with by the fire boys, who
were doing their best and bravest. When
the gale, to which was due the most Of the
mischief
CARRIED DESTRUCTION OVER THEIR HEADS,
aud encircled them on either side with q
wall of fire, they pulled up stakes and
went to the front again, where the unequal
battle was renewed but their efforts were
powcrless to save The acres of dry pine
roofs to wndward, and the fire swept
wherever it pleased, hardly turned from its
course an inch by the efforts Of the fire de-
partmont. until it reached State street,
which the flames now attacked Having
reached State street
THE FIRE WAS ~ ITS GLORY.
Two-story frames was the rule and IA
substantial structure the exception. The
flames leaped from building to building,
now and then skipping a structure or two,
to facilitate its progress, hut never neglect
ing to bring up the rear and make clean
work of it. The fremen fought valiantly
among these shanties. The most that
could be done was to prevent it spreading
southwark, and this was accomplished. A
steamer was stationed at Hanum court.
which forms nearly the southern limit on
State street, and the boys connected there
with did valiant service They fought the
fire into its very teeth, and to enable them
to lo 50 they made u barricade ont of a
theatrical signboard, which was held in
front Of the pipcmcn, and thus the fire was
approached so closely that the signboard
took fire.
TIE WIND INCREASING ~ 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 aristocracy. Thousands of
dollars were consumed every minute. The
danger OF utter destruction became more
imminent every moment. More help was
wanted, and accordingly kilograms were
sped over the wires to Milwaukee, Racine,
Joliet and other places. They read "Send
in your fire department. In the course of
the night came a response in the shape of
stalwart men with apparatus. They did
valiant service in fighting the flames TO a
smaller and smaller. limit. The fire having
reached Wabash avenue, with the wind
blowing from the southwest, Michigan
avenue seemed doomed to destruction. In
fact, the thought of saving any portion Of
it, from Eldrdge court TO point at least as
far north as Harrison street, was abandoned.
and yet, contrary to all expectations, every
house in that limit stands intact. Every
was destroyed. but the narrow alley be-
between the two avenues stood as q barrier,
as if it had been an intervening mountain.
Houses on Michigan avenue were vacated.
The street was lined with trucks backed up
against the windows, but about . O'clock
most of the people move back again. The
ordeal was safely passed and our handsome
lake front was preserved. The fire having
reached its eastern limits found its way
rapidly northward three blocks abreast.
There was little use trying to fight the
flames in face Of the wind, which increased
in violence every moment in the vicinity of
the conliagration. \ regular gale was
blowing the heat was so intense that the
flremen could not stand within hundred
feet of the fire IN the direction it was
spreading, hence it had to be fought
on the flank, there being little hope
Of saving Michigan avenue. The policy
seemed 10 be to fight it into the lake by
closing on its sides. This plan was adopted,
though the efforts were not abatcd TO save
Michigan avenue.
AT 6D'clock all danger was over that it
would make its way further southwark
and the force there employed was soon
dispatched to the more threatening points,
though it was not safe to leave the whole
line exposed. AT 8 o'clock the fire was
checked at Clark street and then there was
no danger that it would pass westward.
Alter that two engines covered the entire
field from Polk street south on Clark street,
around by Twelfth street TO Wa
bash avenue, where the engagement
was growing hotter and hotter every
moment. When the southern and
western ends Of the wire had been made
secure, the northern and eastern lines of
attack were reinforced and the enemy con-
fined into narrower quarters on Harrison
street The fiend was forced to give up
Fourth avenue and Third avenue at Van
Buren, street and driven out of State street,
the st. James hotel being the last building
to succumb. When the fire reached that
point the interest in its progress became in
tense. 1t was moving along both sides OF
State, between Harrison and Van Buren,
streets. On the west side stood a massive
row of four or five story marble fronts.
On the east side was the st. James. Be-
You'd the ST. James, northward. was
an open space several hundred feet square.
There was good hope, if Il stand was made
at this hotel, that the flames would be
prevented crossing this open space. On
the west side there was no such barrier and
it was certain that the whole row would
go, and crossing Van Buren, street, made
its way to the Palmer House. Opposite
the ST. James stood n four-story marble
front, covering about four numbers. This
was divided from the building south by a
single lot twenty-five feet wide. A mere
bagatelle, said everybody, and nobody an
ticipated that little space would check the
flames, but it did It, Fortunately splendid
fireproof wall had been reared to the south.
Madly the flames beat against it, and went