The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-07-16
SOME EIGHT OR TEN THOUSAND
PEOPLE RENDERED HOUSELESs
AND HOMELESS. IA
THE ToTAA LOSS ESTIMATED AT FROM FIVE
TO SEVEN MILLIONS.
SCENES, INCIDENTS AND ACCT
DENTS DURING THE DEVAS-
TATION.


&sa
THAT Chioago.iS not charred, blackened
total ruin this morning. is providential alone.
1t was not the precautions OF builders it was
not the vigilance OF the Fire Marshal ;; it was
not the efforts OF the Fire Brigade that saved
us from once more sitting detected and des-
pairing amid the ashes of general and all
sweeping desola6ion. We have at last had it
demonstrated that our buildings are but toy
shops, our boosted fire department but the
sport of the fames-both es powerless 20 stay
conflagration as straw 20 stem the flow
OIL Niagara. 1t is sad that Chicago, SO GRO wds
ed with affection, should be called upon to
undergo this trial out we may lift our voices
In thanksgiving this morning that we have
still a root above our heads, and that the
calamity is no greater. #EH##H A
Yesterday afternoon fire broke out in
ragoshop near twelfth street. The flames
spread rapidly but no genera. alarm WAS
felt until several hours later. at 9, p. IN. !,
however, crowds began to gather, and it
was soon rnmored through the business
streets OF the South Side that the fire was
beyond the control OF the department, and
was last making its way northward. By s
p. m. the alarm became general, anu the
stree began To be crowded with vehicles
filed withgoods mo ved from the vicinity OF
the fire. The excitement Increased, until
State street, Wabash and Michigan avenues,
together With the streets running, at right
angles to these, presented the appearance
which marked them In the carly part or the
great fire OF Lszl. The long lines Of State
sstreet cars were crowded on the track be-
tween Lake street aud Madison, cut off from
travel and compelled to remain, stationary.
Every car and stage from the WeskSide came
loaded down with people, until, the stree is
from Lake away up tvCongress were literal v
packed with human beings. AMI still the
flames swept en-. 1t seemed that nothing
could stay them. They lickeasup tho brick
and wooden buildings above Harrison on
State street, crossed to the marble fronts Oh
Wabasht avenue. destroyed tue Postotice
building. and from there greedily worked
their Why downward to Congress street
On the northwest corner Of Congress stood
The Adulphl Taeattr; on the northeast cor
men the line buldlnzS known rs the Inter,
Oceanic Block. The thea Rr endured the
Intense heat for some time, but finally the
fire orept up the roof, ran up the flagstaff,
huge voiame oil smoke poured forth from
the windows, and then a gigauLic sea OF flame
burst iortta from eTery quarter, enveloping
tho entire structure. 1t was later when the
opposite block caugh' fire 1t seemed for
while 1t would escape. a couple OF brave
men could be seen on thereof fighting gal
lantly to'save II, but at last tie fire drove
them back, the huge building smoked and
cracked, and at last with, the fire bursting
from. every pojntthey were forced to retire.
On State the flames crept steadily onward. t0
the;St. James Hotel, an'asoon this fine build
ing was In ruins by this true the alarm had
become SO genera thai The large stores
0nSta1e and Dearborn streets and Wabash
and Michigan avenues began packing their
goods 3Astar down "a lake on these Streets. \
andSon Monroe, Madison, Washington and
ka ndol PIN streets, crowds Of drays and .wag-
ons we're being rapidly loaded Field, Lies
I'd
roahded with teams. aud innLmeratle boxes
We're scattered in front OF the building The
goods were being hastily packed and re-
La0ved to q more secure locality, ana this
e-GampIe was followed Try csher dry goods
STORES, grocery honses, boot and shoe cstab,.
lishments, etc. ,att0., uutit the streets were
one jam ofloaded vehicles. The panic reach.
ed even the far~famed Hre.proM Palmer
House, and guests were packing their bag.
gage and hurriedly leaving the hotel, AS we
now write, long after midnight, the, streets
are SO full OF wagons, carriages, etc. as to- be
almost impassable, though 1t is helieyeG that
y change ~ the wind is driving the fire to-.
ward the lake and that the great daneeseis
passed. The Exposition building is still
standing, as Is also the Gardner House and
The Matteson, though the flames are Thick
about them. The opinion now is, however,
thasall these may be saved The details eot
that to wlsich we have briefly alluded, HE
extent o. the fire, the, principal sufferers,
etc ,SWll DO found below. TIE blow iswa
sewers one. but perhaps just such one was
needed to rouse us to the understanding
mat to"Gay Chicago poweress to resist a
great Observation-Disclosures pOweress and
| impotent AS when under more unfayorahle
ere amstancss the whole businesa portion Of
the city was laid In ashes. The fact that in
comparatively calm day, or at worst with
y light wind blowing, fire can break out
and sweep for hall mile down our streets. il
positive proof that something Is radically
wrong. That the firemen fought CALAMITY
enough we do not deny. but the inquiry will
be made to-day: "What is 1t that renders
them .powerless to prevent such q calamity
as this y Are We to 90 on without further
/ security. five are, then we might as well
Keep our goods packed and household goods
in readiness to move.